January 6th, 2014

What a week!

Serena was baptized and confirmed this weekend. It has been such a blessing to be part of her conversion. I will send a recording of the testimony she gave at her baptism- it was so great and the spirit was so strong as she spoke. She is already doing missionary work and will text us with finding opportunities all the time. She was at the park the other day and told us to come over and pounce on all the bait. Her words, not mine. The ward has been so great in being involved in her conversion and so may of them have caught this wave of missionary work.

We got transfer news this week! Sister Nilson and I are splitting up :( and each taking one of the wards. It will be good though- we will get a lot more work done and be able to focus on the people that were falling through the cracks. She is going to be with her MTC companion who is also waiting for her Visa, so that will be crazy. I'm guessing if they both get their visas we will take the ward back. I am going to be training again, so that will be fun. It also means I will be in PALO VERDE FOR 9 MONTHSSSSSSSSS. It's nuts. Except the thing is I could stay here for the rest of my mission. I love this place and love the members- they really have become my family.

I have the strongest testimony of WORK. There is a quote that says that there is no satisfactory substitute than work and I have seen that. I have tried napping or moping around when things don't go the way I want them to, but really work is the only way to overcome them. This IS the Lord's work. He is in the very details of it and I have loved being a part of it. I know there is power in the Book of Mormon and I have been discovering it everyday. Every morning I write a question in my study journal and then read the scriptures (DC and BOM) and have gotten an answer every time. It works! The gospel is true and I love being His representative.

LOVE YOU!
Sister Stoker

Serena's Baptism