Letter 2-1-10

I can't believe it's February, not to mention it's 2010. It's kind of crazy to think about. Seems like it's going so fast and yet so slow. Part of me wants to be done with this part of my mission and the other wants it to never end.

It's so cool that I'm an aunt again twice over. You're the first to tell me and send pictures. :) They are so cute but I knew that'd be the case anyway Most of our investigators know and ward members :) It's fun to brag in that way.

Poor Davy Boy. 2 years ago I don't think he expected to have children at this time. I'm glad they're stared though. I'm excited for the two of then...4 of them. They'll be all amazing family and have lots of fun. Hmm the Twins, Baby twins...maybe new baby twins? Or the other baby twins? :)

Kristina, She went into the hospital Saturday night and we fasted for her and another investigator Sunday that she'd get out Tuesday or Wednesday so she could still get baptized on Saturday. She did get out Wednesday. We were eating lunch at the “Gorditos 'Health' Mexican Restaurant” and just as we were finishing up the phone started vibrating and it showed Sis. Wilcox was calling, Kristina's member Friend and bishop's wife. Kristina was on the other side of the phone, telling us she got home and wanted to see us sometime that day. So we made our way over there. Stopping at time or two along the way (we'd planned to visit , whether she was home or not and go permission to go to the hospital (out of our area,) if she wasn't home.

She was happy to see us and seemed bright and perky, but old us she didn't want to get baptized on Saturday. We convinced her to wait until the next day to decide for sure. To make an already long store shorter after doing everything in our power, we found out that she still doesn't have a testimony of Joseph Smith and this being the Lord's church, not just a good organization. So...we were sad she didn't get baptized but glad she didn't because we want her to be ready.

We have some new investigators that we're hoping the best for. Jamie is a non[member street contact referral. We haven't met her yet but we've talked with her one the phone. She seems to be really nice and her mom wants to hear what we have to say too. We feel good about her and have an appointment with her tomorrow. I hope the best, but how this transfer has been going I cant' help but worry that they are of another faith and just want to anti us. I really hope and pray that's not the case.

Charles is a member referral. We went to drop some pans off at the Parks' house from dinner a while ago, last Tuesday and sis Parks (from Russia) said (after chatting a while with us and Bro Parks (American)) we all need to pray to find someone fro us to teach. So we prayed and she said her husband needed to ask a friend of his to come over. He told her she could ask that friend, so she had to figure how to say what she wanted in English, then went up to another apartment. We waited a few minutes and she returned. At first we just saw her, but she and such a pleased smile on her face I knew she'd convinced someone to come with her. She had. HE wasn't the person she had planned to bring, but that didn't matter to her. So Charles sat down with us in the Park's tiny apartment and was very stiff at first. After a few minutes his body language became more and more relaxed and we thought him an abbreviated (Temple Square) version of the first lesson. He seemed to like a lot and I invited hm to continue to learn with us and he accepted. Bro. Parks was so cute. He was surprised at Charles's reply and said “Really???” He could hardly hold in his excitement. So now we're teaching Charles at the Parks' apartment.

One little tidbit that we found out just as we were about to leave is Charles is Jewish...which would have been nice to know before we gave him 3 Nephi 11 to ready before our next lesson...and then he came to church Sunday and it was ALL on the atonement of Jesus Christ, Etc. Thankfully he has a friend in the gospel so we're hoping he's not completely weirded out of offended by anything.

Olivia is our ward mission leaders' cousin. She just turned 11 and her mom is not active, but has agreed to let her have the lessons so she can choose if she wants to be baptized or not. Doug (Ward Mission Leader) lives with his grandma and Olivia goes to their grandma's house very Thursday to be home schooled. Their grandma is in the stake relief society presidency and invited us to ask Olivia is she wants the lessons. We did just that and while I filled my handy dandy water bottle and used the restroom, Sis Halladay plopped down and started Chatting with Olivia. I came out and joined the conversation. WE got to know her for the better part of an hour when her fiend came over to play. Just before they left to play , we asked Olivia if she wanted to learn from us and she agreed. Her grandma asked her daughter and she agreed, so we're going to start teaching the Thursday after Transfers because she's out of town.

We met Bernadette just before she was about to J-walk across the street. Sister Halladay caught her attention and we started chatting with her briefly. We sound she's a non-practicing Jehovah's Witness, like another African American kid we'd met earlier that week. She recognized the restoration pamphlet and wanted to learn more. WE got her phone number and told her we'd call her that night and see if it was okay to each her (she's about 16 too) Her mom seemed really out of it (drugs?) so we're calling her tonight to get the okay.

Bill's wife is a member who comes to sacrament meeting and then leaves. He doesn't talk much at all. He's nice, but we can't ask him questions and ever expect to get an answer unless it's about something unrelated to the gospel. We know he's believes in Christ and goes regularly to the Disciple of Christ Church, but that's it. We're going slow with him. He's solid, but silent, so it will take a while.

We didn't get any snow and not even a ton of rain. It's was like California winter more than anything else, which was nice :)

Anyways, love you lots and love getting your letters!

LOVE! Sis Sarah Durtschi