It's the Eye of the Tiger......

Hello all!

Thanks for the e-mails Mom and Dad!  And thanks for sending some pics!!  That was way super fun to see them! Looks like everything was way pretty and it looks like it was a gorgeous day for a wedding!!  I loved all the pictures, but I laughed out loud when I saw the one of Shon and Dayton.  Haha.... I MISS YOU!!

This week was eventful!  We had a great Zone Conference with lots of insights and good reminders.  We talked a lot about giving commitments and following up on them.  Also, the Assistants talked a lot about inviting people to baptism.  We should not be afraid to mention baptism early in lessons, and extending the commitment.  The important thing is that baptism is the gate to eternal life, and these people are Heavenly Father's children and He wants them to return to live with Him.  We, as missionaries, can help them prepare to enter into this covenant with God and head on their way to eternal life with Him.  It powered me up and got me excited to go out there and do it!

We had a meeting set up with Maria (the one who's husband died) that day, and I just felt like we needed to invite her to be baptized.  We planned out a powerful lesson, and when we went to meet with her, she was not home!  But we called her and set up an appt for the next day.  We gave her the lesson and she soaked it all in.  We talked about baptism throughout.  She was already baptized in the Provoslavic Church, so she didn't understand why she needed to be baptized again.  We again explained that baptism needs to be by the right authority, and she started to understand.  She told us that she knows the Book of Mormon is true!  She commited to praying to know whether she needs to get baptized again... whether it's necessary or not.  She will find out when God answers.  That is the only way we can know these eternal truths; through prayer and asking our Heavenly Father if they are true.

We have been helping this woman fix up her new apartment that she just bought.  We have already torn wallpaper off of walls, scraped walls, and measured and applied new wallpaper.  I can tell you that when you are stressed, tearing wallpaper off of walls will do the trick.  Anything minorly destructive..haha.  So it's been fun to help her.  Sadly, while we were there, her cat peed on my bag.  I noticed when I lifted the handle and it was drenched and stenched.  hah.  That's what I get for leaving it on the floor.  :)

I was also a "nursery mommy" this past Sunday.  :)  We taught the primary kids because we had ward conference.  It was crazy, but way fun.  There are the CUTEST kids in the branch... once I get a camera, I'll take some pics.  :)  I played "airplane" with this little boy.  To play, you stand behind the fan while it's going.  haha.  And that means you're in a plane.  We were actually going to Egypt.  :)

Dad- you should just talk to those guys from the Czech Republic with a british accent.  Hahahahaha.  That would be cool for them, and fun for you!  :)  But yeah, for those who haven't been around Americans, it is hard for them to adjust to the accent, I've noticed.  The people I teach there (at English Club) have been going so long that they have an American accent already, but I have come in contact with some who speak with a british accent... it's pretty funny.  :)
That's way cool that you're doing a family history class!  I want to do that when I get home.. I finally woke up and really saw the importance of it once I've been here.  People here want to do it, but it's hard because that site is all in English.  I wonder if there's a way to get it in Russian.  But good job!  Way to go!
Thanks for the verse.  That is a really good reminder.  And it's amazing to me to think of how specific you can be when you pray.  I think that it shows faith when we ask for more things and more things in specific.  Kinds shows that we know that God can do anything.
I hope you have a WONDERFUL week! I love you very much!!  :)

Mom- I'm glad that Grandpa Harr is recovering well!  That's great news!  I think of them every time I show their picture to someone from my album. :)
Wow Mom I can totally relate to you with the judging thing.  I have the same problem!  We're human and it's so hard to be perfectly charitable and think that everyone has the best intentions and no one would ever do anything wrong... or wrong towards us.  The one thing I've noticed since being here on a mission is that a mission = a time that Heavenly Father shows you how much you stink.  hah.  But in a different sense too.  A mission = a time that Heavenly Father shows you how much you can be closer and more like Him.  But I think that's possible even not on a mission.  I can tell you that I have come to know God and Jesus Christ so much more as I've read the scriptures and seen how they act.  How God acts with His children in love and in teaching.  How Christ is our ultimate example of love and charity.  I think that one of the best ways to learn how to be more like them (and that's our goal, right?) is to read the scriptures, just like you are doing.  And then when we read those things, we have a responsibility to follow through and apply it in our lives.  How would Christ act in a situation from what we've read about Him?  Prayer is a powerful tool too when we are trying to overcome anything.  I KNOW that God answers our prayers.  He knows what we are struggling with, and when we have righteous desires, He is always willing to help us accomplish them.  I don't know if that helps, but I love you and I know that you are amazing.  I hope you are feeling better- I still haven't heard anything.....?

I love you all very much and I hope you all stay happy!  Thank you for your love and support- it means everything!!
Smiles and laughter are contagious!  Try to spread it and brighten someone else up. :) :)

Love,
Sister Reed  :)