April 18 2011

this week has been a really good week. We are teaching a lady named Vanessa Flinchum. She has a baptism date for may 28th. The transformation in her life is absolutely amazing. At first when we started to teach her, she was not very excited to see us. But the past two weeks she has been getting more and more excited. She is smiling when we get in the door now. Her husband Tim is still being annoying and disturbing the spirit but we are able to feel the spirit for the most part. Vanessa came to church yesterday and she had such a great time. She was just beaming. The ward members really did a great job with her. They took her under their wings and made her feel at home. When it came time to go, Vanessa just stayed around for a while just talking to the members. It was an amazing experience for her. She was very much smiling and felt very much a peace.

The new senior couple came on thrusday night. I absolutely love them. They are going to do so many great things for this area. Their names are the Westover's. Sis W. is very very bold. She knows what she wants and is going to go for it. Elder W. is wonderful. It seems as if I have known him for a very very long time. He has been a mission president and a temple president. I feel as if I have to be on my best behavior and make sure that I am following all the rules. I already do but to have an authority near to me, we have to be sure we are doing what is right or I am sure we will get reprimanded. Haha. But he is very funny guy.

We took the westover's to see the Mullin's family. We have only met them twice and they have met with missionaries many years before. There is Deborah and Clyde, Susie and Gary, and Norma. WE have never met with Norma before. She just got released from Jail and she was there that night. The first thing that happened when I got in there was her taping my shoulder and asking me if I had two book of mormons. It was a great experience. Over the course of an hour, Norma told us of her jail experience and how she felt God and wanted to know everything about him and wanted to change her life around. We testified that this was the way to go and we told her of Alma the Younger and his experience when he was the vilest of all sinners and how he was able to change his life around. So that was good. Then the conversation turned to Deborah. The perfect opportunity arose to ask her to be baptized. When we asked her, bless Elder Westover's heart, she was about to answer and he said, "So, how are we going to get you to church." it is funny now but in the moment I was like, 'Yikes, Way to get rid of the spirit." Haha. But later on sister Westover said, "When my husband interuppted you were about to make your decision." So Deborah looks over at Clyde and asks him and he says, "Yeah. I am sure that would be great!" I was thinking, "What?" I was totally not expecting that from Clyde. He did not really seem all that interested in the lessons. So, okay. They want to be baptized. Susie said that she wanted to as well. So we walked out of the trailer with three baptism dates for May 22. I am very very excited. So in total, we have three baptism dates to prepare for. It is an amazing thing.

Time to go. I love you all. Amanda