Just the Weekly

Teaching 2 less active families who now want to go to the temple.  They both are young families, with kids, so it will be a blast to teach them and help them progress.

Seeing Sister Morotti being inspired with a scripture that made a member cry.  I love seeing growth, especially in the sisters I serve with, and it was very rewarding to see her receive that inspiration and then to see the fruits of her listening to the Spirit.  (By the way, the scripture was D&C 98:1-4).

Decorating for Tamarye's Mom's wedding.  (Tamarye is getting baptized this Saturday!!!!) Decorating, I've decided is the best type of service.  Much better than helping big families move into a three story house.  :]

The wedding! It was held in the Relief Society room, and it strengthened my testimony of the temple, interestingly enough.  I'm so grateful that I get to serve next to the House of the Lord every week, and have that reminder to stay worthy.

Why I Believe!  This was probably my favorite part of the week.  Kadie (who got baptized on Aug. 26) was one of the speakers.  She told her story and it was incredible to hear again how she found the church, and changed her life because of the peace she felt.  Ema Munu (the recent convert who just went through the temple) was there too, as well as Ike.  He was confirmed on Sunday, and he was glowing as well.  Ah! I never wanted to leave.  These people are just good, good people. 

And then we've been busy with appointments.  Such a blessing, especially in this area. 

Zone Conference was Monday, and it was wonderful.  Can't describe it.  I wish you all could just experience one.

And there's the week.  Sorry it's fast.  Love you all!

Stay true to what's eternal.

-Sister Welch

Rushing Again.

We went to the city today, got back a little late, and so this one is

going to be quick too.   Sorry!  But I hope you enjoyed the pictures

from last week.  :]

Amazing people we're teaching right now:

Susan-came to church two weeks in a row, is reading the Book of Mormon every night, and is the most pure spirit I've ever met.  She is so sweet! She's also a cat lady in every sense of the term.  It makes me laugh.

Tracy-has the hardest life I've ever heard of.  Everything wrong that could happen, has happened to her family.  And that's a pretty scary thought with the way this world is.  However, she LOVES the church, and is getting baptized!!!  And so is her son, Anthony.  He's 11 and loves church too, which equals automatically a choice spirit.  How many 11 year olds do you know that love going to church?

Kathlyn-self-referral from festival of lights.  She is 18 and it is an honor to be in her presence.  She is one of the most spiritually mature people I've ever met, and during our first lesson with her, she kept saying, "Wow" and "That makes sense!" and "Another book! That's awesome!"  Eeeee!!! I love being a missionary!!!  She really is incredible and will be baptized for sure.

And we're teaching many more wonderful and prepared people.  This area should have 20 baptisms next transfer.  :]

Also, I wanted to share a conversation I had with Sister Wong on a very cold day.

Me: Do you think if I wore a ski mask people would take me seriously?

Sister Wong: What's a ski mask?

Me: It's like a hat that covers your face with two holes cut out for the eyes.

Sister Wong. Ohhhhh.......I think they'd take you very seriously.

Hahaha!  I love her.  I have had the best companions.

And I love you all as well! Stay true to what's eternal.

Love, Sister Welch

Do you remember the time....

when I was little, and Ben and I would hide under the table and untie the missionaries' shoes during dinner? Well, that happened to me the other night, but it was so strange to be on the other end!  We were at a member's house for dinner, and after one of their little boys was done eating, he went under the table and started playing with our feet.  I was wearing flats, so he couldn't untie my shoes, but it was still so strange to realize that I was the missionary, not the one under the table.  I felt old for a second, but it made me laugh to realize that I'm a missionary!

I had that happen a couple times this week.  As we were just driving down one of the beautiful, scenic roads in Maryland, I thought, "I'm a missionary!  I'm really doing this! Is this really what people were talking about when they talk about missionary work?  Wow! And I'm doing it!"  It was a strange realization.  I don't know why it hit me then, but it did.

The other fun thing that happened this week, was that I saw Elder Austin Lee!! He's in the Baltimore mission, which you probably knew, but he came up to the Visitors' Center with an investigator.  I didn't realize that he's been out for a year and a half! It was so good to see him, and talk to him for a little bit.  He looks like he's doing fantastic and he wanted me to tell you hello.  So "hello."  :]

Other news: Sister Lawrence (the sister that's allergic to chemicals, especially bug spray), is getting transferred to the Las Vegas Nevada Mission!!  We are all SO sad to see her go, but she loses her voice whenever someone uses chemicals, and so she had to be transferred.  But...I told her that I'm praying really hard she'll go to our ward, so that you can adopt her.  Transfers are on the 28th, and that's when she's coming, so keep your eye out for her and please, please make her feel loved.  (She always wears a flower in her hair, and she's a brunette, and so fun and happy and incredible.  She'll be easy to adopt.)

By the way, I gave Sister Lewis Joan and Dennis' information so that she could offer a free movie or missionary visit.  How is Dennis doing, health-wise?  Sister Lewis just wanted to know so that she could guide the conversation easier. 

Two stories.  First, do you like the stories? Or the miracle per day? Or just the investigator update? Or all of it?  I'm never quite sure and my letter always feel so discombobulated, so feel free to let me know what you like reading.

So, last Friday I was on exchange.  I stayed in our area, and one of the four VC Trainers (kind of like a Sister AP), came to my area and Sister Hazen went to the city.  Sister Chan was her name, and we had an incredible night.  We taught Pat, the 7th Day Adventist, and we had planned on teaching the Plan of Salvation, but that is not how the lesson went.  Apparently, the last time we taught, it was not to her needs, because this time, she had so many questions, and was so confused.  We spent the whole time talking about the Book of Mormon and the Sabbath Day.  We taught in my favorite way, which is through asking her questions, so she does most of the talking and teaches herself.  It was powerful.  And she understood so much better.  At the end of the lesson, I bore my testimony of the Restoration and it was interesting, because my emotions have been very near the surface this past week.  But I made it through, and when I was finished, Pat took a second to think and then said, "You have such a light about you.  I can see it in your eyes.  And I can tell, without even reading the Book of Mormon, that it has to be true because of the way you speak about it."  Oh my goodness.  It was such a tender mercy to hear those words.  In my setting apart blessing, I was blessed with the power Nephi had in 3 Nephi 7:17-18.  I saw that promise in effect that night, and it was such a blessing. 

The other story is a quick one.  Last night was "Night of Music and Inspiration."  This is a program where the missionaries sing a couple of songs, and there are some that speak and bear their testimonies.  The theme for this one was "A Walk Through the Savior's Life."  It was incredible.  I cried through the whole thing, which was a little bit of a problem because I was playing the piano for half of the songs and I couldn't see my music.  But I LOVE that I am able to play the piano so much. I just hope that other missionaries get the opportunity as well.  They're all so funny and think that they don't need to share their talents because I will step in and play if no one else will.  But that is not the right attitude! And maybe I still don't like performing and all of the attention that comes with that, so I'm just fine if someone else is in the spotlight, but more importantly, I'd love the other missionaries to increase their talents as well.  John and Audrey Dyer, along with Daniel, all came to this and I'm so glad that they did.  I love programs like this because people take the time to really listen.  They may think that they are listening to music and testimonies, which they are, but in all reality, they are listening to the Spirit, and giving time for those feelings of conversion.  That is part of the reason I love music so much; it allows people to feel deeper, and to connect with Heavenly Father and our Savior. I'm so grateful that is such a huge part of my mission.

I love you all!! 

-Sister Welch