Mon, 23 Mar 2009

Dear Fam and Friends,

I'm going to cheat and send you the letter I wrote to President, because it really just sums it all up.

"Dear President Beck,

Baptized: 0
Confirmed: 0
At Church: 1
Member Present Lessons: 10
New Investigators: 7

Tracting: 4.5 hours
Lessons: 30
LA/RC Lessons: 7

(We taught 40 lessons last week. Whoohoo!)

Morning Schedule: 4 out of 7

I will give excuses for the morning schedule--there were two days that I couldn't fall asleep until 3:30. This morning, I somehow managed to knock the alarm clock under my bed. . .

I knew this week would be better, and it was. This week was a miracle week. I feel like it was one of those, after the trial of your faith comes the miracle. Not only did we get 40 lessons this week along with 4.5 hours of tracting, we saw changes in our current investigators--we have been able to click with them and they have told us the things that are in the way of them progressing. We have been able to really pinpoint the opposition so it can be dealt with. We brought our recent convert Adan to a lesson with a part-member family, and the Sergio and Adan clicked, and Adan shared a powerful testimony, enough that Sergio was saying by the end--I hope that's how it works out for me--with a big smile on his face.

We also had a man in the English ward commit to baptism. We'll be setting up a date in our next lesson.

I know that these things have been happening because of our faith, the efforts of our wards, and our diligence. We really applied what we learned about finding and setting goals from the Sisters Conference, and it worked. We had twelve lessons in one day! It was amazing. I am looking forward to this coming week, because now we have finally started figuring this out.

President, I'll tell you something--I have been praying really hard that the Lord will keep me in this area, with Estrella AND Garden Lakes. And Estrella has grown so much since we before were having problems. There are still kinks, but things are definitely moving upward. I really hope the Lord keeps me here to continue doing the work that I have started, and I am trying to be the best missionary, continuing the friendships and relationships of trust I have built with these investigators and families. So I know, therefore, that if I am transferred, it is for a very good reason.

I loved the Sisters Conference. Most of our good numbers came after that--it was very rejuvenating. I was glad to give that talk, and I felt the Spirit so strongly as I prepared it because I have focused on that subject for most of my life. I love this work, and I love this gospel. Seeing miracles is pretty cool.

I hope you and Sister Beck and the office are all doing well. We''ll see you at transfers! I'm still working on those lesson plans. They're harder than I thought. . .

Que Dios les bendiga, cuidense

Sincerely,
Hna. Crowley"


I gave a talk at the Sisters conference we had this week--how to stay positive through adversity. That's honestly something that has been a main focus of mine for a few years--because it's something I've had a hard time with. I felt the Spirit a lot as I prepared that talk, it was kinda cool.

Today we've got a lot of stuff to do, so I better go--but I wanted to tell you all that Heavenly Father really does work in miracles. I have seen them. And any time I start to doubt, I pray harder and apply myself more--then I see the miracles again. Something that will help if you find yourself doubting--take a notebook and write, at the end of the day, all the different ways you saw the Lord's hand in your life that day. It will be hard at first, but believe me--you'll start recognizing His hand more than you ever have before. And recognizing that carries you through the hard stuff. It's pretty powerful.

Bro Hansen, that is so weird that Elder Hansen is back! And Audrey's halfway there--did you know that my half way is next month? We come home pretty close it sounds like.

Paul, thanks for the birthday email. You made my day. :D

Sister Rosser, I appreciate the thought. I'm looking forward to my 23 birthday party with you there. Maybe you should plan me a surprise party. . . Heehee. And TELL SISTER LINDSEY HI FOR ME!!! I love her.

I'll go now. I hope you all are well, and you enjoy this carta. I'll attach a couple fotos I think are cool. Paz fuera.

Love,
Hna. Crowley.