WEM

Dear President Fam and Friends,

Our numbers got a little bit higher this week. I feel like the work will be of the "slow and steady" variety for the next few weeks to get the ball rolling in the area.

We did find one new investigator, Carla, on Tuesday of last week.  We found her tracting and it was a very interesting experience for both Sister Smith and I. We were attempting to find a former investigator that was in our area book, but the address didn't seem to exist. So, we decided that we would find a street somewhat close and start tracting. We drove and parked, but for some reason, my feet (of their own accord) took us to the next street over. We started at the bottom of the hill and worked our way up. When we knocked on Carla's door, she invited us in to talk and answer questions while she folded her laundry. She asked us some amazing questions and invited us to come share more in about a week. She invited us to come to a sort of dinner group that she has with some other friends that she classified as "searching." :) She is Seventh Day Adventist (toughie since they believe that Saturday is the Sabbath) and she said that she is not looking to change her faith. But she just doesn't realize that she is. Carla told us that her congregation is sort of a "black sheep" congregation and they do not do all the things exactly  like the traditions of the religion says, but they strive to live the higher law, the spirit rather than the letter. Carla also informed us that their congregation has realized that the Holy Ghost does not seem to be as present in their lives today as it did in the lives of the Apostles and their congregation was having a special prayer last Saturday evening to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. We tried to share that the Gift of the Holy Ghost is available through the restored priesthood authority (we briefly explained the priesthood), but we were not able to squeeze it in. We look forward to our next meeting with her. Afterwards, Sister Smith told me that as she was walking up the driveway to her home she had a thought that was almost like deja vu that she felt that she would be coming back to this house a lot. Maybe that is why we could not find the former investigator and why we walked back to that street unknowingly.

We are continuing to look for new ways to find. Unfortunately/fortunately, we have already visited all but four of our former investigators and nearly all of our potential investigators. We have been reduced to a couple hours of tracting everyday. I am fresh out of ideas, so if you think of anything, let me know.

This week in my study, I read Matthew chapter 4 (Lari). This chapter contains my absolute favorite verse in all of the scriptures. It is verse 20 and describes the Apostles reactions to the Savior's invitation to follow Him. It states, "And they straightway left their nets, and followed him." I have been trying really hard to do that. To leave everything and follow Him. Sometimes I find myself singing a song or wanting to quote a movie that is not part of the missionary approved library and have to remind myself that that is not appropriate. But most of the time, it is having to remind myself to leave my nets of doubt and lack of trust, or weak desire behind. I am trying hard and it is hard to leave all those things behind and solely follow the Savior. Hopefully in time I will be able to "straightway [leave my] nets, and [follow] Him."

Thanks for your prayers and support! Love you all!
Sister Turley