We're Multiplying!

Hey family!

First off, BRONCOS VS. SEAHAWKS IN THE SUPERBOWL!!!! Did I call it, or did I call it!? People here are calling it the "pot bowl" since Washington and Colorado are the only states that have legalized marijuana... :/ Our Ward Mission Leader Lans has been great about texting us and the zone leaders updates whenever there is a game... haha. I keep telling people in the ward that I hope they don't hate me after the Broncos beat the Seahawks :)

Gabriel is on date for baptism! Sister Glancy and I talked about it, and we decided that even though he is moving, helping him have a specific date would show just what an important decision it is and also help him continue to develop his faith. Gabriel is so solid. We're sad to lose him to Texas next week, but happy that the new ward there will have such a great new asset.

Our new investigator this week is Tre', and we are very grateful for him! We haven't been able to meet with Kazim again yet and our lesson with James fell through as well. One thing I have realized this week is that one of the adversaries greatest tools is to make people busy. He fills our schedules with so many "important" things that we don't end up having time for the things that are most important. This isn't just something that happens in the lives of individuals who are investigating, but it happens in members lives too. I can think of specific times when it happened in my life. Be wary of that!

On Saturday we had our ward Mini-MTC that we have been organizing to help the ward members get excited about missionary work. It was a great success! Already we are seeing the effects of it, as one of the guys in our ward invited his friend to FHE last night and our WML is having his friend come join us for dinner on Saturday!

I had kinda a cool experience right before we left for the Mini-MTC that really proved to me that the work is hastening! We got a very angry phone call from a guy who kept demanding to talk to our "manager." Apparently three different sets of missionaries have all knocked on his door in the past month, and he's so angry about it that he says if missionaries knock on his door again he's going to get the law involved. It was a very nasty phone call, but the greatest part was when he said, "I swear you guys are multiplying. I don't know where you all are coming from, but I've had enough of you." Logically I should have felt discouraged or upset over this crazy guy yelling at us, but after the call I couldn't believe how HAPPY I felt!!! You betcha, we're multiplying! I felt so overwhelmed with gratitude for how much the Lord truly does care about His children. This man may have had enough of us, but obviously the Lord hasn't had enough of him since he has given him three opportunities to accept His gospel just in the last month! This gospel truly will go forth until it has covered the whole Earth and there is nothing that can be done to stop it!

I have begun reading the New Testament as part of my daily study. This week my paralleled reading in the NT and BOM seemed to have a theme of how the Lord uses opposition to strengthen us in our lives. I thought about how much Joseph Smith went through so that we could have the restored gospel in our lives. The Lord could have easily sheltered him and made it so that Joseph didn't have to experience as much as he did, but he didn't. Joseph gave his very blood to seal the truthfulness of his testimony. Not only that, but every time Joseph experienced persecution it cemented the truthfulness of this gospel that much more. Has there ever been a time in history where something good did not experience opposition? Furthermore, has there ever been a time in history when the good did not overcome and prevail against the bad that tried so hard to drag it down? How does this pattern apply in our own lives? We already know who will win!

Love you all!

Sister Slade

P.S. Do you remember Sandra who was on date in Oak Harbor but then fell off date when some things came up that challenged her testimony? She was one of the first investigators Sister Turley and I had who we worked so so hard with. Lots of prayers and tears went into teaching her. Sister Anderson said that she surprised everyone by starting the year off showing up at church. She has been meeting with missionaries, is working very hard on resolving her concerns, and feels she is ready to be baptized again! Sandra absolutely knows the church is true. she always has. We are so excited for her!!!