Converting Columbus: December 2nd, 2013

Hello everyone!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I hope you all had a wonderful because I sure did!!! :) We had two thanksgiving dinners and they were amazing!! It was also super fun to just spend time with some of the members and their family!!

Also, Sister Mitchell was transferred and I am now companions with Sister Hyer!! She is awesome and I love her so much already!! We knew eachother before we became companions and when they announced it in the transfer meeting, we screamed a little bit and ran to eachother and gave eachother a huge bear hug. I love it and I am so glad to be with her. She is an incredible missionary and a very hard worker. We are basically the same person and I feel so much like myself again which is really nice and refreshing!!

Other big news, Paul was baptized last Saturday and it went incredibly well. And he was ordained a priest yesterday which was so exciting!! He is going strong and learning tons and even bore his testimony yesterday in sacrament meeting which is like miracle because he is super shy and nervous in front of people!! I have been so blessed to be a part of his conversion and seeing and hearing his faith and testimony has strengthened my own so much!!!

Quote of the Week

"When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power."-Ezra Taft Benson

I am learning this first hand because for a long time I was just obedient because I was supposed to or felt obligated but never because I truly wanted to be. But now I am learning the amazing blessing and strength of being obedient and doing what is asked of us. Our obedience shows our love and faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and in turn we are blessed with power and ability to do all things and be trusted with so much more!!

Scripture of the Week

"Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst they brethren, the Lamanites and bear with patience thine afflictions and I will give unto you success." -Alma 26:27

This scripture hit home because when things get hard, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are right there comforting us and giving us courage and strength to keep going and press forward in faith and righteousness!

Miracle of the Week
This week was little bit hard because there were so many changes and we aren't teaching hardly anyone right now but on Friday we had a bit of a miracle. We went to visit a less active who wasn't home but as we were leaving, we met his brother who is also less active and his nonmember girlfriend. They are Justin and Samantha and they are awesome. They let us come in for a sec to get warm and we chatted for a bit. Then on Saturday they went to Justin's sister in law's baptism in another ward and we were able to go and see them there.

We talked for a little bit and set up to meet with them and have pizza on Tuesday and I am so excited!! They are so friendly and awesome!! Then yesterday, we went to see a member who's wife isn't a member. We were talking to him, his name is Brother Valdivia, and just starting asking about his wife. She doesn't speak very much English but he said that she knows a lot about the church and believes. She is ready to be baptized, she just hasn't because her family are extremely devout Catholics and she doesn't want to upset them or anything. But we decided to fast and pray and ponder on ideas of how to help and ask Heavenly Father to soften her family's hearts.

So I would really appreciate it if in your prayers you could include, Justin and Samantha, Paige and Sister Valdivia!! I know that with prayer and faith, miracles are wrought and I can't wait to see what happens!! Thanks so much!! I love you all and I will talk to you next week!!

Love always, Sister Britni Johnson :)