Week 45: HAPPY NEW YEAR!

And just like that we are in 2023!

Odds and Ends

---When we rolled down the window to ask a guy if he wanted a Jesus picture, he said "You lost shawty?"

---We were making visits in a sketchy part of town... definitely heard gun shots

---We got to jam out with the Beebes on the piano! They gave me a ton of music! Next piano song to get under my belt: EFY medley!

---I made cookies for our weekly meeting, which made 3 dozen. Between TWO ELDERS, 14 cookies were eaten. 10 for one elder, and 4 for the other. And of all people to eat that many cookies... they both have diabetes.

---PJ usually has his dad's phone. One time he answered the phone this week and we said "Hey PJ its the missionaries! Could you give the phone to your dad?" And he yells "AHHHHH DAD IT'S THE MORMONS!" hahaha!

---We watched an episode of the Chosen with the Black's for family home evening on pday!

---We had 2 new key indicators added to our areabook!

Miracles

★We had all of our lessons cancel one day. But we didn't lose hope! And because of that, the Lord blessed us with 4 unplanned lessons. GODS PLAN IS ALWAYS SUPERIOR!

★After struggling finding new people to teach for weeks and only finding 1 or 2 each week, we found TEN new people this week! God blessed our efforts, we just had to be patient.

★Our sweet friend Michelle was reading the Book of Mormon as much we she could. She can't read well, but she can still feel the power from it. We had planned teaching her the restoration when we met with her, but the Spirit led and she brought up baptism! We invited her to follow Christ's example on January 28th! She said she knows God can help her get to that date to be baptized. She also has been praying that cigarettes and beer will be disgusting to her. She is so ready for her burdens to be lifted! Many tears were shed. We know she is ready!

★Christy, who just recently started meeting with us, is already in chapter 13!

★Patrick has not been committing to read the Book of Mormon. But the Spirit prompted me that the way to reach Patrick is through teaching his 6 year old son! We made PJ a sticker chart to mark of his Book of Mormon reading. The Spirit knows best!

★I got to see how tenderly a family in Gilbert cared for a sweet girl who's about to lose her grandma. Her neighbors are adopting her and teaching her everything about the gospel! It was so beautiful it brought me to tears!

★We drove for 4 hours, in a outstretched town, but we were still able to find the 1 God needed us to, Hattie!

★On New Years Eve, my companions were asking me if I had any New Years traditions because they have a few. I told them "Yeah, only drinking Martinelli's at midnight!" I wasn't expecting to this year. And lo and behold, after dinner on New Years Eve, Brother Degn pulls out some Martinelli's! Such a little tender mercy that I absolutely LOVED! God knows me, that's for sure ♡

★Our friend Jeanne was struggling a lot this week. We were prompted she needed a visit on Friday, but we weren't going to be in her area, and didn't have enough time between appointments. So we called Sister Morris, as the Spirit went above and beyond for her and gave her flowers and bracelets and a tender note. ❤️ She was an answer to prayers!

★Forgot this in my last email! We usually don't see members very often in public, because there are so few of them here in the South. But we were at Blaze pizza with our district on pday, and a woman came up to us and paid for ALL 8 of our pizzas and gave us extra for another day! The Still family was so generous and loving even though they don't know us!

Spiritual Thought

At this point in my mission, I've began to realize that pretty soon, I won't get to share the gospel with people every waking moment. And that scared me a little. I love being a representative of Christ so much, and I don't want to take this time for granted. I've learned to be consecrated and to give all my heart, might, mind and strength (or skrength as Southerners say it). This work is a JOY. In 8 months I'll have other responsibilities come back into my life at the completion of my mission. But RIGHT NOW is the time dedicated to give EVERYTHING to God. I've seen joy as I've done it, and permanent changes are being made in my testimony that have fortified it to a barricade that is nearly unbreakable. As each of you also give yourself entirely to the Lord, even amongst your daily responsibilities of life, you will be blessed beyond measure. I dare you, prioritize Him and see what happens ;)

Love y'all so much! God bless! And also YAY I FINALLY CAUGHT UP ON MY EMAILS!

PRAY FOR MY TWINNER! Blake is going into his last week at the Mexico MTC. I'm so proud of him!

Birthdays

Happy birthday to my Lil Presti boy! He is growing up and maturing faster than I'd like to admit! He is so aware of his sweet friends and family and always wants to keep them all happy and laughing. He is SO incredibly smart, and can spout off so many facts! He's very athletic and musical as well! Pretty much, there isn't anything he can't do. I'm excited to see where he goes in these next years! So grateful God blessed me with such a perfect-for-me little brother. Happy 14th Preston!

Elder Hall is no longer a teenager! The big 20! Go wish him happy belated birthday!

Pictures