Happy New Year

Hey y'all!

Happy new year everyone! I can't believe it is 2017 already. It seems like just yesterday that 2016 started and now it has come and gone. So much happened last year and I think it was my favorite yet. It so amazing how much can happen in just one year, like coming on a mission! I will have hit my 6 month mark as a missionary on January 6th and that absolutely blows my mind. Sometimes I wish time would just slow down but alas, I am grateful for the time that Heavenly Father gives me each and every day and I hope I can use it as productively as I can! 

This week has been great! Sad because the GKLM only has one more week with Sister Henderson in it, but great because Heavenly Father has continued to bless us in this week that we are doing with Him. 

On Monday, we went to Frankfort Ave after getting all of our chores done and were tourists for the day. Even though half the shops were closed, it ended up being a warm day so we got to sit outside to email which was nice. We even bumped into Abbie's dad and he bought us yummy apple cider :) that night we went to Old Spaghetti Factory with a member and then helped feed another member's cat while they were away. That night we got to see one of our investigators that has been sick for a while so it was a blessing to visit with her. We also got to see one of our investigators that we haven't been able to see for a while. It was actually such a miracle that we saw her. On our way over, we felt prompted to tract an apartment complex where no one would answer and then contact a family that was not interested. We bumped into our investigator on our way out of her apartment complex, so if we wouldn't have stopped at those places, we would have missed her! So, even when things don't turn out how we think they will, if we follow the Spirit, they always work out :) 

On Tuesday, we did lots of biking to see investigators and set up appointments. We were able to have a lesson with one of our recently found new investigators who met with missionaries for a year back when sisters were in this area before. She was never baptized because she was never really able to recognize her answers. We read the Book of Mormon with her and the Spirit was so strong! She even had a verse pop out to her as she read. Unfortunately, she still wasn't able to recognize it, even though we tried hard to point it out. We are continuing to work with her but if anyone has any advice, it would be much appreciated! We were also able to go out with our Ward mission leaders daughter that night as well which was a great experience. That night, we got to have a sleepover with Sister Peterson, a sister who went home a few weeks early for school. She is super sweet so it was a super fun time!

Wednesday was a great day as week. We did service for a less active and then went and visited investigators again. It has been nice to teach people who all love within close distance of each other so that we can go see them all at once. That afternoon, we called a potential and he said he was home and had some time to talk. We went over and read the Intro of the Book of Mormon and by the end of the lesson he was very enthusiastic about the message and wanted to include his friends in his discussions. He accepted a date right here on the spot so we are excited to see his progression!

Thursday was a super fun day! We helped set up a funeral before district meeting and then we went and applied our training that we received. We realized that lots of our investigators have not been progressing and we have been spending too much time planning/trying to contact and teach them. We both felt inspired to go and gather the intent of as many investigators as we could that day and throughout the rest of the week. Although we had to drop people, it has given us much more time to find those who are more prepared as well as spend the time we have with those who are progressing. In D&C 4, it states "For behold the field is white already to harvest..." Our job as missionaries is to harvest! Although it hurts my heart sometimes to let them go, I find comfort in knowing that even though they aren't ready now, Heavenly Father will give them more chances in the future as he sees fit. So, we must trust in His timing and move on with the work that He has given us to do.

On Friday, we did weekly planning and then went and made the rounds. That afternoon, we had our Ward mission leaders daughter with us so we went and had another lesson with our investigator above who is having difficulties feeling the Spirit. Our member bore great testimony of the scriptures and how she has applied them to her life and it was a great lesson. She is still struggling to commit to much so we don't know how much longer we can teach her but we hope to make some progress tonight. If not, we will move on, so hopefully she shows real intent! 

On Saturday we got to teach a less active that I haven't seen since Sister Israelsen lesft and guess what? They came to church! We were so excited. We think they are trying to make changes in their lives associated with the New Year and that just brings so much joy to my heart. Each of us has things we can work on for the new year and when we strive to accomplish those things with faith in our Savior, our hearts can be changed. We love them and hope to continue seeing more of them for many many years to come :) we found another lady having a really hard time in an apartment complex that we have been working so we were able to testify of the peace found through our Savior and His gospel. She was very interested in learning more but can't meet yet so we will keep y'all posted on her! We also saw Miranda that afternoon. She is doing really well! She is so ready to be baptized. More news on that next week because some scheduling things are up in the air but no matter what, she is awesome! 

Since Saturday night was New Year's Eve, we weren't allowed to proselyte, but we got special permission to stay out until 11pm! So we went over to a member's house and ate lots of food while we played telestrations. SO MUCH FUN! 

Sunday was great as well. Sister Henderson and I gave talks :) we went and taught some lessons and then went to go tracking. There is this neighborhood that I have had the impression to work in for a while so we finally made it over there. Before we even made it to the street, we found two guys unloading a truck and decided to help them. They are both interested in meeting with us again so we are going to try for next week. When no one was interested in the neighborhood, I knew we had come for them. It was so great! That night we saw Miranda again and had an amazing lesson with a member on family history and temple work. She has a grandmother that she feels very drawn to and is very excited to do her baptism once she is baptized. So exciting! 

I love y'all so much! Thank you for all of the love, support and prayers. I am so grateful for this gospel and the truths found in it. This is Christ's church, restored through a prophet on the Earth today! We have scriptures and the Holy Ghost to lead and guide us through ever phase of our lives. As we focus on the Savior, we will find joy. He is the source of strength, peace, and happiness. He has overcome the world. As we allow Him into our hearts, He will change us and fit us for Heaven :) In a talk called Mountains to Climb by Henry B. Eyring, he says, "I cannot promise an end to your adversity in this life. I cannot assure you that your trials will seem to you to be only for a moment. One of the characteristics of trials in life is that they seem to make clocks slow down and then appear almost to stop.

    There are reasons for that. Knowing those reasons may not give much comfort, but it can give you a feeling of patience. Those reasons come from this one fact: in Their perfect love for you, Heavenly Father and the Savior want you fitted to be with Them to live in families forever. Only those washed perfectly clean through the Atonement of Jesus Christ can be there." Through Christ, we can make it home. If we do as He asks, what a glorious reunion it will be for all of us :)

Have a great week!

Love, 

Sister Dorian :)

"Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me" D&C 50:41