How Christ Must Feel

                                  EEEWWWW!!! That lizard was in our house! Not cool. 

Hello! I'm happy to announce that I'm alive. We were doing some hard core cleaning this morning, and we found a lizard in some boxes that were there for I don't know how long! I swear it was bigger than it actually turned out to be, but we were both freaking out and had to ask a neighbor to help us.  They didn't ever come outside to rescue us, so we put our big girl skirts on and I kicked the box out the door! I still got my soccer skills (: That wasn't the only thing we survived this week.  We also saw a pretty bad car accident right as we were turning in to our lane. Of course that's made me paranoid to drive, and especially to turn left as what happened in the accident.  I just have to keep reminding myself that I haven't driven for a year and I need to be careful.

Ashley, who was baptized last week, was my very first lesson I taught. She has a boyfriend, but you're thinking of another girl, who's boyfriend is on a mission.  She's gone for Christmas break but she was excited to meet with us in January when she'll be back on campus! Also, Brother Adams told me that Ashley's mom is now taking the lessons with the elders in Jackson! She could totally be baptized by the time I leave! Man I love their family. Lucille is doing great.  She comes every week with her son who's a member, and  I always make sure to talk to her and give her a big hug. She's just the sweetest! We can't go to her house though, because apparently it's a mile or so off the street and you need a truck to get through their driveway.  They used to have horses to get from the street to their house (:

We haven't had a chance to talk to my little Mexican friend again, but we're teaching someone else who is so awesome!! His brother joined in this week, and so we were able to teach both of them the restoration.  They haven't come to church yet, but I just know they're going to get baptized.  They're so ready!!

Thank you Alicia for sending the family pics and a letter! Also, happy birthday to Alex on Friday, and happy anniversary to Lys and Manuel on Saturday!

Oh and I was actually going to mention this week that my studying has surprisingly been going really well.  I'm still not understanding everything, but there's just so much more that's making sense to me, especially the story line of the Book of Mormon. Haha okay that seems sad to say, but it's a real thing.  I've definitely had the Spirit with me more as I study and am able to understand more. What a blessing, especially after I just received the official news right before I left that I have a reading comprehension disability. The Lord works in mysterious ways!

I just can't believe that Christmas is already here.  Haha sorry I'm not there to choose all the good candies for the advent calendar.  I think me and Sister Achziger are going to buy some sticky notes today and make a Christmas tree to put by our packages and my stocking! We'll have a good ol' humble mission Christmas (:  Oh, and I guess I never really told y'all much about Sister A! She's awesome.  She's from Aurora Colorado and is 21.  She loves ballet, and she's been a really good trainer so far.  I've really learned a lot from her!

This week has been quite the eventful one! We had a few investigators drop us, which was really sad.  I hope they'll be able to accept the gospel some day.  It's just sad how some people's pride just gets in the way, especially here in the Bible Belt. But on a happy note, we found a ton of new investigators this week! They pretty much just came to us! Haha one day we were driving along and got a little lost, but we ran across a street that looked prime to tract.  So we tracted it a few days later and every person that opened their door was interested in learning more! That was such an awesome miracle straight from Heavenly Father.  Of course we weren't lost, we were just being led to those who were ready (:

And then there's West, oh boy haha. So we haven't given him a baptismal calendar because he says it makes him feel too pressured.  He decided on Wednesday that he wants to be baptized on Saturday.  He was so solid all week! And seriously, he's been ready for like a month. So Saturday came... We couldn't get in contact with him, so we decided to check the hotel where he lives. He wasn't there, but I had a thought to go down to the lobby and check. He wasn't there again, so we waited for a bit.  (Side story: As I've been studying this week, I've come across a lot about less actives in 2 Nephi.) We just decided to leave when I got another thought, "wait a little longer." I could have sworn that's a scripture I read this week about less actives, but I couldn't find it anywhere.  So we waited, and maybe a minute later West walked in.  What??! And I totally knew that the second prompting was from the spirit right as I got it! That was so cool! I love being so in tune with the spirit! So anyway, West said he was all good for the baptism that night, and we both left.  A few hours later we went to fill up the font, and members trickled in slowly, and everyone, except for West.  He never showed up.  We called a million times, we tried the hotel, and nothing.   We still can't even get a hold of him, two days later. As we watched the time pass I just cried silently out of frustration and anger and sadness. This was his time! He was so ready! I still don't even know what to do.  At the time, I was just so conflicted because part of me was so mad that he wouldn't even call us, but part of me was trying to remember that I'm a representative of Jesus Christ and I have to be patient and loving toward him.  I chose the latter, but my tears of frustration showed otherwise. I think we'll just give him some time away for a while. But I know that all the hours we spent with him weren't wasted.  He knows the right thing to do, and he'll come around.  I know it.

Meanwhile, I'm thankful for wonderful members who are so understanding and were there to help comfort me. Me and Sis Achziger both thought we needed someone to be our mom that night, so we ran over to Jenny's and she was more than I could have hoped for.

I think I've learned a little more about what it's like to be like Christ; How he feels when His children disobey, or reject their parents' teachings. How my own parents may feel when I've rebelled against their teachings, maybe? I vow to always be obedient to the commandments and the covenants I have made, and that I will never go less active. Haha now I have about 40 witnesses that have permission to kick me in the behind to get me back on track if needed (:

We talked to a lot of really southern people this week. Haha my favorite is when they put the emphasis on a different part of the word: HOLY ghost, bapTISM, BOOK of Mormon, and POlice. Then of course, you have your classic Barnseville accent: "I'm going to churk this sunday" "I've been skrugglin" and "I live on Ice skreet".  Haha I love it all.

It was weird to get a few invitations to come over for Christmas! We're still nailing down who we'll see, and whose house we'll be at to skype, but I'll let you know hopefully next week. WOW. Christmas already. Isn't it still August 20? Anyways, I'm doing wonderful, and I hope y'all are doing the same. 

Love, Sister Facer