1-19-15 Satan works hard, but WE work HARDER.

First off, I want to say a huge THANK YOU!!!! To Uncle Mark, The Biggs, The Palmers and The Corbetts for your Christmas cards!! I just got them, Happy Christmas in January! :)

Pday last week was SO fun. We went to two different waterfalls and went exploring. This is mostly for Daniel because ever since I have seen your mission “swinging on a vine” picture, it has been my goal to get a similar one. Welllll… Hna Durfee and I finally did it!!!! It was a pretty tiny little vine but it completely held all of our weight and we had a fun time swinging on it! :)

My comp and I are perfect together. Besides the fact that we siga sick, we are doing SO well. Doing missionary work with your best friend is seriously perfect.

This week we decided to fast for a few specific reasons, two of which I want to explain to y'all.

1.      We fasted for our investigator Juana, for her ability to understand and remember the lessons. She has a pretty hard time with that. She is really great and wants to be baptized, but we want to make sure she is understanding and learning.

2.       We fasted to find new investigators. And not just any random people, but people God has specifically waiting to hear His message.

Can I just tell you that fasting WORKS?! I have been strengthening that reality my whole mission, but it really blows my mind sometimes. That SAME day, we went to Juana and we were talking to her, and she remembered all of the past things we have taught her AND went along very well with the lesson. She is very ready and excited for her babtism!!! Also, here in San Ramon, the sisters have been having a hard time finding more than 4 investigatores in a whole week. That day, we found FOUR. Also, we are now teaching 3 new people who God literally put into our hands. They are AMAZING. All three of them came to church this Sunday. God is so good. He listens and answers our pleads and prayers and fasts and as we give EVERYTHING to Him, He answers us in the most incredible of ways. One of our new ones (who is PERFECT) is a little old adorable man named Jesus. We have to get very close to him and yelll in his face for him to be able to hear, but he already started reading the Book of Mormon BEFORE we started teaching, and he has tons of faith and is willing to follow any and all things that God asks of him. Please keep him in your prayers. Also. I love prayer. I LOVE IT. It is something that I cannot live without now. I still lack a lot on my ability to do God's will, but I love being able to communicate openly with Him and to feel Him so near to me. Also to receive and SEE the way He responds to my prayers as I put complete faith and trust in Him.

I want to invite you all to read and study the talk, “ make the exercise of faith your first priority” By Richard G. Scott in the last general conference. REALLY study and pray and apply it to your daily life. Not just your religious life.

Remember if we want true, lasting happiness in this life, PUT GOD FIRST. Our relationships with family, friends, spouses, neighbors and strangers will improve in dramatic ways. We will find ourselves being less prideful and selfish and more willing to give our best to others. We cannot be happy if we live our lives based on what we want to do. Let God in. Let Him know you will follow Him. And then look and wait for the revelation that WILL come that will show you exactly where you can improve. Challenges and weaknesses we have help us become more like our Father in Heaven. DON’T LET THEM hold you back from becoming who HE has planned. Let the atonement of Jesus Christ heal you, better you and lift you each and every day.

“GOD WILL NEVER LEAVE US ALONE. GOD NEVER GIVES US A RESPONSIBILITY WITHOUT OFFERING DIVINE AID.”

“PRAYER IS THE PASSWPORT TO PEACE.”

I love you all. 

Hermana Whitlock