It's Chilly Outside

Yesterday and today we woke up and it was in the 50's! Ahhh! It can't get cold yet... we're supposed to be in Texas where it's only cold 2 weeks out of the year. But maybe I'm just a baby now because we've been in the heat for so long. haha How's the weather in Utah?

 

It sounds like everyone is doing well back home! I always get excited on mondays to hear how everyone is. :) Is there anything I can do for y'all?

 

Conference was so great! It's like Christmas in the mission when conference comes around. Alli said you had cinnamon rolls AND caramel! I'm jealous. :) Some members in our ward (the stake patriarch and his wife) took us out to lunch on saturday between sessions and then on sunday a sister in the ward brought lunch for all the missionaries. That was really nice. :) I feel like I learned so much from this conference, I can't wait to get the Ensign.

 

We saw miracles again this weekend as we were praying to get our investigators and less actives to conference. Dorothy, one of our investigators showed up to the Saturday morning sessions. She was there sitting right next to us when Elder Nelson spoke and kept saying, "if you don't know..... Ask the Missionaries!" haha Every single time he said "ask the missionaries" I felt the load on our backs getting heavier and heavier! haha But it made me excited too cause I know there will be lots of people with questions. Dorothy said she enjoyed the conference. She wasn't able to come to any other sessions, and we got a text from her last night before our appointment with her saying she was going to her sons house, so I hope she's ok! Pray for her!

 

Emily Arroyo went to conference in Utah!!! We were excited about that :) She's the RM from Spain that has been inactive.

Cynthia Mitchell and her son Aubrey were able to come. She made my day when she came up and sat next to me at conference. She leaned over to me during the first talk and said, " I love you sister Avery! I can't wait till I get to come visit you in Utah. " :) She talks about coming out to Utah with me all of the time haha. I hope y'all can meet her one day.

 

We also had the WHOLE Vermilyea family at the Sunday morning conference!!!!!!!! Even Brother Vermilyea!! And he was so happy the whole time he was there. I asked him after the conference which was his favorite talk and he said Elder Packer because he said things that he really needed to hear. That made me glad! I can't wait for Billy to be baptized in a week, and then see their family be sealed for time and all eternity! Their family has a special place in my heart. :)

 

My favorite talk was Elder Uchdorfs and Elder Holland. As both of them were talking it felt like they were talking directly to me! What were your favorites?!

 

I'm trying to think of what else happened this week......

 

 

Oh!! Haha If it were up to Charles (our investigator from Africa I wrote about last week) I'd be married in Africa with him now...... He's been calling our phone non stop asking for me, and my comp has just been telling him I'm not available. But the time that I did answer he said, "Baby, I keep telling you that I love you and you never say it back. Why are you hurting me like that?" So I explained to him (The zone leaders and district leaders were right by me) that as missionaries we are here to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and to focus on that. His response was,"well God places people in paths so they can find love."

 

So LONG story short.... he is no longer our investigator. :) And don't worry I'm safe. The elders have things under control here haha

 

Well we've been working a lot more in our new area which is by all of the medical centers, and there are sooo many people from every place in the world. Especially China and India. It's so cool to get to talk to people from all over the world. The only problem that we've found is that everyone is so busy here.... We haven't been able to find any new investigators in our new area yet, so we've been working with members and less actives in the area. Last night we made a visit to our AP's cousin who lives in our area. He served a mission in Austrailia, was AP, and after him and his wife got sealed in the temple, AND he worked as a temple worker in the Provo temple while he went to school at BYU. They are now completely in-active. He is very smart, in fact he just got hired at Duke University for a Post PHD position, but he wants his names off the records of the church. He explained that "science disproves all that the church claims to be true." His poor wife, who is less active too, I think she still believes and it is breaking her heart to see what is going to happen to their family. Especially after they have kids. It makes me sad to see people use their agency in ways like that.

 

So I've been studying Faith a lot lately, and in zone meeting last week we did a group study on faith. I got thinking how there are different kinds of Faith, like for example our faith that the sun will rise every morning is pretty unshakable right? But how strong is our Faith in the Savior? How strong is our Faith in His plan for us? You'll have to study Faith this next week and give me some of your insights as I'm studying it too. :)

 

Well we're off to play flag football with our Zone today!

 

I love you all soo much! Let me know if there is anything I can do for y'all

 

Erianne