Heavenly Father Loves Us

Dear family,

All is well in the WEM! This last week I had my "hump day" where I officially reached my 9 month mark on the mission! I thought about either taking a picture with a pillow on my back looking like a camel or a picture with a pillow stuffed up my shirt so that I looked like a pregnant woman but…. Sister Goode and I forgot. haha get it?? :) I am loving every minute of my mission! It is so hard and so tiring and it makes you grow in so many ways. In case you were wondering, missions aren't for pansies! It is so wonderful though. I'm scared the end is going to come way too soon and I'm trying so hard to make every moment of every day count so that I can look back and know I gave it my all. I really related to what Elder Slade said in his last email about how all weeks are good as long as you're trying. I had a really overwhelming experience in a special conference this week where I thought about what the Lord would say to me if I had an interview with Him on the last day of my mission, and the words that came very powerfully to me were "I didn't say you had to be perfect on your mission. I only wanted you to try your very best, and I accept what you have done for me. Thank you."

Last night we had a cottage meeting, which is basically where missionaries can take investigators to the mission home and everyone gathers to hear the testimonies of recent converts. It was the first cottage meeting I've been able to attend on my mission, and it was amazing! Anthony and Bry were both able to attend and they loved it.

Sister Goode and I have been struggling to find new investigators these past two weeks. Please pray that we can continue to add people to our teaching pool. One way that we have been very blessed is that we have an unusual amount of "golden" investigators that we are seeing progressing wonderfully! Normally it's exciting to be able to teach one golden, but we have 4 different individuals progressing right now that makes us so happy! Gabriel, Melissa, Anthony, and Bry all have very strong testimonies and are working towards baptism. Unfortunately the adversary knows that the more of an asset to the Lord an individual will be, the harder he will have to work to dissuade them. We have seen crazy and very real opposition come into the lives of these individuals these week, and it has been so amazing to me to see the ways that they are fighting back and continuing to progress despite the obstacles. Please, please, please pray for these individuals by name! It is so obvious to me that the work is hastening, but that means that Satan is working harder too. You may not know these individuals, but they are your brothers and sisters, and these people need your faith and help!

This week in my study I loved reading Jacob 5. This story is not just about trees, it's about how much our Heavenly Father loves us. And it's not just about the House of Israel- it's about how much He loves me individually, as one of the trees in His vineyard. Sometimes when we're being pruned and dunged and our branches are being taken and new ones are being put in, it can be a very painful process. Sometimes we may feel like because Heavenly Father is giving us so much change and working so hard to perfect us, it means that we are inherently bad, or without worth. Actually, the Lord wouldn't bother to prune and dung and dig if He didn't see that our worth is limitless and we just need a little help sometimes in order to tap into that potential. I think that this is why I have been able to serve as an STL this transfer. (And I hope next transfer too) I have learned so much more from the sisters that I have been exchanging with then I'm sure they've been learning from me. It's hard to focus on yourself when you are focusing on others. President knew i needed a few extra souls to serve in order to completely learn that lesson.

Love ya!

Sister Slade