Oh, There Is Sunshine in My Soul :)

It was a BLESSED week here in Fort Belvoir! It is just beautiful in Virginia. I love it! It gets smoking hot, but hey, all is well :)
Monday we went on a little hike/ walk on a trail through some very pretty trees with our sister training leaders. It was super fun and relaxing! We stopped and got some slurpees at 7-11. We went grocery shopping, then came back and emailed. We had another meeting with Chante, then Diane! They both are just so amazing. Chante is so interested in learning about our faith and Diane is so ready to be baptized. Miracles are happening right in front of our eyes!!


Tuesday we were sitting on our couch eating lunch when Sis. Lang was just like, "Hey. Thanks for not going home!" Hahah I was like yep, no problem hahaha. It was so random. We had Zone training and a Relief Society activity, which Chante came to! Afterwards we had Diane's baptismal interview and when she got to the church, the first thing she yelled when she got out of the car is "Look how Mormon I look!?" She was wearing a cute modest skirt and shirt haha.

Wednesday we went to grandmas and helped her cook some food. She has to eat certain foods that won't make her sick. Her lunch consisted of potatoes, onions and two pinches of salt, all boiled together. She is the funniest lady and so different. She is so grandma! Hahaha We had district meeting and figured some things out for Diane's baptism. We had a little lesson with one of our investigators, Ben, and then went to dinner at Sister Jones house. She is the cutest person! And I LOVE where she lives. She lives out away from the city and it's just so peaceful and quiet. I wouldn't mind living out where she lives! Virginia is just beautiful. That evening, we went to check back on Jonathan. Do you remember me telling you about him? We met him towards the beginning of last transfer. He told us to come back after June 12th because he was taking care of his new baby they just had. So we did! He is so funny and the most genuine guy you'll ever meet.  And we met his brother too. And guess what!! They invited us to have dinner with his family next Tuesday! We are so excited. We just love them and want them to learn more about the gospel so badly!


Thursday we taught a new investigator! Her name is Crystal. She is so sweet and genuine. She accepted the invitation to read the Book of Mormon and restoration pamphlet. We invited her to be baptized and said she would think about it. We love her so much already! Most all of our appointments fell through. We had an awesome dinner with the Hales again! Love that family so much. Before we went to check up on someone we were about to get out of the car when Sister Langford shoved an ice cube down my dress hahahah I don't know why she likes to do those things RIGHT before lessons but it makes it pretty fun :) I just love her. She is the best. Her love and zeal for sharing the gospel is incredible. She teaches me so much each day! We had a lesson with Diane too. She was kind of struggling with some concerns and fears she had due to her boyfriend bringing up things he had heard about the Mormons and so forth. So we talked through some things and helped her with that. Sis Lang shared the story of Jesus walking on water in Matthew 14. She shared how Peter had so much faith to walk out to meet Jesus on the water, but when he started to doubt once he saw the storm around him, Peter started to sink. However, when Peter cried out for the Lord to save him, Jesus immediately reached forth his hand and pulled Peter up. Hearing that story again really strengthened my own faith that when we stay focused on Christ, we aren't going to sink into the sorrows and despair of the world. We will be happy and have His spirit with us. When we fail to have faith in Christ and focus on the worldly things, we begin to sink. However, whenever we begin to sink, or whether we have faith or not, Jesus Christ is always there. Waiting to pull us up out of our misery. He is there to help us and love us. He is there for us. I've seen it in my own life. I know when we follow Christ, we have no need to fear. I know when we are struggling, we can cry out for Him and He will ALWAYS and IMMEDIATELY be there. He loves us, and He cares. He is waiting for us to turn towards Him if we haven't already. He is simply always there. 

P.S. After Diane's lesson, there was a huge summer rainstorm and Sister Langford and I

Apparently they are soaking wet...

didn't have our raincoats. It was dark and there was lightning and thunder and everything, and we had to run super far in order to get to our car. And lemme tell ya... It was the funnest thing to run through the rain! The sky was being lit up with lightning and the rain was so warm! I just felt ALIVE! You know, just imagine two girls, laughing and running through the rain, in the dark. And me screaming "THIS IS LIVING!!!" Hahah One of the best memories by far. Never will I forget that.


Friday: Best lines of the day- "That stinks. That's a stink bomb."-Sis Langford. "Your a turkey kabob."- yours truly. :) haha We had an UHMAZIMG lesson with our dearest Kayla. We began by talking about repentance, what repentance is, why we need to repent, how we can't be saved in our sins, what our purpose on earth is. Kayla's daughter was there and her friend and they were being a little rowdy so Sis. Lang went and played with them while I talked with Kayla. We had a conversation that I won't ever forget. It was honestly life changing. My heart broke as I listened to her story and the things she's been through. As she was finishing, I was praying with my whole heart that Heavenly Father would help me to know how to help her and what to say. Because seriously, we are just a bunch of 19-23 yr olds going around trying to share the gospel with others and help them through their difficulties. I have no idea how to help people with their struggles! But I know God does. As I started talking to Kayla, thoughts came to my mind and words filled my mouth. The RIGHT words. The words that Kayla needed to hear. She said "oh wow, that is exactly how I feel. Oh and that too!" The spirit guided me to talk about how sometimes in life we ask the question of why God would let terrible things happen to us and to good people, trying to do the best we can. Why does He let us suffer through terrible things? The spirit full on directed my thought to the Savior and how God let him suffer in the Garden of Gethsamene. God, our Heavenly Father watched His own son suffer for ALL the pains of the world. All of the sins. He watched Him experience the most excruciating pain. Not because He wanted to, He had to. Heavenly Father doesn't want us to suffer. He wants us to be happy. But how else are we supposed to learn if we don't have struggles and trials. Just like He watched his own son suffer, He watches us in our struggles. But he does it because he loves us. He has already given us the best gift we could ever be given. The gift of His son Jesus Christ. He knows we can overcome our difficulties and suffering because Jesus Christ has already felt them. He's already overcome them. SO WE CAN TOO. We need to turn towards His son, and follow Him. The spirit was so strong in the lesson! And Kayla said something at the end of the lesson that just made my heart so happy! She said, "if Jesus could give His life for us, then I can stop smoking." A-MEN!!! WOO it was an Amazing lesson. I just love her!! She has the sincere desire to change and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to know her and teach her. She has taught me more than I could've ever thought of. Man. I just love these people. I just love my mission. After her lesson, it was dark outside and our car was like super far away and we were in a sketchier area. So Sis. Lang and I RAN FO' OUR LIVES to our car. It was scary not gonna lie. But Heavenly Father heard the 20 prayers that I was cryin, asking for safety, and helped us get home all safe and sound haha :) p.s. It is really good thing that I run in the mornings because I wouldn't have been able to make it to our car! Seriously! Haha Exercising in the morning as part of our missionary schedule was definitely an inspired thing. Haha.

Saturday was the most glorious day ever! Diane was baptized!! YAYY!! Oh my goodness I just wish you could've been there. I love Diane so much! Okay but funny story. So there were baptisms before ours and we had talked to the missionaries before, like three times about not unplugging the drain in the font. HAHA we got there and the font was empty. The font takes 2 hours to fill. HA HA HAAAA. SO good thing we were there an hour early. The font was only half full but that's okay because all went so well!! Diane's family came, her mom, her son and some friends, a lot of members came out to support her, Amber came! And our investigator Chante!! AGH IT WAS AWESOME! Me, Sis. Lang, a recent returned missionary, and a future missionary Miss Caleigh Hales, sang "I Stand All Amazed." Sis Lang played her uke! It was so fun! Apparently we sounded super good so that's awesome because I had cotton mouth again but good thing there were more singers.  And then Diane got baptized! Oh my goodness it was like the happiest moment of my life it was such a grand day!! The best thing ever is when she came up out of the water and was just so full of joy. Diane is probably the happiest and sweetest human being you will ever meet. But when she came up out of the water, she was a different kind of happy. It was so amazing to see. And then the funniest thing! HA she turned around and was walking up the stairs and she was like, "Oh my goodness, my haaiir!" (she has like an Afro and she was telling us about how it looks when it's wet. Anyway inside joke haha) but then she immediately said, "YAY! WE DID IT!!" YESS, WE DID! It was like the happiest moment of my life! Wow it was the best day ever. Heavenly Father pours so many blessings upon us, He is so GOOD. it was the most glorious day. Such a happy day. My heart was so so full. That night we met an awesome new investigator named Maurice and we are looking forward to going back to teach him! We also did some service for our friend Jackie in the morning, we planted flowers and ate chicken salad it was wonderful :)

Sunday was so great. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all the amazing fathers everywhere, and especially to my dad. I love you dad and am "eternally" grateful for you. (We're stuck with each other for "eternity", eh eh get it?;) I love you dad!! :) SO MUCH! Diane was
confirmed and she was just the happiest human. I wish you guys could meet her, you would totally just love her! One day :) Kayla also came to church with her daughter Zion! Miracles!! We saw Athina, grandma, and had a lesson with Miriam which we found out yesterday she is a member HA HA Why does that always happen!? We had dinner with the Baileys, and they are so stinkin fun and cute. They remind me of dad's sisters and their families. Love them! It was an awesome Sunday. I love Sundays so much. They are so relaxing and rejuvenating. God truly made the Sabbath day for us. It's a day of rest. A day where we can go to church, partake of the sacrament and feel of His spirit. We can focus on Him and His son. Couldn't ask for anything better! Sundays are the best day there is. :)

Within the last week we have had like 7 of our solid Investigators drop us=Bummer. However... It's okay because Diane got baptized!!! We are so blessed to see miracle after miracle each day. Heavenly Father has truly guided us to find those who are prepared to receive the gospel. It's the most beautiful thing. I love you all! Go share the gospel with someone this week. It will bring you so much joy.

LOVE ALWAYS :)

Sister Hymas :)