Conference was Straight Fire

Hello everyone!

I know everyone is probably thinking this but I am just going to bring it out in the open. General Conference was amazing. I learned so much and there is just too much to tell, so I am going to talk about my favorite talk ever since it goes perfectly with what I learned this week. 

Elder Utchdorfs talk on fear was exactly what I needed to hear. It was as if he wrote that talk specifically for me. That is a testimony to me that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know us perfectly and that this church is the true church on the Earth. These men are inspired apostles of God with the keys to act in His name and guide our lives. HOW AMAZING IS THAT?!?! This talk given by utchdorf was amazing. When we are focused on our Savior, we can experience joy. Also, we need never live in fear or inflict fear on others. One of my favorite statements is when he said that fear will motivate us to do things, but it will be temporary and shallow. Fear will not change our hearts. I feel like sometimes, I catch myself being obedient out of fear. However, our motivation should not be out of duty or fear, but rather out of pure love of our Savior. In Moroni 8:16 it says, "I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear," and when we are filled with perfect love, we can exercise faith. I am so grateful for this message because it has brought me so much peace! I know that Heavenly Father is aware of us and who He wants us to become. He wants us to be filled with this love, as it states in Moroni 7, because He knows that when we are, our hearts are changed and we become like the Savior. When we have the perfect love of Christ embedded in our souls, we forget ourselves and are able to do His work instead of our own. 

I am so grateful for the chance we have to hear from apostles and especially from our prophet. Thomas S. Monson's testimony was simple but powerful. He is Gods prophet on the Earth today. This is the Lords one true church and He upholds and inspires His chosen servants. What a glorious time to live during as this wonderful man continues to lead and guide our church. Hurrah for Israel 🏻🏻

This week was good missionary work-wise. We had an investigator drop us but we helped him record conference and he promised he would watch it. Based on how spiritually powerful conference was, we have high hopes that he will continue meeting with us! As we are obedient and exercise faith, Heavenly Father provides miracles, even if they take some time to come about. I have faith that good things are to come and the prepared are going to be found! 

Our most progressing investigator is doing great. He came to all sessions of conference and absolutely loved it. We have formed a strong bond with him and call ourselves "the triad", which is always hilarious. We had some amazing experiences with him this week as we taught him. Since he has been taught all the lessons and still has two weeks till his baptism, he has decided to ask us his deepest, hardest questions. In the beginning of my mission, this would have freaked me out! However, when we trusted in the Spirit and kept a prayer in our hearts, the answers always came and the Spirit was always present. After one of the lessons, he said "No other missionaries would have been able to answer these like y'all just answered those. This is true, no doubt." So cool! Stay tuned for pictures of his baptism in a few weeks. 

We have a few other investigators we are working with and the members have been so helpful! Being in this Ward has really opened my eyes to the glory that member missionary work is. The Spirit is so amazing as a member testifies of the truth of this gospel. Sometimes, I am freaked out by how fast my mission is going, but then I realize how I can continue to help others come into Christ no matter what and it brings me such joy! This gospel is true and after seeing it change so many lives, how can we not share it?? :)

Sister O'Keeffe and I are staying together this transfer and she goes home after this one so I will most likely be here for two more, tallying 8 total transfers in Louisville. This city will always hold such a special place in my heart and I am so very grateful for the chance to learn and grow and help others come to Christ in His service. Our Savior lives, He loves us and His power is real. His grace is sufficient to make our weaknesses strengthens when we have faith and humble ourselves before Him. 

Thank you so much for all of the love, support, and prayers. I love you all so much! Have an amazing week ️

Love, 

Sister Dorian 🏼

The Atonement is so Real

Hello everyone!

I am starting to think that this transfer was meant to be a crazy one because week after week is a whirlwind but it has been so good because I have been learning so much. Before I go into things that I learned this week, I just want to start by saying thank you to all of you for all of your love, support, and prayers. I can't even explain strength that I feel from you all, so I am eternally grateful ️

This week, I have learned SO MUCH about the Atonement. I will honestly say that there have been times this week where I have felt very discouraged and down, wondering if I even have the strength to do what the Lord has asked me to do. I had such an amazing experience on exchange that brought me so much peace. I was studying Helaman 5 and pondering the Atonement and all of a sudden I felt the Spirit envelope me in love and peace. I felt that Heavenly Father understood me and knew my heart. I knew that He is aware of me and the efforts I am making to obey His will and follow Him in all things. I knew that all the things that we have gone through this transfer have been put in place to humble me and help me realize my dependence on the Savior. I know that if we try to do this on our own, we will be unsuccessful. However, when when we are yoked to the Savior and trust in His enabling power, we can do all things. I know that the things Heavenly Father is teaching me this transfer is going to allow me to do His work more effectively and forget myself. I am so grateful for trials and it was so fitting to be able to go to the fireside last night where every testimony was about depending on the Savior to overcome hard times. Life is so good and I have realized that you truly can find joy in all things when you focus on Christ and trust in Him.

Also, that broadcast was AMAZING. I loved the emphasis on faith and trust and serving others. Another thing I have learned is that serving others is the best way to turn out and act as Christ would. When life isn't ideal, I tend to focus on myself. However, when I serve others in those times, I can see the Lords hand and find peace. Charity is born when service for our fellow men is our main focus and desire. I know Christ loves and His Atonement is real. This gospel is so true!

This week was pretty great for our investigators. One of our investigators got baptized!!!!! She was so sweet and nervous before but after, she was so happy! And, she was even happier when she got the Holy Ghost. She said that she felt a warm feeling come over her that made her feel so good. She was very overwhelmed by all the feelings she was having but you could tell she just seemed happier :) she even stayed for 3 hours of church. It is so wonderful to see the gospel change people's lives and hearts. We also had a baptism for an 8 yr old the same day so it was a great day all around :) quick funny story: in the middle of Shelley's baptism, we had a random guy walk in and start preaching to opus about the Savior and how we all need to repent to come closer to him. It freaked us all out but it was pretty perfect timing because it was right before the talk on baptism and it is true that repentance is so necessary to come closer to Christ. It was just really scary to have him come in all unannounced and stuff. Heavenly Father helped it work out, which was good :) hahaha crazy times

We also had a cool experience with our one of our other investigators this week. We went over with a member and he started off by saying that he is having second thoughts about the whole thing since he has been baptist his whole life. As we followed the Spirit and asked inspired questions, we realized that he has not been keeping his commitments like he should. We went forward with the lesson that we planned that morning about the gospel of Jesus Christ and the lesson ended with him committed to coming to church and praying to know if these things are true. It was great!! I have really gained a testimony this week of how important it is to plan and follow the Spirit to receive revelation in those plans. As we study and prepare, the Spirit can call upon those things in lessons to bless the lives of those we work with. We are hoping to recommit him to a date this week and will keep you posted on the progress :) 

I was also able to hear my YSA recent convert from Highlands bear her testimony last night and I swear my heart almost burst with pure happiness. She has come so far, and the gospel has truly changed her heart. She is so much more confident and sure of herself as a daughter of God. She knows that this is the truth and is even going to the temple soon (she got her recommend yesterday too!) Moments like that are what make the mission. The Savior is in the details and this is His work. It is a privilege to see Him work these miracles in others lives. I love it so much!!! 

Other than that, life has been a mixture of finding, zone conference (which was amazing), exchanges (which were also amazing), and teaching those in our ward and the other investigators we are working with. As we continue to be exactly obedient and follow the prompting of the Spirit, I know that the Lord has many people to put in our path here who are ready to accept this gospel and change their lives. I know that He has great plans for us as we act in faith and trust in His power, so that is my goal this week! 🤞🏻

I love you all. Thank you again for all that you have done. I know that this church is true. I know that this is the Savior's work on the Earth today and He is at the head. I know that as we strive to cultivate those Christlike attributes, we will see miracles in our lives and we will be effective instruments in the hands of our Heavenly Father, whether we are official missionaries or member missionaries. The Atonement is real and it works. This gospel is how we access it and allow it to enable and change us. Happiness and joy are available to all who focus on the Savior. Hurrah for Israel! 🏻

Love,

Sister Dorian 🏻

"WOW" is the only word that comes to mind

Hello everyone! 

This week has been another whirlwind of a week but I have learned so much about myself and others, so it has been successful even though it hasn't been the easiest :) it is so amazing how wonderful missions are because even though they bring out your weaknesses, it is a perfect environment to overcome them. When we read our scriptures every day, pray all the time, serve others, and surround ourselves with an uplifting atmosphere, the Spirit can be our constant companion to teach, correct, and strengthen you. What a wonderful gift Heavenly Father has given us to work and change and progress with the Savior ️

Also, I wanted to include a continuation of my thoughts on perfectionism, since I have been working on it this week. There is something that my dad wrote to me in a letter that really made an impact regarding this subject. He said that we must be focused on why we are being obedient and striving for perfection. The lower law is to do it out of duty or fear. While we are still being obedient, we are failing to let the obedience change us to become more like Jesus Christ. However, when we are obedient because we love the Savior and want to do what He asks because He knows what is best, then we will experience the mighty change of heart spoken of in Alma 5. In verse 13 it says "And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were saved". The perfectionism that I have noticed in myself is a product of pride, a desire to be perfect out of fear and without humility or trust. Striving for perfection, on the other hand, is centered on humbling ourselves before the Savior and depending/trusting in Him so that His Atonement can create a mighty change in our hearts. I am so grateful to be working on this because it gives me a chance to turn to Christ in all that I do. The Spirit is the perfect teacher, for us and for our investigators. As we turn to Christ, others will see the light that shines forth from our lives and desire to do the same. What a humbling thing to learn this week. It is comforting to know that we don't have to do this alone. With the Savior, we can overcome weaknesses and become strong in our faith in Christ (Ether 12:27).

The week was quite crazy but we have had some miracles come to pass and things are moving right along in the Rolling Hills of Louisville, KY. One of our investigators is getting baptized this weekend and she is so very excited! It has been a long time coming for her and she has had some major trials come up but she has been such a trooper. She knows this is true and has experienced the difference that the Spirit makes in her life. It has been such a pleasure to serve with her and help her overcome any concerns that she may have. Another glorious thing about missionary work is being able to see the Atonement work in other people's lives and see how the knowledge of the gospel changes people. We have another investigator who was really struggling who reset a date with us this week for April 8th! It has been so exciting to see him overcome his doubts and fears and to see the Spirit working in his life. The gospel is true and it changes lives! I love it and am so eternally grateful for the knowledge we have and the chance we get to share it with everyone :) 

We have another investigator that we have been teaching who continue to progress toward his baptismal date on the 15th. He has some concerns with being baptized again since he has been a baptist all his life but with the amazing near death experience that happened and how similar it is to the plan of salvation, he is very intrigued and seeking to know that these things are true. We love meeting with him and hope to see even more progress with him this week.

We had another amazing miracle happen to us this week that has to do with working with members. We were on our way to teach one of our single male investigators, thinking the whole time that we were going to teach him a quick lesson in the hallway since we didn't have a member with us, when a member opened his door! He has a brain injury so he has a companion with him through the week and the one that was on shift happened to be a member in our stake! Then, later on in the week, we had two lessons with single men that we needed members for. We posted an SOS post on FB and an inactive member reached out and asked if she could come to one. She bore such a great testimony and then invited us over for next week. So cool! Then our bishops wife called and said she could come to the other one so we were able to have her come out with us and the lesson was AMAZING. Members are seriously such a blessing to have in lessons because they bring the most glorious spirit and really add amazing testimonies to the lesson. 

Other than that, we have continued to work on finding new investigators, working with less actives, and strengthening our relationships with the members. We have seen much success as we have involved the members and even seen some miracles from members doing missionary work without even being asked. Someone brought flowers to our investigator on her birthday and it meant the world to her! Things like that really inspire me because those little acts of kindness and love are what Christlike service is all about. I love missionary work and love this gospel. Most of all, I love my Savior. He is aware of us. He comforts, leads and guides us. He is our Advocate and our very best friend. Let us all strive to lean on Him this week and allow His Atonement to change our hearts.

Have an amazing week! Thank you all for the love, support, and prayers ️ it means the world! Love y'all 

Love,

Sister Dorian 

Cray-z Week, Cray-z Transfer

Hello everyone! 

This week was pretty crazy as well, hence the subject line :) I have learned so much about myself and about the Savior and how much we need Him in our lives. Struggles bring us closer to the Lord, and my eyes have been very opened to just how much I need Him.

One major thing that sticks out learning this week is how perfectionism is not from God. I have noticed my perfectionist qualities come out on my mission and have been able to learn lots, with the help of others, about how to find peace in imperfection and lean on the Savior. None of us are ever going to reach perfection in this life; it's impossible! Heavenly Father does not expect perfection of us, and if we expect it of ourselves then we are going to spend most of our time feeling like we haven't measured up. We must realize that Heavenly Father has given us weakness so that we may realize exactly how much we truly need our Savior in our day to day lives. In Ether 12:27, it says, "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." It is only through the Atonement and faith in our Savior that we can become strong. No matter how hard we try, if we are on our own then we will never be "good enough". But if we have faith in Christ, then all things are possible. Another thing I learned is that we can't expect others to be perfect either. Each of us have free agency and we must remember that all we can control is ourselves and the choices we make. We can lovingly correct, encourage, and strengthen, but after that we must trust that Heavenly Father knows more than we do and in the end, everything will work out. All in all, Christ is the answer and if we turn to Him and center our lives on Him, we will overcome trials and find pure joy, even before we reach perfection. This time is a time given to us to prepare to meet God through repentance and faith, not a time for us to worry all the time about doing everything perfect. This was an essential lesson for me to learn and I am so very grateful for it! 

Now for the week. We don't have too much to share about this week because a lot of it was finding less actives and people to teach. We have been working a lot with our most progressing baptismal date and she has been doing awesome! We had her in a member's home for FHE and then we had her at the relief society party. She said that on her way to the party, she was feeling really low and in the dumps and after the party, she felt peace, joy and acceptance. Such a neat experience. We have also been able to see a few recent converts and less actives as well which has been great. There are a few other investigators that are moving right along and continuing along in the conversion process so we are working with them but there isn't too much to tell yet. Other than that, we had a pretty chill week of finding. 

We also had an amazing experience with an investigator this week that I wanted to share. This investigator is actually one that I met a few weeks ago in Louisville right before I left and the sisters here ended up running into him and teaching him! When I saw him for the first time, I was dumbfounded. I knew that I was supposed to meet him all those nights ago and now, I am teaching him! He was in an accident many years ago that out him into a coma and paralyzed him on his left side. He told us about how during his experience, he believes that he went to heaven (Spirit world) and saw his father who had died when he was a baby. He talked about how there wasn't any hurting or pain there and how people were in different stages. He also said that he knew from this experience that there were levels in Heaven. I am sure you can guess the lesson we taught him this week. As we taught the plan of salvation, the Spirit was SO STRONG. A member that we had with us showed a video at the end about the Savior and it had all of us in tears because all of this is possible because of Jesus Christ and the Spirit testified that to each of us. Such an amazing experience! He doesn't have a date yet because he doesn't quite understand the restoration so we will keep you posted on that :)

Anyways, I love you all. I hope you have an amazing week and don't ever forget how much our Heavenly Father loves each of us. Let us turn to the Savior in all that we do and He will heal our hearts and hush our fears. I know that this church is true with everything inside me and I am so eternally grateful for the chance I have to bring others to Christ through it. Hurrah for Israel ️

Love,

Sister Dorian 

Psyyyccchhhh

So,

This week has been literally crazy. I can't even really remember what
happened because SO MUCH HAPPENED. Before I get into all the details,
I will just get the biggest news out in the open. I got emergency
transferred on Saturday back up to Louisville to the area right next
to my very first one (Rolling Hills). There was a very sticky
situation with an investigator and the sister who was here needed to
head out fast so President asked me to make the switch. It's been a
whirlwind but I have felt many confirmations from the Spirit that I am
supposed to be here. So crazy!

This emergency transfer actually goes perfectly into what I learned
this week, and that is trusting in a Gods will and timing. Sometimes,
we think we have everything planned and under control and then
Heavenly Father tells you that you need to change things up a bit (or
a lot). Even though that may seem like the hardest thing to do at the
time, if you follow in faith, miracles occur! As soon as I got the
news that I needed to transfer, I knew it was what needed to happen.
Even though I was being uprooted from the town I had just gotten to
know, having to leave the branch and district I had just met and
become friends with, I just knew in my heart that it was what Heavenly
Father needed and wanted. And ever since I have been back in
Louisville, I have just felt that confirmed time and time again. It
was as if I had been prepared for this transfer the entire time that I
was down in Somerset and now I am ready to be here and do the work
needed of me here. I am so grateful to have a Heavenly Father that
knows us better than we do and loves us enough to change the plans for
our benefit and learning. There is no doubt in my mind that this is
where Heavenly Father wants me to be and for that, I am so very
thankful. Elder Christofferson shares an experience about Hugh B.
Brown in his talk "As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten” and he
says, "“And then I heard a voice, and I recognized the tone of this
voice. It was my own voice, and the voice said, ‘I am the gardener
here. I know what I want you to do.’ The bitterness went out of my
soul, and I fell on my knees by the cot to ask forgiveness for my
ungratefulness '… And now, almost 50 years later, I look up to [God]
and say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for cutting me down, for loving me
enough to hurt me.’” I echo Hugh B Brown in saying that I am so glad
that I have a loving Gardner who loves me enough to humble me and
strengthen me :)

Now for the week:

We had a crazy P-day in Somerset cleaning up our apartment and writing
emails so there isn't much to tell for that day. We were able to teach
an amazing new investigator who is really going through a struggle in
his life and searching for the truth and the peace of the gospel so
they are helping him to progress. We were able to teach a few other
lessons to new investigators, as well as lots of lessons in Spanish.
We were able to move our Spanish investigators Date back and he has
been doing so great! Another member in the Ward who speaks Spanish has
been his fellowship and it has been great. I am really hoping we can
get down in a few weeks for his baptism 🤞🏻🤞🏻we also had interviews
with president and a movie night with the branch where we watched
Legacy (sister Westwood had a brilliant idea to have a mini player
playing the words in Spanish while our Spanish investigator/member
watched it and they LOVED IT). We did lots more finding and a lot of
service as well. It was a good week.

On Friday afternoon, we got the call from president that I was going
to be moving back to Louisville and switching a sister who HAD TO
MOVE. He said that he actually had it all set up so that a different
sister was going to switch but after our interviews, he couldn't sleep
and felt very prompted to move me. That is just evidence that Heavenly
Father is in every single detail. I love it!

Rolling Hills has been quite the adventure. My new companion is Sister
O'Keeffe. She was baptized at the end of 2014 and left on her mission
exactly a year and day later. This is her second to last transfer and
she is a boss missionary! We really get along so great. We have stayed
up WAY too late every night we have been together just talking and
laughing our heads off for hours. Literally. It's so great. We have
some amazing investigators with so much potential! The Ward is
absolutely ginormous compared to the other wards/branches so it feels
a little bit like my home Ward. All in all, it is a great place and I
am excited to serve the Lord here.

Louisville can't get rid of me! 🏻

I love you all. Thank you for all of the love, support and prayers.
Life is oh so good. This church is true and the Savior truly is our
very dearest friend. "God be thanked for the matchless gift of His
Divine Son"-The Living Christ

Love,
Sister Dorian 🕺🏽

Goodbye to Louisville

Hello everyone!

So, after 8 months of biking around in all of the elements and meeting
some of my favorite people, I am being transferred to Somerset,
Kentucky. It is a small little town down south and my new companion is
a sister named Sister Westwood. I am so excited to go experience rural
Kentucky and all that it has to offer but more importantly I am really
excited to see/teach people that are being prepared for this gospel
down there. I am definitely going to miss downtown Louisville and this
Ward I have come to love but change is always good, even though
sometimes it's hard ️

I have learned LOTS of lessons this week, which is always good, but
one that sticks out is the experience that I had yesterday. I have
been striving my entire mission (and my entire life), but especially
this transfer, to really recognize the Spirit. I have been trying to
act in faith on those promptings we receive in order to follow
Heavenly Fathers will exactly. As I have done this, I have felt the
Spirit more abundantly in all that we do and I have felt my testimony
strengthen. One of these experiences happened yesterday.

We were teaching gospel principles class about the Holy Ghost and our
mission president (who is in our ward) commented about an experience
he had in college. He said that when Harold B. Lee became the prophet,
he didn't know for sure if he was a prophet of God like he had known
with Joseph F. Smith. So, he made the decision to fast and pray on the
subject and remembers being illuminated with understanding from the
Holy Ghost regarding the succession of prophets and how divinely
appointed it is. What he said really stuck with me. While I already
knew that Thomas S. Monson is indeed a prophet of God, I felt prompted
to follow his example and fast for an increased understanding of
prophets and a stronger conviction in our current prophet today. As I
fasted, the most marvelous thing happened. Not only did I learn much
about prophets as I studied, but every time I taught our contacted
someone and testified of the prophet, there was power behind those
words that I had never felt before. It was in the act of testifying of
prophets that my testimony was strengthened. If I had not followed
that prompting, I would not have been able to feel that strength and
understanding like I did. I know that Thomas S. Monson is our prophet,
called by God to declare His word. I know that Jesus Christ stands at
the head of this church and guides the prophet to direct it as He sees
fit. I know that this church is the true church on Earth today and I
am so very grateful for the chance that I have to stand as a witness
of Christ at all times, in all things, and in all places. I am also so
grateful for the Spirit and the guidance we can receive from Him as we
listen and obey :)

Now for the week. On Monday, we relaxed at the church all day which
was super fun. Then we spent the rest of the week finding and
teaching. We spent lots of time with our YSA investigator and she is
so ready to be baptized! We had a great experience with her this week.
After we went to church with her to help her cut off ties, her
preacher set up a time to meet with her so they could talk. We were so
worried about this because we knew that he was going to try and sway
her, so we did a quick little fast and prayed for her all week. She
had her interview and dinner at a member's home and we met with her as
much as we could to continue to strengthen and prepare her, and then
we left it up to Heavenly Father. When the meeting came around, he
told her all of this stuff about how we were a cult and in response,
she told him that she was being baptized because we have the right
authority. What?!? How cool is that?? The amazing thing is that the
authority was the hardest thing for her to understand and grasp, and
now, it is one of the strongest points in her testimony. She is such a
sweet spirit and I am so glad that I got the chance to teach her.
Missionary work is amazing!

We also did lots of tracking, helped a family move out and another
couple move in, painted some blocks for our Ward mission leader, and
got fed lots! We really did have a great week and I am grateful for
all of the things that we were able to do to move this work forward. I
know that our Savior lives and is watching out for us each and every
day. This church is true and I hope to continue being refined as a
missionary so I can be an effective instrument in the Lords hands to
bring about His eternal purposes.

After Ammon sees the fruits of his missionary efforts with the
Anti-Nephi-Levi's, he says to his brothers, "And we have entered into
their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their
streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have
also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them;
and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon
our cheeks; and we have been stoned, and taken and bound with strong
cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God
we have been delivered again.And we have suffered all manner of
afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of
saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if
perhaps we could be the means of saving some.Now behold, we can look
forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto
you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity,
because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us."
Alma 26:29-31 As we are diligent in sharing this gospel, our fruits
will be many. It is not an easy task, but it is a task well worth it.

I love you all. Have an amazing week. Be ready for lots of pictures of
cows and horses and rolling Hills. This sister is going south! 🏻

Love,
Sister Dorian ️

Weekly

Hello everyone!

Ps. Please send me a quick email if you get this. It seems like people haven't been getting my weekly's lately so I am trying to fix that :) 

I will be honest with you all. This week was probably the most humbling of my mission. I have felt pretty inadequate coming to a new area where I know nothing and no one, not to mention having our most progressing investigator speak only Spanish. However, I have learned SO MUCH about myself and reliance on the Savior. We seriously can not get through this life without him. That is why finding and accepting this gospel is so important; this is the way that our Heavenly Father has set up for His children to fully access the sacrifice of His Son. We have to have faith, repent, be baptized and partake of the sacrament each week, love so the Holy Ghost can be our constant companion and endure to the end. I have seen up close and personal how essential each of these steps is in enduring to the end and finding joy in this life. I am so very grateful for the Atonement and the chance it gives us to enjoy and make the most of this life here on Earth. I still don't know much Spanish, but the gift of tongues is so real and it will come with time. I am loving Somerset and Sister Westwood has the sweetest heart around. It is going to be a great time here in the Cumberland District and I can't wait to see what lies in store for us. 

The week was pretty exciting. It is much different being in a car but we still get to bike to appointments that are within a 3 mile radius so I am getting some good exercise in ;) I am loving being able to listen to music again! It's the little things for sure. 

We have been doing a lot of finding because we don't have many investigators right now and we have been seeing success! We found a few new investigators last night while visiting less active apps and found a few more tracking throughout the week. It is too early to know their potential yet but we will keep you posted. 

Like I said before, we have a baptismal date that speaks Spanish, along with a recent convert! My first lesson with him was a struggle because the only words I remember from high school are cebolla (onion) and lechuga (lettuce) so after that, I started studying Spanish in the pamphlets, Book of Mormon, everything! I was pretty happy when we taught out recent convert the plan of salvation and I could contribute to the lesson. Our teaching is extremely simple but honestly, it is better that way! Instead of getting caught up in all of the details, I am being forced to teach as simply as I possibly can. I love it! Any Spanish tips would be much appreciated for all you Spanish missionaries:)

Another fun highlight of the week is we got to go back to Louisville for the baptism of sister Moore and I's YSA investigator. It was the sweetest baptism ever and she was glowing when she got up and bore her testimony after of the prophet and Gods love for us. It was good to see the crew again too while I was up there, but I was excited to come back to our area. 

Our branch is the sweetest little thing ever. I already love them and can't wait to serve with them. We are a combined branch with Monticello (the area below us) so we have Elders there. They are pretty awesome so working together will be a blast! 

Anyways, I love you all. I am loving life and learning lots. This church is so true. It is the one true church with the authority to act in Gods name on the Earth. How fortunate are we to know what we know. Let us share it is any possible way that we can, so that we can experience all of the joy that Heavenly Father has in store for us. 

Hurrah for Israel!

Love, 

Sister Dorian 

Alma 37:44 (this whole chapter is bomb. Here is one of my favorite verses)

"Pues he aquí, tan fácil es prestar atención a la palabra de Cristo, que te indicará un curso directo a la felicidad eterna, como lo fue para nuestros padres prestar atención a esta brújula que les señalaba un curso directo a la tierra prometida."

"For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land."