October 22, 2018

This week we got to hear from an Apostle of JESUS CHRIST. Elder Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles came and spoke to us. It was so powerful. He spoke directly to my heart and I felt the spirit so strongly. I am so so grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost and having it as my constant companion. We got to shake hands with him before the meeting started and I was playing prelude during it. I thought I wasn't going to get to shake his hand since I was playing the piano, but I just thought that's okay because maybe someone else needed to shake his hand more than mine. I was just still playing the piano and then Elder Soares came up on the stand to sit down and walked right up to me and put his hand out. I RUSHED TO FINISH THE MEASURE and shook his hand. Then he gave me a hug and thanked me for sharing my talents and bringing the spirit. It was amazing!!!!!! I felt so blessed to HUG an APOSTLE. I was kind of awe struck, which is kinda bad haha.

The next few weeks are really full! This week we've got appointments almost everyday and lots next week! I LOVE Soda Springs so much and it's really been my only area on my mission I don't want to leave. The members here are like family and there's so much work to do here. We found out yesterday from the Stake President (who is possibly the funniest and goofiest one I've EVER met, same with both his counselors) that there are around 2,700 members in the stake boundaries, which is the town of Soda Springs. There is a little over 3,000 people in the town. So that's 300-400 non-members. That's enough for 2 wards!!!!!! People here think there aren't that many non-members, but there truly are. Of the 2,700, 496 of them are prospective Elders and the Stake President has asked us to contact every single one as soon as possible. He gave us a really cool promise that if we do that, we will find people to teach and baptize. That's one thing we've been struggling with recently is finding more people to teach. We've found 1 person to teach in the last 7 weeks. So we need this promise and are going to be really diligent in doing this!!!!!!! 

I love my life everyone and the Gospel of Jesus Christ can save your life. If you're feeling low, inadequet, depressed, lonely, scared or even frustrated, know this. That the teachings of Jesus Christ can and will help. I know that to be 100% true, because I live it everyday. I love my mission and the opportunity daily I have to represent Jesus Christ. This church is so true and is the greatest thing to happen to me and my family. It can be the same for you.