"We are not earning heaven, we are learning heaven, preparing for it, practicing for it."

Dear family,

Last week Brother Donaldson from the Mission Department came to tour our mission and give special training to the mission leaders on a new inspired method of teaching that they want us to implement. We attended a special all-day conference and it was a huge spiritual high for me! Basically we will be teaching 7 minute lessons using the pictures in the pamphlets. The investigator does most of the talking. Our role is to ask them questions about the pictures and their understanding of the gospel such as "How does this make you feel?" or "What do you see here?" I wish you could all see it in action! It's simple, but it's not easy. The new method is all about the missionaries getting out of the way so that the spirit can testify, and already we have seen so many miracles come from it!

A few days ago we taught a Gospel of Jesus Christ pamphlet lesson to Anthony and the first few minutes seemed a little bit rocky because he had some questions that were a little bit off topic and he didn't completely understand the importance of baptism yet. But we continued to ask him what he felt when he saw the pictures, and once we were done we told him that we were all going to be silent after he finished and pay attention to our thoughts, feelings, and impressions, and that when he felt ready he could speak again. After Anthony prayed it was silent for a good minute before he spoke. Finally he told us with tears in his eyes, "I feel good. I feel really good" We invited him right then to be baptized, and he immediately accepted a baptism date of March 29th.

Bry and Melissa are both so solid and are still progressing towards baptism wonderfully! They are both so prepared! Bry surprised everyone when he got up to share his testimony of the Book of Mormon in church on Sunday- proud mama moment!!!

Gabriel also loved church on Sunday, as always, and he is still loving reading the Book of Mormon. Bishop invited him and us over for dinner yesterday and the spirit was strong as Bishop and Gabriel both shared their personal conversion stories. Gabriel is every bit as converted as Bennett and Verna and Darlene were. He makes me cry when he shares his testimony. He is going through some really hard times right now. He has received some anti from his family and they are telling him that he isn't prepared for baptism yet. While Gabriel still wants to be baptized, some personal and family struggles have postponed his baptism for now. Please keep him in your prayers!

I am LOVING being an STL! These sisters are so amazing! I love seeing each of the sisters different strengths and seeing how Heavenly Father has given each of us something different to offer. This last week one of my exchanges was with Sister Sinclair, who I was good friends with in the MTC. We had a great time together- probably my favorite exchange I have gone on so far! Sister Sinclair is kinda like a YSA prodigy because she has been in YSA her entire mission- crazy! I went to Silverlake YSA, and we had a day filled with miracles! We both agreed on numerous occasions that I was meant to be in that area with her on that day. There were way too many amazing "coincidences" to not know that it was meant to be.

One of the biggest miracles of that exchange was that I needed Sister Sinclair that day. This has been the best worst week. Earlier this week I was really struggling with a lot of feelings of depression and worthlessness. It's been a while since I've felt that low. There are a couple of reasons I can think of for what happened, but for the most part there didn't seem to be any obvious reason for why I was feeling the way I was. Satan was working very very hard on me. I think he knew that Sister Goode and I have the potential to accomplish so much good in this area, especially with the new teaching method that is going to bring so many people to Christ. I was praying all week that I would simply be able to feel loved, and there have been so many simple tender mercies that have come. Sacrament Meeting yesterday was overwhelming. It was one of the most powerful testimony meetings I have ever been in, and I doubt there was one person in the congregation who didn't feel the overwhelming amount of love from the spirit in that chapel. On top of that, the elders investigators plus our investigators plus a friend that a member brought to church all totaled 8 nonmembers in our congregation!! I remember the first Sunday that I was in this ward it caught me off guard how small the congregation was since I was used to being in a family ward. During the sacrament I closed my eyes and pictured what it would be like to walk into that chapel packed with people, and I prayed that Sister Glancy and I would be able to help the ward to grow. Well on Sunday we saved the third and fourth row before the meeting as the "investigator rows." During the sacrament yesterday they were completely filled up with investigators and their fellowshippers, plus an overflow into the fifth row in the chapel. What an amazing feeling!

This week Heavenly Father wanted me to understand that the things that I teach investigators and less actives apply to me too. He loves me. I know it. The atonement is for ME, and the atonement is for YOU. I hope that the Lord blesses you with that knowledge this week too, and that you experience his love just as overwhelmingly as I have!

Love Sister Slade

 Sister Goode is on the left, and Sister Kennedy is one of the sisters that three-packed it with us this week while her companion was home for some medical tests. So much fun!

 Lans surprised us by taking Sister Glancy and I out to eat at Buffalo Wild Wings for lunch the day of transfers. He didn't end up making us try the flaming hot challenge... he said we could just try one, and boy was it hot! He was a good sport and even wore the T-shirt we made for him! :)

Alexandra invited us over for a smokin hot date (aka dinner) on Valentines day