Trudging through the snow

Date: 01-13-2014
Area: Montpelier/Cokeville
Companion: Sister Tomsik
Well, this week has been amazing!  And I am sorry to say that I dont have a lot of time to email so this is going to be pretty short which makes me sad because so much has gone on. I have so much to report but not enough time. So I guess I will just do a small highlight about everyday (which I kinda already do) But I am going to start with Sunday because I feel like my emails kinda trickle off as I get to the end of the week. So I am going to start with the end. But, before I start my week, I just wanted to remind everyone of the challenge I gave you all this past week. To share your testimony with people. And I was wondering if any of you had done that? And if so, how did it feel? I hope that all of you were able to share your testimony with at least one person :) 
Sunday was a good day. We stayed the night in Cokeville on Saturday so that we could go to their ward council. It was a good ward council. The members here are very involved in the missionary work and it is super exciting to work with them. We also talked in the Geneva ward... Which I am not sure how it is a ward because there were only about 35 people there and that was super weird! Lol I felt like I was talking to no one. But it went pretty well. I talked about setting goals! :) Then Sunday night we had a lesson with a lady who is inactive and she is wanting to go to the temple. So we are just working on getting her excited to go so that she actually does something about it. 
Saturday was a pretty good day. we spent the night in Cokeville. And Saturday afternoon we had a lesson with a lady named Jean. I guess you need the back story on her. There is a lady in one of our wards and she was wanting to have us over because her friend is not a member and she wanted to introduce her to the gospel. But she was getting a divorce and she was going to move back to the Philippines (that is where she is from). But she ended up not going back yet so the member invited us over for some lunch and to have a lesson with Jean. Well, as we were talking with her and just getting to know her our conversation just moved right into the gospel and she was agreeing with everything that we said. And I brought up baptism and she said that baptism happens when you know that the church is true. And so we didnt invite her to be baptized yet. But on Saturday we had a church tour and it was amazing! When we showed her the baptismal font she was so excited and she was just so amazed! :) And while we were there we talked a lot about the priesthood and she said that it was really nice and that she wanted the priesthood in her life. But after the font we went into the chapel and we talked about the sacrament and about Christ and the atonement. Then we watched a video about Christ and His last week here on the earth and the spirit was so strong. And as I was watching this video I thought about all of the pain the Christ went through for me and how many mistakes I have made in my life. And how through Him, I am able to be cleansed and am able to return to my Father in Heaven. But, after the video, we were talking with Jean and we invited her to be baptized and she said YES! But, she isnt sure when she is going to be going back to the Philippines and doesnt know if she will be able to be baptized here in Idaho. But, we are really praying for her that she stays and that everything will work out for her. So, if you could pray for her that would be amazing!
Friday we were in Cokeville for part of the day. it was really cool because we were at a members home and she was telling us about this girl who came into her seminary class and asked to sign up for seminary... She isnt a member. So, we go over to this girls house and we talk with her and her parents. Her parents are members but they are very inactive. But as we were talking with them, we asked Mia (the daughter) if she would want to take the lessons and she was really shy and kept looking at her mom for approval. So we are pretty sure that her mom is holding her back. But Mia wanted to show us something in her room so we go to her room and it was just us and Mia (Mia is 14) and as we are talking with her we ask her about seminary and if she is excited and she said that she was. And we also asked her if she would want to be baptized and she said that she wanted to. So we talked to her a little more about taking the lessons and we told her that we would let her be in seminary for a week and then come back and check if she enjoyed it and we will go from there. So that is a potential baptism right there! YAY! :) 
Thursday not a lot happened. We had our weekly planning and that was pretty good. We had a lesson with a recent convert Rene and he only speaks spanish so we cant communicate with him. And while we were in the lesson they were not translating anything so my companion and i were clueless haha but you could tell that the spirit was there and that he really wants to get the priesthood. So that is super exciting! :) We also had a lesson with a Sister whos husband is not a member and we are going to teach her little son who is six so that he can learn about the gospel. And he said that she was going to ask her husband if he wanted to sit in on the lessons! That was super exciting! 
Wednesday was a day of miracles! It was amazing! We had goals set for the day and they were three lessons with members present, two lessons with less actives or recent converts and a referral contacted and also a new investigator. Well, all three of our lessons with members were set that day. And we received a call from one of our investigators that she didnt want to meet with us anymore. And that was one of our member present lessons. So we were bummed but we didnt let that get us down. So we pressed forward and we saw all of the people that we could.. And guess what! WE MADE ALL OF OUR GOALS!!! YAY!!!! 
Tuesday was good. We had zone training and it was super good. I really enjoyed it. Our zone is the leading zone in the mission and this month our goal for baptisms in our zone is 30!!! and the highest baptisms in a zone for a month was 16 and we are going to double that! And the 16 baptisms in a month was done by our zone. So, we are going to beat our own record! SUPER EXCITING! 
Monday was a good day as well. We taught a less active boy. His mom really wants help to get him active again so we are doing everything that we can... Oh and the lady whos house we were at... She is going to make us skirts! Like, long heavy skirts so that they are warmer... I bet you like that mom! Haha. But it was super nice of her! 
Well, I am so sorry, but I am our of time... So I need to go. And I am sorry that this email is not the best. But I hope that you see the miracles that are happening! Not only in this email but in your own lives! The Lord blesses those that are exactly obedient and I have seen the blessing flow into my life! I LOVE YOU ALL! :) 
Love, 
Sister Ashley Halbison