speechless

dear fam + friends, 

sometimes im speechless. oh wait, thats ALL THE TIME. days and weeks are too good to ever put into an email. you know, thats probably the hardest thing about my mission is not letting you see and feel the things i do. it breaks my heart really!!! i just pray fervently that i remember and am able to relive these moments so you can see just HOW real this gospel really is in our lives! 

to start-- i want to share a miracle. when i first got here they were teaching a boy, Shayden, who wasn't progressing. he didnt have a desire to stop smoking weed/cigs he had no desire to change but he knew everything was true and accepted it. last week after church we walked to the temple where we knelt in prayer and he offered a prayer that he would get a job and that he could, if possible, change his life over because he just needs to keep busy so this job would help. 2 days later, HE GOT THE JOB!!! he called us afterward and said "sisters, i haven't smoked in 3 days. we chatted, and then shared a miracle of how we had just met a cool boy and he wants to be baptized on the 26!! there was silence--- and Shayden said, can i be baptized with him? we've been meeting with him veryyyy frequently and he is STELLAR. he welcomes people into church and is literally living proof of repentance. there is nothing you CAN'T give up!!

so that miracle cool boy that wants to get baptized on the 26? CODY! holy moly.. we were waiting in front of the universities library for Shayden to show up and there was a guy on a computer so i went up to him and said "hi" hahahahaha and he looked at me and was like "hello there" we ended up having a nice chat about the book of mormon. he is native. (that culture... gets me every time) we met with him the next day and shared the restoration with him and he committed to baptism on the 26! when he came to church he said "i read the mormon book and it was pretty cool. i actually felt connected." SO LEGIT.

oh hey, and how did that commitment i left with ya'll go?? did you remember your covenant at baptism?!! 

the work really is hastening-- EVERY WHERE!! i am so incredibly grateful that i am here- that i can see it- so that i can DO it- FOREVER. i will do it forever. and im grateful the book of mormon has taught me how!! IT'S REAL! IT'S ALL REAL!!! 

everyone is home. i cant believe it! i hope that just gives you the energy and motivation to catch the missionary spirit!! 

sister ovard