A little longer at Scripps Ranch

So, we got transfer calls today and Sister Ritter and I will be staying her in Scripps Ranch for another transfer...we were both expecting that but still there is always a little excitement when this day comes each 6 weeks. This morning we took a sister to the airport and we have her companion with us for the day. She found out she is whitewash training (whitewash means she and her companion are both leaving her area and she and her new companion will both be new in the next area.) Anyway, it has been a crazy day w/ all of that going on. Heavenly Father certainly directs the work and there are countless times when I have been surprised by something because it isn't how I was planning it to happen or I wouldn't have picked that setup on my own and then blessings and miracles come forth because Heavenly Father knows what he is doing! I testify to that truth, this is his vineyard, he loves his vineyard, and he knows what to do with it.

We had some cool experiences this week w/ our street contacting. We taught 2 discussions to random people we met and they both took at least an hour. I'm not sure what will come from it but I DO know that God is leading us to these people and we're being mouthpieces for him. I just hope it is enough.

We are still working w/ Dulce, Lupita, and Leslie (and our other investigators of course but these are the most committed.) Dulce should be at church this week!!!! Please please pray for that!

We're having a Mission President's Fireside in our stake on the 9th. Its sort of a musical night of the missionary choir and some of the missionaries do musical numbers. We also watch mormon messages and have recent converts bare their testimonies, then President Clayton will say a few words at the end. They are so powerful! I'm excited because it is a great finding opportunity and I'll be singing a musical number in it. That makes it even more pulling because a lot of people are willing to come to support you! :) Yay! I'm singing w/ Elder Lloyd and Wallentine...it's a folksy version of "Jesus Savior Pilot Me" Hymn 104. I'm going to try and attach a copy of us practicing it...hope it works. Love you all so so much! Thanks for everything! Keep praying for me and tell Desi and Kris that I am SO EXCITED FOR THEM!

 

Sorry, it is WAY too big! I'll find a way to get it to you....maybe when I get home haha! Sorry!

 

The 1st picture is from a pond on the Miramar Marine Corps base we had a picnic at a few weeks ago!

The other is an Higo...a delicious fruit that Dulce gave us...a weird cross between sprouts and watermelon! haha!

 

With love, from San Diego

So, this has been another wonderful week in paradise. :) We have been working hard to contact more people and change our mindsets so that we unmistakably value finding new people to teach and contacting them on the street or wherever we find them. We have a lot of fun with it though! We met the coolest guy from Libya...or Arabia if there is such a place. He had 5 little girls that were so darling and we are so excited to take him an Arabic Book of Mormon and some pamphlets. Any of those hesitations to do a good thing come from the adversary...I know that. Miracles (seen and unseen) are usually on the other side of those hesitations. I love the gospel so much and our zone is so pumped about August. We are all trying hard to help people get ready for Baptism and this month is "Heat um up" August and we're even getting T-shirts. haha...can't wait! Sister Ritter and I are trying to help people progress and we know that is best done as we use members. We have the best ward mission leader ever! He came out w/ us Sunday and we contacted 3 people w/ him and 6 close after. It was awesome. He really cares a lot about our success and working right next to us.

 

San Diego has been so hot lately. I know I shouldn't complain because I"m living in Paradie, but it has been so hot!!! I"m just so so grateful that we have a car and we're not in the midwest! Whew....!

 

We added two new investigators last week. Both of them were ladies we've been working on for a few months. We're excited. Who knew there were so many organization skills required for this work!? I learned that real quick but I still haven't mastered it.

 

I wish I had more to report, but I don't. One miracle though is that we were really busy and I had the thought to go visit Myrna. It was so so hot and I really didn't want to. We had treked up that hill so many times in the middle of the hot afternoon only to stand on a doorstep sweating for a couple of minutes. I tried to rationalize my feeling away because we truly had other important things to do and the feelign wasn't that strong, but It wouldn't go away, so I followed it and we parked and walked and knocked on her door. To my surprise, she opened the door and invited us in for 30 minutes. Then after our lesson she was hesitant to set up a return appointment because she so badly doesn't want to disprespect the Bible or the Lord but after we bore our testimony of our purpse, and reinvited her, she accepted! She wasn't home for our appointment later in the week but still! What a miracle. It is so cool to be tools in the hands of the Lord...such a blessing!

 

Well, I think that is it for now. We got to go to the Temple today and it was amazing as always! :) It was Sister Ritter's first time in the San Diego Temple. What a lovely experience. There is nothing that compares to the sweet spirit and feeling of coming home that you can only find in the Temple.

 

I love you all and I hope you know you are in my heart.

 

And the spirit did not fail (her.!)

Hey Everyone,

 

So it has been a very interesting week. I've had so many experiences where I didn't know how to get us out of a situation or help someone really understand and sat back and let the spirit work it's truth. Seriously, the spirit will not fail us and no one can argue with a testimony!

 

Leslie came to the Elder Ballard Fireside and was all excited for us to come over to teach her more and to bring her a book of Mormon. We were so so excited! We started calling her a couple times a day and no responses. Luckily, Thursday was super busy! We taught 6 lessons and we happened to have a 30 minute break between appointments so we made a few calls. I decided to call leslie and to my surprise she answered. At first it was small talk and then she said, "well, I have your number, let me call you." So at that point I knew if the conversation ended like that we would stalk her a few times and then she would just be another former investigator. So the thought came to my mind, "ask her if she prayed about what elder Ballard taught." So I asked her and she said yes but that she was really confused. Then she went on to explain that she had gone to a prayer group/meeting of all women and the speaker/evangelist was really well known. She said the lady prayed over her and "anointed" her and that she really felt the spirit of the Lord. She told the lady that she had just listened to an apostle and then her response was that she was really confused and should pray about it. she also told her to read psalms and proverbs and to see if any of that applied to her.

 Wow, I really didn't know what to say to that but of course I love to try and then I felt this need to help her understand what that was and yet do it simply...I wanted to FORCE it to make sense and then I knew that I had to humble myself and trust in the Lord. I calmed down and just let the words in my heart come out of my mouth. The Spirit did all the talking and I remember telling her that she should keep reading proverbs and psalms. I told her that if she prays she will get an answer and that God wants her to know the truth. I then explained that it wouldn't be clear until she understood more about what she was asking. Then I explained that our purpose is to help others have that understanding and truth so that they can reason with the lord and he will speak to their mind and their heart. Then I explained that the Holy Ghost witnesses of truth, so you can feel it anywhere that truth is being taught, even a portion of the truth. And that God's truth is hard. So had that people have always tried to change it to fit what is comfortable or more appealing. It keeps changing until God won't have anything to do with it and he withdraws from them. I explained that Satan will make us content w/ half truths but that there is a fulness here and we want to teach her of that and make it easier for her to get a clear undeniable answer from the Lord. Then I asked if we could call her on Thursday or Friday (it was Thursday but i forgot) to see how she's feeling and maybe have a lesson. She said, "oh, Friday I have something but Thursday might be good. Yeah, how about Thursday in the evening?" So I said, "that's today, how about 5?" She agreed! I hung up the phone and then covered my face and said a prayer of thanksgiving. I've never experienced anything quite like that. It was one of the greatest teaching experiences I've ever had. I loved it and felt so supported by the Lord.

Then, a member came to a less active lesson w/ us and then she offered to come w/ us to Leslie's last-minute appointment! Money! It was perfect! :) Then we met w/ her again on Saturday and taught her about the Book of Mormon. She's pretty excited. Too bad all of her friends around here are the ones that converted her to Christianity...it's gonna be a tough fight...or maybe we could teach them too!? :) Possibilities are endless w/ the spirit. I bare my witness that the spirit will not fail you. Trust in the Lord!

 

I love you all!!!! Thanks for your many 

 prayers and all your love!