Well, this week has been better than last week. Our fast for Kristina has helped a lot. Her husband had originally agreed to going to counceling, but I guess he came home drunk the other night and Kristina knew that she needed to get a divorce. It is so hard to watch someone that I love go through such a hard time. Especially when it comes to marriage, but she is in an abusive relationship and I know that she has been praying a lot about what to do and that God has given her her answer. She came to church yesterday!! It was so good to see her again. I just love her to pieces. I was able to bear my testimony in Sacrament meeting and she thanked me for being so strong. I know it's not me... it's really the Holy Ghost. The longer I am out here, the more I realize that it really isn't me at all. I am simply an instrument in God's skilled hands and he really does lead me to those that need me. I am so grateful for His help. Somedays it is really easy to get depressed and want to give up.. But I know that God will not let me fail. Like it says in Doctrine and Covenants 80:3
Wherefore, go ye and preach my gospel, whether to the north or to the south, to the east or to the west, it mattereth not, for ye cannot go amiss. You cannot go amiss. I know that's true.
Sister McLelland and I were able to drive to Kingsport TN to watch the RS Broadcast with the Stake. We went up at about 5:00 our time and we ate dinner and did a service project until 8:00... That's what time it was broadcast here. It was amazing. Exactly what I needed to hear! I love Conference so much! I am beyond excited for this weekend. We are helping a non member move on Saturday Morning and she said that she is interested in taking the discussions. :) There is hope for teaching. We haven't been able to teach much at all since I've been here... It gets really hard sometimes. But that's ok. I know that God is working many silent miracles and that the work in Watauga will progress. That's why we are there. We will most likely have one investigator at Conference which is good. We don't have anyone comitted for baptism yet. But I am hopeful.
We are working with a 17 yr old black girl named Alana! She is the funniest girl! We were able to participate in Young Women's on Tuesday night and we were learning about nutrition labels. One of the items that was displayed was an A&W Rootbeer bottle. Apparently Alana LOVES rootbeer. She snagged it and then she was asked to give the opening prayer.. I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing out loud! Imaging this in a sassy black attitude " PLEEASE bless that I get that rootbeer, and PLEEASE bless that Sister Swenson will do the Christlike thing and give me that rootbeer because it's healthy and I love it. AAAAMEEEN!" HAHA! Oh how I love Southerners prayers.. some of the most histerical things ever.
It's been rainy here the last 2 days and I am so grateful for my rain jacket!! I got it in the mail on Wednesday! I also loved the Salsa and Skittles and my Scarf!!! I have already worn them twice! In fact, I am wearing my coat right now! Fall is in the air and I am excited to see the beautiful trees change. I can see them change more and more every day.
Anyway... This week I am off to Greenville on an exchange. My comp is in Knoxville today thru Thursday for training meetings. So I am in a Trio with Sister Furniss and Sister Jewer. They are so adorable and I am excited to serve with them. Today is kinda a wierd P'day because Sis Mac and I are always hanging out with the Elders. But that's ok. I think we are gonna go grab lunch and they we might go walk around the mall for a bit and then we are off to Greenville for a dinner appointment. We are teaching the Armor of God. I love it!!
Love you all. Hope you are all safe. I pray for you always. I am getting to be a pretty good prayer-er(is that even a word?) We pray ALL THE TIME. That's ok though. We can all use prayer. Keep up the home front. This is war after all.
Jack Christiansen gave a talk called The Mortal Christ. It is amazing! Look it up! You will love it! One thought that I wanna share with you is that he said that Satan and his followers are fighting to the death in this war and we too often are just sitting casually on the side lines. I had this thought come to me one night as I was thinking about this..
If you take this spiritual war casually, you will become a casualty.
Love you all. I love hearing from you. Letters are AWESOME! I hate days that I don't get mail it's like the only thing that I have too look forward to every day. ** SO PLEASE KEEP WRITING!**
Peace out girl and boy scouts!
Sister C
