Looks like Valentine's Day was good to them!  It's a good thing someone loves them because my package didn't get there til today:(  If you are sending her a package send it 10 days before you want her to receive it, not 7:)  Here's this weeks email:)

Good timbers does not grow with ease,

The stonger the wind, the stronger trees,

The furthers sky, the grater length.

the more the storm, the more the strength,

By sun and cold, by rain and snow,

On trees and men good timbers grow.

          -Sterling W. Sill

This is a poem that Sister Snow shared with me last transfer and was quoted in Relief Society yesterday. There is a talk by President Monson from last conference that I love. As a missionary I go through all sorts of emotions. There are moments of hardship and anguish but the moments of extreme joy and thanksgiving are well worth it. In the talk President Monson reminds us that "Angels have charge over us.." There are so many people on the other side that are always here to lift us and help us. But trials are necessary. The little trials can help prepare us for future trials. They give us opportunities to show Heavenly Father how strong we have become and they give us opportunities to become stronger. 

The great thing though is that we know that we are never alone. There was a day a while ago that i needed an extra boost. As a prayed asking my Heavenly Father for help and a thought came to my head. I had received a picture from sister snow and I remembered that she wrote a scripture on the back. I hadnt read it when I got it but thought that I would see what it said. On the back she had written a scripture, Matthew 11:28 "COME UNTO ME ALL YE THAT LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST." He goes on talking about His yoke and how it is light. this was a sweet answer to my prayer. "You can ask for what you need in moments. But the help that we ask for may not always be peace. sometimes He sends people and that is your answer..." We can be peoples answers to prayers. We can be that peace that they need. So I encourage you to ALWAYS FOLLOW SPIRITUAL PROMPTINGS. 

"DIFFICULTIES ALLOW US TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. TO REBUILD OUR LIVES IN THE WAY HEAVENLY FATHER TEACHES US TO." 

Either 12:21 we are give weaknesses to help us in this life. We are here to learn and grow and I dont know about you but I know that I grow most when I make mistakes and go through hard things. I have learned to rely on that greater source for that strength. 

So I ask you, have you ever felt a weakness become a strength through a trail? We dont get trials because Heavenly Father doesn't love us or wants to see us suffer. We get them because He loves us and wants to see us grow to the masterpiece that He knows that we can be. He is our master potter that can shape us into something so beautiful if we will let him. (Isiah 64:8)

"FAITHFUL SAINTS ARE ALWAYS STRENGTHENED BY ADVERSITY." 

Let us all be more like the David that we see as we read Psalms...and say to Heavenly Father "MY TIMES ARE IN THY HANDS."

Prayers are answered... From my letter to my mission President.

There was a potential that we tracked into at the beginning of the transfer named Karen. She was a very sweet lady and was happy to talk with us and interested in the Book of Mormon, but we could not get her to committed to a return appointment. So we prayed that we would be able to do that this week. When we went to see her as we were in the area we asked her if there was a time that we could come back and share more. She agreed and got her scheduled out and we sent a time for this Wed. As we got back to our car we said a prayer to thank Heavenly Father for this answer to our prayer and the miracle that we just witnessed! 

Along with that we had been praying for one of our investigators that had missed our last 2 appointments. We prayed that we would know a time to try her that we might catch her at home. As we followed the spirit we decided on a time to go and visit her. And she was home and invited us in to share a message. She was then able to explain that she had been out of town and then very very sick and was so sorry that she was not able to meet with us. But we set up a time for this week to meet with her again!

I know that prayers are answered. We just have to be looking for the answers and follow the spirit. I learned how important it is to pray specifically and with real intent. Miracles do come.