Week 77

Hello!!!!

We had an amazing lesson this week with a member we're working with to

get to the temple. We are retracting her the missionary lessons, and

helping her keep the commandments! We taught the Word of Wisdom last

week, and her commitment to live it was pretty weak. We decided to

follow up that lesson with a lesson about following the prophet. We

read a bunch of scriptures how God speaks through his chosen prophets.

D&C 1:38 says,"...whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my

servants, it is the same." We watched a video of the current prophet

and apostles testifying of Jesus Christ, and by the end, she gave a

solid commitment to keep the Word of Wisdom. The Spirit was so strong

in that lesson. I really felt that Heavenly Father was so proud of her

On the opposite side of things, we met this woman right outside of her

house. We were walking past, and she was sitting there smoking with a

gloomy look on her face. We testified of the evidence of God's love

and power through the Restored Gospel, but she wouldn't listen. She

was thoroughly convinced that this life is the hell we have to go

through before we go to heaven. WOW am I so grateful for the Plan of

Salvation that teaches us the purpose of life. I know God wants us to

find joy. He also wants us to become like Him. As I keep His

commandments and strive to be like Him and His Son, I am more

joyful...they go hand in hand. I love this Gospel!!

On Wednesday we went to a member's home and made bouquets of flowers

to bring to the widows of the ward. It was so fun! We learned how to

do a little bit of floral design! Mine looked really bad, so I just

used a bunch of flowers to make up for it hahaha. I'll send a picture.

It was such a great feeling though to brighten someone's day! We

learned about Service in Sunday school yesterday. Honestly, if you

have problems in your life, focus on others, and God blesses you in

your problems. Whether it be your problems going away or your "tunnel

vision" being widened giving you a greater perspective, God helps us

when we serve others. Do it!

I went to my last zone training!!! It was so sad! We learned about the

power of the Book of Mormon is conversion. My conversion first came

from an experience with the Atonement, but as I read the Book of

Mormon each day, my conversion deepens. I know that Book has come

forth in these latter days to prepare us for the Second Coming. Read

the Title page of the Book of Mormon and why the Lord says it has come

forth....pretty cool! After zone training, we all went to a park and

played sports. It was so fun! I got stuck in a tree for a while and

was too scared to jump down. Sister Ewell dominated everyone at

football, so that's pretty cool. I learned I can't do any pull ups,

and to never order Italian dressing on a Subway sandwich.

We had an amazing second lesson with the woman we met from the service

project last week. We were planning on teaching the Plan of Salvation,

but we taught the Restoration again BECAUSE her friend decided to meet

with us too!!!! It was so cool because at the end, his concerns came

out about how he struggles to feel God listening and answering his

prayers. We were then able to address his concerns by the Spirit. It

was so cool to see his attitude change from semi-interested in reading

the Book of Mormon to very interested in becoming closer to God

through His word. I love the Book of Mormon!! Read it!

Okay I feel so absolutely blessed to be a part of this experience....

We met the sweetest girl at Kmart last week. She asked us if we were

religious people, and we obviously said yes. Her eyes filled up with

tears as she asked, "Can you please pray for me?" My heart literally

melted. We exchanged information and went to her house this week to

meet her family. That family may be the most prepared family I have

EVER met. We honestly said about two things and they were all crying.

The mother said, "I know God has sent us to you. It's been so hard.

I'm lost, and I need help." I can't accurately put into words how I

felt at that moment. I felt a complete love and compassion for this

family come over me. AHHHH so hard to explain, but it was the most

amazing thing ever!! I'm so sad I won't get to see them progress in

the Gospel I love the people of Pennsylvania!

We set our investigator who is in a wheelchair with a baptismal date.

It was so awesome! We asked if he would be baptized, and he said,

"Heck yeah!" Hahah. We also had a lesson with an investigator we

haven't been able to meet with for a while. We had the lesson in a

member's home, and the Spirit was so there. Our investigator closed

the meeting with the most sincere prayer ever. She was crying as she

apologized to God for pushing Him away for so long and thanking Him

for never leaving her side. He continued to send people in her life to

help her come back. Wow, it was so powerful.

So many amazing things are happening! I love this place so much! I

love my companion, I love the Gospel, I love being a missionary, I

love helping others, I love backing Sister Ewell up every time she

drives, I love checking the mailbox everyday, I love helping Members

do missionary work, I love EVERYTHING. Kloveyou!

Sister Sparks