First Baptism--and snakes!

Hello all!

Thanks for all the emails. Thanks to Centerville Activity Day girls for their cards :D. I'm still working on writing people back. I love you, I will write you at some point. I still love your letters.

On to the nitty gritty. Saturday we had a baptism! Not that I had anything to do with it. She's been ready and waiting for this for a while, and I just got to meet with her the past few weeks. She got baptized by her husband (they're a young married couple) who recently returned to activity. It was a wonderful service. My companion and I called almost everyone in the ward directory to personally invite them to the baptism, and I think it helped the turnout! We had one guy who we haven't seen at church in a while show up for the baptism--he's in the Elder's area, and they started talking with him a little more.

My companion's family sent her this huge (probably 4ft by 4ft) November calendar to hang on our wall. We've been writing things we're thankful for everyday in Nov and putting them in the pocket for the day. It's been such a blessing to take a few minutes to look for all the blessings of the Lord in our day. As we look for His hand in our life, and expect heaven's help, we exercise our faith.

Something I've been thinking about lately is how to help people exercise faith. It's part of our purpose as missionaries, and as our faith grows, so does our desire to repent and come closer to our Father in Heaven. One of the ways we exercise our faith is by being obedient to what He has asked us to do.

Something we talk to members a lot about is the commandment we have been given by a prophet of God to become more involved in missionary work. Last conference our leaders spoke over and over about how important members are in this work. You really are. You are essential to bringing the wonderful light and truth we enjoy into the lives of others. We, as missionaries, can't possibly hope to do anything without your efforts. So lately, we've been trying to help members realize that as they set goals for themselves on how to be a better missionary, and try to act on those, that is an exercise of faith. As you pray for opportunities to share the gospel and then look for those, that's an exercise of your faith. The Lord has promised, "Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find." He will help you as you ask and act. As you approach each day expecting to see His hand in your life, you will find it. As you take time to reflect on the day, you will realize more and more how involved the Lord is in your life.

This week has been really great. We've been able to contact more of our less actives, our potential investigators, and find some new investigators. People here are really open to talking about religion, and more people than you might think are willing to listen to our message, at least the beginning of it. The trick is coming back and teaching them more, or keeping return appointments. But the Lord is involved in our work, and in the lives of those we are visiting. It's inspiring to hear the little tender mercies in the lives of those we work with.

One of our investigators was looking for a kitchen table so she could help her family gather more and have family time during meals, and start to strengthen their family more. She didn't think she'd be able to find one for a while, probably not before Thanksgiving. But this week she had a neighbor sell her one for a good deal! What an answer to prayer. That's just one of the many little ways the Lord working in the lives of the people here. He is involved in your lives just as much I'm sure. Keep up the good work. Love you all!

Love,

Sister Andreason

P.S. Also. Did you go to the 100 year Scout Celebration!?!  The one at our stake center was way cool! There's a guy in our stake who has a huge collection of old editions of scout manuals and books. They had several displays, a tent set up in the gym, and a reptile merit badge person with several snakes . . .thus the picture. Thought Aedan would enjoy that. I'll  try to get more pictures to you soon. 

love ya!  

Sister Andreason