Prayers are Answered!

Dearest momma and papa and family!

I am SOOOOO sorry about my last email. I promise, you are lucky you even got an email because we were so out of time.

So these last two weeks have gone by so fast. I can't believe it! So we have had so many miracles, and the Lord has really blessed us here in Birmingham. It’s so wonderful here. And we have so much success, it's wonderful. But it's not without SO much effort, and a little bit of worry, stress, and a lot of pleading prayers. We are so intent on reaching our goals though, that it's working out.

So two weeks ago, we had such a great week. So I’ll tell you about that first. We have the best investigators EVER. Seriously. So many "golden" ready people that really want to do the right thing! They are so great! I know that if we are diligent, the lord will trust us to teach his most elect children. And that's what's happened this week and last week.

As you know, we are working to get the standard of excellence every week. That’s a HUGE goal, because very few people can reach the standard of excellence, let alone reach it 6 weeks in a row. But we feel that our goal is attainable, and know that it will happen since the lord is on our side. So there is nothing to worry about if we just work really hard and trust in him, and pray ALL the time. Seriously, I am always praying. It’s great! So heavenly father has been putting us through tests though, to make sure he knows we REALLY want to reach this goal. Last week, it was Friday, and we still didn't have any new investigators. And we needed three to reach standard. And so we were a bit panicked. But put our trust in Father, and got one that night. And then the next day, Saturday, we went by a former investigator who just happened to have two friends over, and they ALL wanted to learn about the gospel! Oh God is good! It was a wonderful miracle to see. But all was not yet done, because we still had to get three less active members and three investigators to church. We weren't worried about the investigator front, but the less active's we were. Because the week before that's where we failed. But because we worked so hard on that bit this week, we had 7 investigators at church and NINE less active members there. We were blown out of the water. Definitely a blessing!

Then Sunday afternoon, we went and tracted a street that we had felt strongly that we should tract. but the day was so beautiful, we wondered if there would be anyone in. but because we had planned to go there, we knew that God would prepare someone to be in. and so after about 20 houses knocked with no luck, we tracted into Roslyn and and her husband. Roslyn was so excited to see us! She invited us right in (not a usual occurrence!) and she told us that she met Mormons in Taiwan, and then when she moved to South Africa, they sent the missionaries to them there. But then they moved back here, and hadn't had any contact. But then we were sent to them! It was like a referral straight from God! Pretty reliable source! It was so cool!!! And she was so excited to see us, and she almost cried and it was great! We set a return appointment, and definitely said a thanksgiving prayer in the car afterward. The lord really watches out for us!

Monday, a new week, and starting all over! We had mission football which was so much fun, but didn't have time to do anything else. Not even to shop for food, so we went without much for a few days until we had time to do that. But it was good. We were meant to have a lesson with Roslyn (the amazing potential!) that night, but she cancelled. So we tried to see her for the rest of the week. And we couldn't get hold of her. We were starting to think we were dreaming and that she didn’t' exist. But we kept working. Then the same situation that was here last week, was upon us again. It was Saturday, and we only had one new investigator. What were we going to do?!

But we went forward in faith. And the hour before Daniel and Rita's baptism, we found one new investigator. Tom- age 17. Sound familiar? But he smokes and drinks. We’ve got to stop that. Ha-ha. The baptism went SO well. They were so happy, and many of our investigators came, and the spirit was so strong. Sven (with a baptismal date for the 30th of April) can't WAIT for his baptism, and Biyu, Daniels roommate and best friend may want to move his date up. So that's great. And Mahdi now wants to get baptized! Oh, we are being so blessed!

Sunday. Here we were, at church again. Most stressful three hours ever. We got the call an hour before church started that we were going to teach gospel principles. That class is huge, but we managed to do ok. And we barely made the cut with 6 investigators at church and three less actives. Oh, man, it was a stressful day. But good. Then after church, we cancelled our appointments that we had, so we could find that one new investigator. We had wanted it to be Roslyn so badly, but I’d almost given up hope on her. But after hours of searching and no luck. In our last hour of proselyting time, we went by Roslyn, and she was home! And she apologized for not getting back to us. Turns out we had the wrong number and stuff. But it worked out. And she is so excited to learn. She cried in our lesson, and she knows that what we are teaching is true. She can't wait to see us THREE times this week, already scheduled, and come to church on Sunday! God really tested our faith, but my faith is so much stronger now. I don’t' know why I ever doubt. I know if we do our part, he'll do his!

Anyway, so that's been our week. Happy happy happy! Things are going so well! Thank you papa, for the postcards, I love the Yosemite one! I can't wait to go there again! And I love the temple quilt mom! Way to go! And I haven't gotten the Easter package, but soon enough. Papa, I’ll try to get you welsh air mail stickers. I didn’t even go to the post office while being there. So I’ll have to ask someone there to get some for me. So I’ll work on that for you. Thanks! And thank you thank you for keeping me up to date! Thanks for sending Nicole my email! I got her email, and she is doing great! I love the pictures of her and her kids! Oh mom, can you email Elizabeth. She wrote me, but it got lost in the mail, and I don’t' have her address. Just tell her to write me again at my Birmingham address, and that I love her? Thanks!

Thank you for everything! Thank you everyone for the letters and everything! I love them! Thank you for your prayers. I love you so much! I can't wait to talk to you on mother’s day! Yay! Love you!!!!


Love,
Annie