January 2, 2018 -- New Year, New Investigators

Howdy Y'all! 

First of all, happy 2018! It is so weird to be typing that. I remember when I first got out last May, thinking that 2018 was so far away and would never really come and yet here we are! It is officially a new year. 

This week has been full of adventure. The Burton girls are really excited for their baptism! We had to move the date to January 20th because our Ward will be having a regional broadcast on their orignal baptismal date. That does not worry us however! The girls are going to be having their baptismal interviews this week, so extra prayers would be wonderful. 

We also started teaching an AMAZING girl named Autumn Herndon this week. She reminds me so much of my sister Jessica. She loves music and singing, and she has been in choirs basically since she could walk. She is really good friends with Daniel Kern, a member in our ward. She has been coming to church for a few weeks now. Originally she came to sing in our choir for a Christmas program, but since coming she has realized that there really is something different and special here. She actually approached US to meet, which was really unexpected, and when we sat down to have our first lesson she told us that eventually she wants to join our church by being baptized. The amount of times someone has told me that on my mission is not very large, so when she said that our jaws just about hit the floor. We are just blessed to be here and to be a part of her journey!  She even texted us on New Years to tell us that she loves us and is grateful for us helping her on her journey as she joins the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We love her, and we are so blessed to know her!

For New Years we went over to the Ball family's home for dinner. They made Sunday night breakfast, which reminded me of home and of my Mom. We used to have that every so often. It was a little tender mercy from God that made me smile. Every day as a missionary there are so many little miracles that help to remind us that God loves us. We then went to bed at 10:30 like always, and woke up at 6:30, like always. Missionary holidays! :D

I am so grateful to God for His guidance and His mercy. Without Him, none of this would be possible. There would be no life, no purpose, no reason for any of this. That is my hope for 2018, that I always remember my Father in Heaven and my Savior Jesus Christ.