EPIC Member Missionaries in Page

Lots of miracles even though both Sister Askren and I got sick which slowed us down to say the least. It was a week full of miracles thanks to the members though. They are really working hard to share the gospel. We have seem just a few of the fruit of their efforts in this past week alone, but I know that there is so much more good that they are doing that will bring tons of fruit in the future! It is just a fun time to be a missionary to be see this work hasten!

Just a few of the awesome member missionary experiences that we saw this week: 

--We got a member referral from Brother Chidester. We are over at his house a lot because we are teaching his daughter Audra. He told us that his housekeeper wants to take the lessons. She knows a few Mormons and hated the Catholic Church so she decided to come to church this week with her two daughters. Tina came to Gospel Principles and Relief Society with us and we had some great lessons. She cried in the lesson about trials where we covered President Monson's talk "I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." It was a powerful lesson and the sisters in Relief Society had a great discussion about using each other for support. They are so close and I could tell that these women have been there for each other through so many things. I felt the Spirit strongly and I was glad that Tina could be there for that. I am grateful that members like Brother Chidester extended invitations to her so she could be there on Sunday. 

--Sister Askren and I started a few events to try to find more investigators and to strengthen the members and the less-active members. We started a Book of Mormon study class which we hold every Friday night and then we started firesides on the last Sunday of every month. We really wanted these to be times where we could all come together to feel of the Spirit, and we wanted to help the members have opportunities to do missionary work. We are excited for them even though the attendance for these has been small. The miracle of last night's fireside was that a potential investigator, Dagmar, came! Her story: she is a manager at one of the dollar stores in town and a member, Sister McCallister (the Stake President's wife), became friends with her there at her store. Dagmar always showed her the good deals and they became really good friends. One night, Sister McCallister invited Dagmar to help her feed the missionaries dinner. Dagmar agreed and we all ate dinner together and had a good time. Well we got Dagmar's phone number because she wanted us to meet her dogs sometime. We didn't think much of it, but sometimes we send her texts and invite her to things. I was inviting people to the fireside yesterday and I felt prompted to invite our potential investigators and former investigators via text. I must have invited over 40 or so people and I asked them to support us as we spoke that night, but Sister Askren and I figured that this fireside would probably be small because all of our Book of Mormon study classes have been less than 5 people.
Well we got to the church a little early and Dagmar was walking around the church! It was awesome. We had no idea that she was coming. I really do think that she came because the text kind of sounded like we really needed support (which we do because our events haven't been too successful numbers wise). I felt very strongly that people want to feel like they are needed and that their service means something. The fireside went well and we talked about how the Book of Mormon strengthens families. We talked about Lehi's family and the things that they went through and sacrificed for. We made it short but we could feel the Spirit. It was a great experience and perfect, even though it was only Bishop Bunting, Brother Skaggs (who is in the high council over missionary work), Brother Prall (one of our ward mission leaders), Dagmar, and us. I know that that fireside did a lot of good even though it was small. I know that through small and simple things, greats things are brought to pass. I love this work. God is so merciful.

We also had an awesome lesson with a former investigator who just got married. She could never get baptized before because she needed to live the Law of Chastity and marry her boyfriend. They got married in December and dropped us at that time because they got so busy. We had our first lesson in a while on Tuesday and she was really happy to see us. We just read the Book of Mormon with her and she was really enjoying our discussion. There is so much power in that book. I feel the Spirit so strongly whenever I read it with anyone and we talk about what we learn from it and how it applies to us right now. Throughout the lesson we weaved in the promised blessings of living the gospel (especially the blessings of reading the Book of Mormon and making goals). We gave her a baptismal calendar so she could track her reading and prayers and church attendance, and by the end we were all so happy. She closed with a prayer and in the prayer she mentioned that she wanted to have many more nights like this and that she wants to get baptized sooner rather than later. We hadn't mentioned either of those things but the Spirit told her what she needed to do to progress. We set up a return appointment and asked her when she wanted to get baptized. She said March 1st. We were so happy for her. We promised her that if she came to the ward that she lives in instead of the Navajo ward where she likes to go, then she would be blessed. She hasn't come to our ward yet but I have hope that she will. I was so grateful for that lesson because I could see how happy she was to feel of the Spirit again and her desire to come closer to Christ. I love being a missionary! 

Well I love you!

Sister Bledsoe

Meu Primerio Batismo!

This week I had my first baptism! It was really awesome! Kelly was so excited and her enthusiasm was contagious! The whole ward really welcomed her and is really excited about missionary work because of her overwhelming joy throughout her conversion process. She has been through a lot and she said that 31 people tried to discourage her to join the church (close friends, coworkers, extended family, etc.) but she has been solid through it all. I know that most of her support has come through fellowship and it has increased my testimony of member missionary work. I am so excited to see Kelly go to the temple in a year or so! She is stellar and will be such a great addition to the ward and the church in general. She has such the greatest enthusiasm about the gospel and has no problem standing up for it. She is willing to talk about what she believes and be a missionary- I love it!

Our Book of Mormon study class has continued to go well. One of our ward mission leaders comes faithfully each time and really helps people to feel the spirit of the Book of Mormon! We have had a lot of great discussions with him about the gospel and the work, so that has been a huge blessing. 

Yesterday for p-day we went to Tuba City and played kickball with the elders and then had zone training. We didn't get home until like 9:30 but it was well worth it. My zone is awesome! The Sister Training Leaders were there and they came home with us for exchanges. I am with Sister Maynes who speaks Spanish! so this morning for language study I taught her the Restoration in Portuguese and she said that she could understand me! So that means my conjugations weren't too bad! I was really happy about that and it was a really awesome experience. I felt the Spirit so strongly and I got really excited to speak more Portuguese!  

I love Our Search For Happiness! I would encourage everyone to read it--it isn't very long and it is a fun read. I love what Elder Ballard says at the end about knowing if the Restoration is true. He says:

"You need to know that your Latter-Day Saint friends believe with all of their hearts that what I'm telling you is true. And that's why they do some of the things they do and say some of the things they say. They believe in a religion that is dynamic, based on continuous revelation and eternal progression. Theirs in not a passive belief. It would, after all, be difficult to believe such things and be ambivalent about them. Active Latter-day Saint tend to be very committed to their church and very devoted to their doctrine, not because they think they're any better than anyone else, but because they sincerely believe that they have an important message about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And they believe it is a message of great gladness and joy that the Lord expects them to share with the entire world.

When I was a mission president in Toronto I was invited to participate in a popular radio talk show. No, my missionaries didn't set me up for this one--I accepted this invitation on my own. After some initial discussion of the similarities between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the other Christian denominations, the host asked this significant question: "What makes your church differently from other churches?"

"Let me answer your question with another question," I replied. "If Moses were on the earth today, would you be interested in what he had to say?"

'Of course," the talk show host responded. "Everyone would be interested." 

"Well, that's our message to the world," I said. "There is a prophet of God on the earth today who has the same power and authority that Moses had. God directs His Church through His prophet today, just as He did in Moses' day."

And I also love this talk by President Eyring called "This Day." (here are only some parts of it)

"There is a danger in the word someday when what it means is “not this day.” “Someday I will repent.” “Someday I will forgive him.” “Someday I will speak to my friend about the Church.” “Someday I will start to pay tithing.” “Someday I will return to the temple.” “Someday …”

The scriptures make the danger of delay clear. It is that we may discover that we have run out of time. The God who gives us each day as a treasure will require an accounting. We will weep, and He will weep, if we have intended to repent and to serve Him in tomorrows which never came or have dreamt of yesterdays where the opportunity to act was past. This day is a precious gift of God. The thought “Someday I will” can be a thief of the opportunities of time and the blessings of eternity.

Even the Savior, who was without sin, set an example of the need not to procrastinate. He said:

“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

 A morning prayer and an early search in the scriptures to know what we should do for the Lord can set the course of a day. We can know which task, of all those we might choose, matters most to God and therefore to us.

 For most of us the temptation to delay will come from one or both of two feelings. They are polar opposites: one is to be complacent about what we have already done, and the other is to feel overwhelmed by the need to do more.

It is hard to know when we have done enough for the Atonement to change our natures and so qualify us for eternal life. And we don’t know how many days we will have to give the service necessary for that mighty change to come. 

For those who are discouraged by their circumstances and are therefore tempted to feel they cannot serve the Lord this day, I make you two promises. Hard as things seem today, they will be better in the next day if you choose to serve the Lord this day with your whole heart. Your circumstances may not be improved in all the ways which you desire. But you will have been given new strength to carry your burdens and new confidence that when your burdens become too heavy, the Lord, whom you have served, will carry what you cannot. He knows how. He prepared long ago. He suffered your infirmities and your sorrows when He was in the flesh so that He would know how to succor you.

The other promise I make to you is that by choosing to serve Him this day, you will feel His love and grow to love Him more.

By serving Him this day, you will come to know Him better. You will feel His love and appreciation. You would not want to delay receiving that blessing. And feeling His love will draw you back to His service, wiping away both complacency and discouragement.

 I know that Jesus is the living Christ, the Savior of the world, and that we can choose to feel joy and peace in His service this day. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Okay, so this week was just great all around. I was so happy to be able to be one of Kelly's missionaries. I have been so blessed by the Lord to be involved in this experience! I love her so much and I am so excited to help more people to get baptized and make those steps toward the temple!

I can't think of much else this week except that we are teaching lots of children! They are awesome and it is so much fun because I feel like I am more of a kid than an adult anyway so it all works out. Anyway, I love you all. Keep writing!

Love, 

Sister Sadie Bledsoe

Erika (Kelly's bestfriend who introduced her to the church), Sam (Erika's husband; this was his first baptism; he was very excited about wearing the 70s-looking polyester jumpsuit to baptize Kelly! it was so funny), KELLY, me, and Sister Askren

We love KELLY!!

Charlie's Angels?.... (Kelly's idea ;)

The gospel is FUN

This week was awesome :)

 We are excited for some baptisms in the next couple of weeks and some new investigators. We are also really enjoying our new finding tools that we have started to implement. We started a Book of Mormon study class and have been able to announce it to the wards and to the youth. Last night at a youth fireside introducing the theme for the new year, Sister Askren and I talked to the youth about proclaiming the gospel and challenged them to come to the scripture study class and to bring friends. Many of the youth told us about people that they have already shared the gospel with and they want to know what more they can do. It is fun to see the hastening of the work and the members getting excited about it and doing something about it :)

Sister Askren and I really wanted to help the youth get excited about the work, so to start off we made them all get up and do the law of chastity version of head,shoulders, knees, and toes to break the ice (head-think good thoughts, shoulders to knees need to be covered/modesty, toes-stand in holy places, eyes-no pornography, ears-no bad music or media, mouth-don't cuss or tell crude jokes, nose- "God knows best" ;)... that was really fun then we had them stand and recite our purpose as missionaries "invite other to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, baptism, repentance, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end." and our commission which is a quote by Bruce R. McConkie it starts "I am called of God. My authority is above that of the kings of the earth...How great is my calling." Look it up if you would like, it's pretty cool.

Then we showed them the video from mormon.org about the one boy who was the only LDS kid his age so he invited a friend to church and it became this chain effect until there were 26 boys in their quorum. We then asked the youth if they thought that that was possible for their own classes and quorums here in Page. They gave a lot of great feedback. We talked about how fun the gospel is for us and how exciting it is see others have fun with the gospel too.

Sister Askren and I have seen so many people have fun with the gospel. They get excited about all the things that the church and the gospel has to offer. It really is amazing the amount of resources that we have to share the gospel with people.

Anyway, we loved being able to talk with the youth. They are so awesome and they have such strong testimonies. I know that they will do great things. They love challenges and we challenged them so I know that we will see more miracles in the months to come.

It's funny because many of them reported back to us about the challenge that we gave them when we taught seminary one day--one kid came up to us and said, "So I gave my friend a Book of Mormon and he liked it. So I was wondering if you could tell me what to do next." I just stood their speechless for a moment and I was like, "I think we might be able to help you out with that."

There were many others who came up to us with similar experiences and they were just so excited. I was so glad. The happiness that comes from living the gospel and sharing it is beyond anything that I have ever experienced before.

Also, the more I study the Book of Mormon, the more I have been filled with joy because of the abundance of the Lord's tender mercies that I see in my life and in the Book of Mormon. Our study class this week was awesome. It was small because it was the first week, but some less actives came and we had great discussions. I know that the work that I have been a part of with helping members  rekindle their desires to come to church has shown me so many miracles. It is equally rewarding to see them come back to church as it is to see investigators get their for the first time.

By the way, Kelly is getting baptized this week! She is so converted; it's awesome. She has had a sure trial by fire with her families' non-support but she is so committed to the gospel. This week some of her extended family tried to have an intervention with her, but she left when she found out what was going on. Her faith is amazing. On Saturday she had her baptismal interview and she said that she was nervous and had practiced with her friend (who is a member) the interview questions that morning. She said that she was just nervous because she wanted it so much. Also funny story, so the requirement to get baptized in our mission is that they have to come to church for 4 Sundays to all 3 meetings in a 6 week period of time. In order to get all her sundays, kelly had to go to church when she was in Michigan for the holidays. It was a 45 minute drive and she had to go to church by herself. She said that the first sunday as she has passing the sacrament tray she had to get up and her dress got caught and ripped all the way down the side. She recalled complete silence and then a loud rip. She was mortified but a lady behind her told her that she had some sweat pants in her car. Kelly put them on and wore them for the last 2 hours of church. They were hot pink and said "Juicy" down the leg, but she wore it anyway! What faith! I can't think of many members that would stay for church if that happened. She knew that she had to stay at church in order to be baptized and that's what she did. She also had the bishop sign a paper saying that she came to church for all 3 hours. We thought that that was hilarious. She is such a goof. I am so happy for her :)

Okay random things: 

A really awesome spiritual experience this week was the Youth Fireside. Bishop Skaggs turned off all of the lights in the chapel and read the part in 3 Nephi where the Savior's voice is heard in the darkness. he had some music playing behind it and at the end he showed a picture of the resurrected Christ on a projector. It was awesome to remember that event. I could feel the bear testimony to my heart that Jesus came to the Americas and that He is the light of the world.

James 1:22- Be ye doers of the word, not hearers only

If you are miserable in the work (missionary work), then you probably aren't working. -President Batt ....think about that one. Pretty powerful because obedience is always tied to blessings-- missionary work is always tied to blessings and happiness.

"Many of the truths we cling to depend entirely upon our perspective" -- Star Wars

Romans 14:27 Happy is he that condemneth not himself

The only empty part of our religion is an empty tomb in Palestine

Ephesians 2:19- no more strangers and foreigners but fellowcitizens with the Saints and of the household of God.

The gospel is fun. have fun with it. and help others to have fun with it too

I love you!

Sister Bledsoe

O trabalho esta trabalhando!

This week was awesome! So many miracles...again :) Some of the people that have not been progressing in like forever are progressing. Lots of people at church yesterday. It was pretty crazy for my companion and I though. We had to be in both 2nd and 3rd ward meetings so we had to go on splits. Usually we try to stay together but there was just too much work to do this week!

Sunday morning started off awesome because of Levinia's 7 year old Seandreona. We went to Levinia's house at like 10 to remind them about church and the time change. Levinia was sick so she was not planning on going to church but after a few minutes of being there, Seandreona said, "I'm going to get ready to go to church." She put on a dress and came back with hairbrushes and detangler. Sister Askren and I brushed out the tangles of her super long hair for a solid half hour since she hadn't brushed it in days probably. Then Seanisha who is 4 decided that she wanted to go to church too so Levinia spent 20 minutes brushing out her hair too even though she was like dying through her sickness. It was awesome because them the girls walked to church (which is like a block away). She just has so much faith and has a great desire to follow the commandments. I have so much to learn from her.

I always come back to this quote but it is a huge theme for so much of every single lesson that I have: "A religion that did not demand the sacrifice of all things would not have the power to lead men to salvation." I think about Utchdorf's talk in conference "Come Join with us" and the story he tells at the beginning with the young couple who talks about all the things that we do in the church. There is no way we would give up all of our time and effort if this wasn't true. We talked about the construction of the Salt Lake temple with a few people recently and how it took 40 years to build. The saints gave up so much so for those temples. 

Last night, I came home and thought about how much success we have had and how much it is God's work because none of this came from my weak and simple efforts alone. I know that because this is God's work, it works. I was thinking of Acts 5 and Gamiliel who warns the council of Jewish leaders that if this work is of men then let it be because it will eventually die out, but if this work is of God then it will never stop and they would be fools to try to stop it. I feel that way a lot. There is no way that any of this would be possible if it was not God's work.

Also I was reading in Our Search for Happiness in the chapter about the fruits of the gospel and I love what Elder Ballard says about missionary work: "...even though, to be perfectly candid, most of them feel every bit as uncomfortable standing on your doorstep as you do finding them there. Not only do they have a message of eternal significance, but they have a divine mandate to do so...I often suggest to those who want to know if the church is true that they spend a few hours working with our missionaries. It doesn't take long to learn that no one can do all of the things a missionary does everyday without knowing beyond any question that what they are doing is right and true." Love that because it is so true!

Also this week I got to watch the Restoration video with an investigator. I was really impressed by Joesph's concerns especially: 1) God could not be the author of so much confusion and 2) shouldn't there be one answer that is right for every one? ....right? If we are all God's children then shouldn't there be one answer. One way to live this life. One Lord, one faith, one baptism (Ephesians 4:5).

Sorry that I didn't give much details about the events of this week; just know that the work is working. I know that the conversion that I have seen is definitely not coming from me but from the Spirit. I am just excited to be a part of it. The gospel is just so fun and exciting. The more we have fun with it, the more other people want to enjoy it too!

Love, 

Sister Sadie Bledsoe :)

P.S.

You know you are a missionary when at the end of a phone call you say "in the name of Jesus Christ, amen" instead of "I love you, bye!" -haha courtesy of Sister Askren 

picture of sister askren and I with our toe socks on Christmas eve

Sister Garner, one of the Relief Society presidents gave us these pendants for Christmas. They are real turquoise :)

As ternas misericordias do Senhor

Tender mercies are real and I love them once again!

So really cool spiritual experience that actually just happened today-- Vanessa, a less-active member whose boyfriend is an investigator, had scheduled with us a lesson that we would not be able to make it to, so today we wanted to stop by really quick and reschedule with her because her phone isn't working. Anyway, she invited us in and we talked about her situation. She really opened up to us and told us all of the things going on in her life that were stopping her from living the gospel. I felt so much compassion for her as she cried and told us her righteous desires. I know that her situation is unfair, but I bore testimony that through the Atonement that her unfairness is swallowed up. We talked about Jesus Christ and prayed with her. She told us that every time we come over it is when she is ready to give up; that at her lowest moments, either we or some other friend comes by and visits her. I know that tender mercies are real. Heavenly Father has shown me over and over and over again that he is listening and that he sends his servants to answer our prayers. I know that my companion was prompted to go visit Vanessa at that specific time when we could have been emailing on our p-day. Instead Heavenly Father needed us to visit one of his precious children and be there for her. I know that each of us can be those tender mercies in people's lives if we but listen to the Spirit and just do it, no questions asked.

Also this week was Christmas! So awesome. Got to see the family via skype! Way fun. We spent a lot of Christmas day teaching families which was awesome. We also got to be Santa's elves and give away tons of goodies and things to people who would not really have a Christmas this year. One situation in particular made me so happy-- So this week we have been meeting with Levinia a lot. Like I think we had 4 lessons with her this week, which is really rare for us. We saw her on Monday when she was ready to give up. Then we came back on Tuesday (Christmas Eve) and watched the Testaments with her and then that night her family came to a member's home for a live nativity. They read Luke 2 and all the kids of both families got to dress up and participate. Then they ate cookies and played with balloons. It made my Christmas so special to see families fellowshipping and other being welcomed into the gospel. Anyway, Levinia's family is like my own and I just love them so much, so we really wanted to do something special for Levinia. On Christmas Eve she had been to Walmart to get last minute gifts for her 4 kids even though she couldn't really afford it. Sister Askren and I put together a box of some of our Christmas presents and other things that we had/bought and labeled it with her name on it. We left it at her door and when we came on Thursday, the day after Christmas, she asked us if we had given it to her. We denied it :P but it was sad because we were the only people that she could think of that would do something like that for her. She was so happy to get something of her own though. She let the kids wear some of the scarves we gave her and eat some of the candy, but Levinia knew that it was hers. It made me so happy to give that gift. I know that its not about buying gifts and giving them, but there was a special spirit that we felt by giving her our best and seeing her happy and feel loved. I know that Heavenly Father has given and yet to give us so many gifts. I know that Jesus Christ and his atonement was the ultimate gift. I felt like I really understand that this Christmas. I understood what it was like to see families being strengthened by the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that the gospel is the only thing that has the power to bring lasting peace to people's lives. I have seen that peace change homes, especially Levinia's. I know that He sees our divine potential; He sees all of us in the temple, together as families. I know that those promised blessings are available to each of us and it is amazing to be able to help others to believe in themselves in that way. I have never been happier. and the gospel has never meant so much to me.

Also page 220 of PMG is epic. It talks about Ward Mission Plans but it says that individuals and families also benefit from making their own plans. We have been inviting some members to do that and they it is so cool. One family, the Duces, made a plan that specifically mentioned people that they knew and how they would help them this year to come join with us or come back into the fold. They made a Family Mission Plan for FHE and they are so excited about their missionary work as a family. I know that that spirit of missionary work is infectious. So my invitation is for you to read pg 220 in PMG and ponder and pray about it. Work with your family or by yourself to make a mission plan. Heavenly Father makes plans (Plan of Salvation) and organizes his work, and so can we! It is an exciting time to be participating in this work!

Also thing that I have been thing about a lot recently is Zion. John Bytheway gave a talk about Zion and said that he learned a lesson from a young woman that Zion means that we are all supposed to be friends. That statement has stuck with me as I have entered the homes of less-active members and sat in church watching members sit by themselves. I know that Zion means that we are supposed to be friends with everyone and take the time to talk with them at every opportunity. I realized that church is the perfect opportunity to visit with everyone that I can. I can help them to feel the Spirit by just talking to them before and after meetings. I have been so happy at church when I serve the members and talk to them instead solely going to church to learn. I know that making friends takes time and effort but it is so worth it. Friendshipping is the number one way that missionary work and perfecting the saints happens. I know that being a good friend and constantly making friends is Christlike. He was friends with everyone himself-- sinners, publicans, scribes, Samaritans, etc. He talked with everyone and constantly spent time with people. I have learned that this life really is about people and doing everything we can to be a good friend.

Anyways, lots of good experiences this week. I am so happy to be able to have these experiences. They are so life changing. Thanks to everyone for writing me! Sorry that I like never really respond but I just have like no time to email so if you give me your address then I will most likely write you a response :) Thanks! You all are awesome. Keep being good missionaries and friends!

Love, 

Sister Bledsoe

400 W Apache

Farmington, NM 87401

super blurry. I think Sister Askren has a better picture that I will try to get but Sister Askren and I on Christmas at a member's house who had a HUGE  tree that they chopped themselves. It was like a Christmas vacation tree :):):)

candid shot of Sister Askren and I in a lesson haha. the member was testing my camera because she found out that it barks when I take a picture and wanted to see for herself ;P

O Come All Ye Faithful

Merry Christmas! I look forward to being able to Skype with the fam and Elissa so I hope that all works out :) Also happy anniversary to mom and dad!

The work is working here. We have had a lot of less active lessons this week. It is amazing to be able to feel the Spirit with members that have not felt it in awhile. They have such strong faith but they just need love. It is awesome to be able to invite the Spirit of love into their homes.

This week I have been very blessed to be able to see so many small miracles. One happened yesterday at church.  

Levinia came with her entire family to church! She stayed for all 3 hours like she always does when she comes, but her boyfriend Nate came! He has only been to church one other time in years. Anyway, at the end of sunday school, Sister Askren wanted to go to 3rd ward sacrament meeting and I wanted to stay with Levinia in 2nd ward relief society. We ended up going to 3rd ward sacrament meeting to see their Christmas program. We sat down for about one verse of the song that they were singing, and then Sister Askren turned to me and said," Do we both feel wretched?" I said yes and we left to go back to relief society to sit with Levinia. I sat right next to her and the lesson was great. At the end we sang me favorite christmas carol "O Come All Ye Faithful" and I teared up. Levinia noticed and asked me if I was okay after the closing prayer. We started a great conversation about the Spirit and just life in general. I was filled with love for her and we had a very nice moment talking about the things that matter most and how she has been feeling lately. I really needed that moment to feel that charity and peace. I would have missed that if I had not followed the prompting to go back and be with Levinia. I am grateful for tender mercies everyday. They help me see that the Lord's hand is truly in this work.

Also this week was the mission christmas party. We had a nice meeting as President and Sister Batt spoke to us. It was one half of the mission so we got to see a lot of sisters--which we only see during exchanges and zone conferences since there are no other sisters in our zone. It was bittersweet because I said goodbye to my first STL in the field. She is going home and I will miss her. She had a huge impact on me, so I will forever be grateful for her example.

The Christmas party ended with minute-to-win-it games and we got presents from the mission. We will open them on Christmas day.

This week I also had to study about patience a lot--especially because I think about Brazil like everyday when I learn Portuguese. Anyway, I have been reading in 3 Nephi 1 about Christ's coming and his counsel to Nephi to be at peace. I needed peace because I was struggling with being anxious. I read in PMG in ch 6 about the Christlike attribute of patience. It says, "Patience is the capacity to endure delay, trouble, opposition, or suffering without becoming angry, frustrated or anxious. It is the ability to do God's will and accept his timing...You must be patient with all people, including yourself, as you work to overcome faults and weaknesses." I also love Mosiah 23:21 and 24:12-15 --Read them they are great!

Also a good quote for the week: God is perfect; thus, He cannot have more children than he can take care of.

Love you all! You are amazing!

-Sister Bledsoe

funny letters from the faith in god girls

The Faith in God girls wrote us letters as thanks for our help with one of their activities! This is one of my favorites :D

Whatup!!! I totally won the competition of sisters in tying "tornadoe" knot ties five ties in one minute!  Not too pretty and one of them I couldn't loosen, but hey!  It was awesome.  When we got home I taught myself the double windsor knot that one of the elders showed us a week before.  The Lord blesses His servants with silly talents :D

The brown boxes are unwrapped presents from the mission home, they had a load of stuff in there!  It was awesome.

I love snowflakes!