How's it going?  Hope March Madness is going great!  I was looking at my calendar that Bethany sent me for Christmas and on the month of March she has "MARCH MADNESS" and all the pictures from the Carolina games.  A tiny bit of me misses it.  But I haven't seen TV in awhile.  So I'm good.  But I hope that you enjoy "The most wonderful time of the year!"  :)

This week has been a rough one.  The good thing about this week, is that the weather has been really nice.  The sun has been out and it's been like 40s and 50s.  Except yesterday when it snowed.  But not too much.  So this week we've been getting out our tracting shoes and going knocking on doors.  It's so sad because people see our tags and know who we are and they are like, nah not interested.  And sometimes it's just like, okay, next house.  But an Elder in my district told me last night that he used to have that same mindset.  When they would knock on a door and the person would reject you immediately and then you just say okay, bye.  But that we always need to testify to people.  As we do this, they will feel of the Spirit and even if they don't accept it now, maybe one day they will.  I'm learning to have more love and charity for the people of this area.  It's been kinda hard though.  But you just gotta "Keep Moving Forward".  ;)  

Last night and this past week, has been rough also spiritually.  But it was amazing last night.  I was praying yesterday for an answer to a question I had.  I usually go through the scriptures while at church and I'm able to find my answers.  Well yesterday, I didn't really find it.  So I just kept going.  Then when we were doing our nightly call in to our district leader Elder Gomez he told us to read Helaman 5.  He said it talks about power and authority of your calling as missionaries.  I was silent and then I told him that I've been struggling with that my entire mission.  Then he told me to study Mosiah 23&24 and Preach My Gospel Chapter 1.  It was so neat because he said that he was studying those things at church and he didn't necessarily know why.  But my answer came.  And it was through our district leader that has stewardship over our district and the priesthood leader.  It's so amazing how the Lord can work through us and others.

But the good thing is that we have a lot of potential investigators that we are meeting with this week.  And one of them a member invited us to dinner to have these potential investigators over.  So we are so grateful for that blessing!  Please help the missionaries out.  Don't just tell them to make a cold call to people.  Go over there with the missionaries.  Ask your friend to meet with the missionaries.  I know I never did and I really regret it.  Because I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ will make a difference in their life.  But you have to invite or share with them those things and ask them if they want to partake of the blessings.  If they say no, that's okay.  Still keep being their friend and inviting them to church activities.  Don't ever give up on trying to share the gospel with others.    

 

Mosiah 24:14-15

14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

 15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

I know that this isn't easy.  Salvation is not easy.  But it is through our Savior Jesus Christ that we can receive that strength to be able to bear all of the hardships and things that come our way.  I'm still learning this.  I know that it will take time and learning to know and accept this.  But I know it is true.  May the Lord bless you all!  Enjoy all the college basketball for me!

Love,

Sister Marlow