An Interesting Week

So this week has been pretty interesting. First things first,
President Taylor is doing great. We found out that he had a heart
attack on Saturday morning while he was in Seaside and now is in the
Portland hospital. He is having surgery on Tuesday or Wednesday and
the doctors are very optimistic about his procedure and recovery. He
will be out for two weeks for the recovery. We still are having
transfers and he is finishing them while in the hospital....but
probably won't be there for the actual meeting. But they are staying
on the mission and that is what matters. Please keep them in your
prayers!

So back to missionary work. We had some really awesome miracles and
found some new investigators! In our area book there was a lady named
Christina and we had been trying to get in contact with her since
September. On Thursday we decided to just go try by her house and she
was home! She let us in and we were able to teach her the first
lesson. She doesn't have a religious background but believes in God.
We gave her a Book of Mormon and she is excited to read it. We invited
her to church but she didn't come so that was disappointing but we
have an appointment scheduled with her and her family this week! We
haven't met with Nikita since before Christmas so we aren't really
sure what is happening there.

Last night was also a pretty cool experience. We went to see two
potentials that are in the same house. And we have stopped by before
and had little chats with them. But this time we were able to share a
message on faith out of the Book of Mormon and it was pretty cool. We
testified of how the Book of Mormon is evidence of this church. And if
you read it and pray then you will get an answer that it is true. And
because of that you will know that Joseph Smith is a prophet and that
we still have prophets on the earth today. All from one book. When we
told them that, the spirit was so strong and they said well we better
read and pray. We are going to go see them on Sunday. It's a slow
process with them but they are much more open to finding out for
themselves than they previously have been. And that's pretty cool.

We are also working with a lot of less active members and members who
have goals to get to the temple but need some extra help. It's been
cool to see how the gospel influences others' lives. And it's such a
blessing to be a small part of that. My favorite family, Hawaii and
Tonga, are doing great. So much fun to teach them. They are planning
on the temple later in the year. It's going to be the best day ever.
We are trying to spend more time with members to try and get more
people to teach. And we might have a referral coming soon so that
should be pretty cool.

On Saturday Shannon had her baptismal interview but it was supposed to
be with president. So President Anderson did the interview so now we
have to wait to see what president says to see when she can get
baptized. But since president is currently in the hospital we aren't
sure when that is going to be. She is pretty anxious and so are we but
we are just waiting now.

Well I hope you all have a greet week!
Love,
Sister Stephens

The district!

The mission office