Baptism and Guitar

Wow! This week was so wonderful/hectic/amazing!! Here's some highlights:

First of all, we got our Area Book app. So our area books are binders
full of notes and info from the past ten or so years of missionaries
and their lessons with investigators and less actives. Well, we have
spent I don't know how many hours this week manually putting in the
info from each lesson ever recorded into the app. Soooo that's been an
adventure!(; And we still have lots to add!

Zone Meeting on Wednesday! First time I've seen Elder Coleman since
we got to the field! He comes in the room and squeals "Sister
Thomaaaaaas!" Haha. I'm sad I didn't get a selfie with him. He also
brought out ze German accent (inside joke from the MTC). But anyways!
Zone mtg was so great because we had trainings of Finding. That's one
thing I've become more timid about, I'm not sure why.. But one of my
Zone Leaders, Elder Grossarth, gave an amazing training and we talked
about how if we just walk by people and don't share the gospel with
them, we are going to see them again in the next life. And they're
going to ask us, why? Why didn't you talk to me about the gospel? That
hit me hard. Everyone in our lives is placed in our path for a reason.
Open your mouths and they shall be filled! Then it was time for role
plays, but instead of "role play" it was "real play." We all went over
onto campus, all 18 of us missionaries, and talked to as many people
as we could in half an hour. Sister Russell and I taught a girl the
Restoration and invited her to institute activities.(: It was a great
experience and built up my faith!

Right after exchanges ended, I got a visitor! Chris Ann is from my
hometown and she and some friends were driving through Laramie on
Friday morning, and she brought me my winter clothes and stuff from
home! I was SO grateful!! It was so good to see her cute self(: Also,
thanks Mom for the cute scarves and my warm clothes, and also for all
of the snacks and treats!! I was like, my mom knows me so well haha
she knows I absolutely love candy! Not to mention her delicious
homemade chocolate chip cookies that came with the bag of stuff. Man,
I am spoiled! But so thankful!(:

Biggest event of the week: BAPTISM!! It was so fun to plan it
all out, get everything set up, but especially to see how happy she
was.(: I love that girl!! Her sister (who isn't a member) flew
up from Arizona to be there for her and support her. They fed us
dinner before the baptism, and we had a lesson about Joseph Smith and
the Restoration. Aaaaand her sister basically asked for a BOM, then
Sister Russell whipped one out haha. Becky wants to read it and learn
more, and hopefully sends us her address so we can refer her to the
missionaries there.(: The baptism was so special! So many ward members
came to support, and we even had some investigators come too! I played
the piano, Sister Russell lead the music, Bishop spoke on
baptism and a member spoke on the Holy Ghost, they played
guitar and sang a BEAUTIFUL rendition of Amazing Grace.(: Then the
baptism was performed by Elder Farnes and she bore her testimony after!
We had everyone write a note to her on a notecard, and put them in a
notebook for her and gave her a brand new Quad (Bible, Book of Mormon,
D&C and Pearl of Great Price). The spirit was so strong. I may have
cried. Oh, and her mom Skyped in on the song and baptism.(: I've never
felt such true happiness as I did that day!!

My heart is so full. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ, and my Father who
is in Heaven. I love this gospel, I love my family, and I'm so
grateful to be a part of this magnificent work! My Ponderize scripture
for this next week is the last half of Moroni 8:16(: What's yours?