3-10-14

Familia!

Things are warming up here in the area of Quincy! Whoo! It is spring time! Which also means people are going to be really busy planting soon. But hey that is the life here in small town USA. This past week has been really amazing! I never cease to see miracles happening around us!

This week was full of challenges but at the same time, full of miracles. Some of the people we are teaching have faced some hard things this week, but it was amazing to me how they testified about how they know that they have received strength from the Lord and that they know they must continue choosing the right if they want these trials to turn around. It was a huge testimony builder to me that we aren't here to teach people but to bring them closer to Christ so that they can use their own testimonies in these times of trial. It has been so cool!

Especially as we turn to the scriptures and read out of the Book of Mormon. This morning i was talking to my companion about how much i loved the scriptures and reading them. As i kind of laughed when i said that i had to explain that me saying that i loved to read anything was kind of a miracle. You are all laughing because you know it is true. I can't get enough of the life of Jesus Christ and his teachings. Then i try and take other people to the scriptures to try and find their own answers and show them what a tool the Book of Mormon can be for us in our lives. We had an experience with Debbie where she asked us to share a scripture about understanding. after we showed her how to use the index and she said next time she would share a scripture with us next time. i"m excited for that.

We had 5 people come to church yesterday and it was amazing. Even though most of them weren't having the best day yesterday. It was fun. We had a really good lesson in Gospel Principles about the Holy Ghost and how he can testify to us and after we know what is true we can follow the example of Jesus Christ and then have him as our constant help and companion. it was interesting as she was teaching i realized just how much it applied to our investigators, but not only that how much it applied to me and how i could better use the Holy Ghost as a missionary. Overall it was a great church meeting and i know that everyone there benefited. My favorite is when members come up to us and tell us how perfect a lesson or a sacrament meeting was for someone that we are teaching. We are working together and friendships are forming. As we all try to emulate the example of our Savior we are made into better people. A quote in Preach My Gospel talks about how a study of the gospel will change behavior faster than a study of behavior will change behavior, which i think is really true. Why? Because as we learn we want to become like our Savior which gives us the drive to become better people.

We were at dinner the other night and the Brother that we were eating with is really into hiking, so i asked if there were any good trails around here, where he then proceeded to pull out his maps and show me. it looks like there are some good trails around these parts and i think my companion and i have some exploring to do. They laughed as they saw how excited i was and that Sister Tuigamala was like oh ya... hiking.... But she sounds like she is up for the adventure.

So the adventure continues in Quincy as we search diligently and labor without ceasing with those who are prepared to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is amazing that no matter the level of knowledge that they have about God, anyone who wants to learn can receive understanding! It was cool this week we talked with Sister Kahu in Slat Lake City who is giving Bo the lessons, and Bo has really been open and accepting to the gospel and i realized how amazing it was that when we took down the language barrier she started to absorb and get excited about all the things she is learning.

Hope you all have a great week and remember to look to the savior. The title of this email goes with the theme all our investigators found this week, and was shared during sacrament yesterday, "If our feet are moving, he can guide us." They all know that they need to continue on the path of righteousness to let the Lord guide them even when life is tough. so move forward with faith and have a good attitude because there is no reason to be unhappy! have a great week!

Hermana Ray