Baptisms!

We had an interesting week with Halloween and a few sad things happening with our investigators but we were able to grow even stronger as a companionship and as servants of the Lord. We had to accept and trust that the Lord knows what he is doing, even if we wanted someone's journey to be different. The Lord knows exactly what He is doing and we know that in his perfect timing, each of his children will have a chance to embrace the gospel in its fullness. I love this work. We are so lucky to be a part of it! I've been reflecting on how limited my time is to be a full-time missionary and what that means. I won't have the same capacity to reach people and I won't be recognized as a representative of the Lord...that is because I won't be an authorized servant anymore. Not that I want to dwell on it too much, but it has helped me see what an urgency there should be in my heart to make the fullest of this time. I am so grateful to be here and for the marvelous miracles that I have been a part of. I'll never be able to repay the Lord for even the smallest of those miracles.

We just got a new stake president last week and Elder Koelicker and Elder Bassett were here to make that change. They taught us so much! Elder Basset and I spoke for a little while and he asked me how long I had been on my mission. I said, "A While." He asked if my experience had been good and I assured him that it had been incredible. He then related to me that he was mission president in Mesa from 2007 to 2010 and that he still ached for it at times. I treasure this time...and am so so grateful for this calling. I'm also really pumped about coming home as a sanctified member of the church but I don't want to botch it. My theory is that if I have a plan and make realistic commitments to the Lord before I get home, I'll be able to springboard off the purifying that has happening these last 18 months.

I was in a car accident back in May and went to the chiropractor about 4 times and then the missionary department wanted me to get checked out by a medical doctor. I went and he said to take a lot of Ibuprofen regularly for a while and to have better posture. I went to our mission doctor last week because my companions already had to see him. He told me and Sister Riggs that the best solution is to just lose some of the weight that is on our frames...he's so right. But, I feel like my car wreck left me in a weird place.  Sister Russell told us we could go see Dr. Holmes a chiropractor just down the street from us. I had been there so many times before with Sister Ah Chookoon. He wanted to see me then but it was weird with all the medical doctors and I felt like my biggest problems (the headaches) were gone. Since then I've been really uncomfortable but nothing really painful. Today we went and he  charges $60 for an x-ray (he's like the only chiropractor that actually does those) which would've been almost all the money I have in my account but I knew it would be good to be seen. He sees missionaries for free except for that x-ray which he knocks down for us. So, he saw me and got a crazy adjustment on my neck and upper back...and I didn't leave with a headache like I did the four times before with a different chiropractor (of course there were some serious problems then with my whiplash.) We went up to pay for our xray and he said he wouldn't charge us. He just wanted to help us to feel better, so we could work harder and have more baptisms. :) Such a great man! That was such a miracle and he and his wife are the sweetest people ever! Wow, we definitely have to do something really nice for them. We are actually teaching his brother's girlfriend. It's crazy how things work out like that. I couldn't really express what wasn't right but after he adjusted me I felt so much better! I feel looser and lighter than I have in such a long time. Anyway, just thought I'd share that miracle with you all.

We have a baptism this weekend and 2 next week. Both of the Baptisms are completing part-member families. I love them!!!! :) The Lord has a great work for us to be doing here and so much has surfaced...we just have to keep moving forward and always being ready to declare the Lord's word to all of his Children around us. :)