Week 31 letter

Hello Family,

I forgot to tell you. I met Joyce walker the other week. She was getting ready for her great grandsons baptism and I got talking to her. She lives in California and went to see Grandpa Walker when he was over there. She is Garths sister. :) Also, we have a bishop walker here in Bellevue second ward, the ward right after us. He is her grandson. :) We are related! And he reminds me of it all the time! Joyce knew you dad! She looked at me and asked, are you Michaels daughter?? I was like...!!!YES!!! Her other son was there, bishop walkers son, and he said that he grew up with Terry and would hang out with Terry and Lynn all the time! Crazy connection! I wanted to let you know. :)

She was the sweetest old lady. :) Love her!

This week had been a growing experience. We have had to drop one of our investigators and then another of our investigators dropped us two nights ago. It was sad. But I know miracles follow the hard times as long as we are faithful and obedient and work our tails off!!

I have been thinking a lot about humility and having a softened heart. Sister McMaster and I have really been working on letting each other help each other...does that make sense? One thing about missions, you learn a lot about yourself. I have learned that I am a control psycho and I don't like people to help me through my own emotional problems that I just need to get over on my own. :) :) Not that any of you didn't know that. :) Heavenly Father has been helping me realize that and has been teaching me a lot about the atonement in personal study this week. We went to a inactive members home the other night. We haven't been able to get in for a while. She was sitting on the coach and we started talking to her. Eventually she opened up when again we asked, do you believe Heavenly Father loves you and will bless you? Anyway, she started talking and crying and kept saying, "this is something I just need to get over. This is something I need to figure out..." listening to her, I was amazed and frightened of how much she reminded me of myself this past week. I found myself bearing testimony to her and no matter how hard she tries, she cannot do this alone...she cannot fix her problems on her own. There is just no way. That is why we have Jesus Christ. We shared these scriptures with her.... Alma 34:38-41

38 That ye ^acontend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the ^bname of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and ^cworship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in ^dthanksgiving daily, for the many ^emercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.

 39 Yea, and I also ^aexhort you, my brethren, that ye be ^bwatchful unto prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by the ^ctemptations of the devil, that he may not overpower you, that ye may not become his subjects at the last day; for behold, he rewardeth you ^dno good thing.

 40 And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have ^apatience, and that ye bear with all manner of ^bafflictions; that ye do not ^crevile against those who do cast you out because of your ^dexceeding poverty, lest ye become sinners like unto them;

 41 But that ye have ^apatience, and bear with those ^bafflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions.

Do we contend with the Holy Ghost ever? When was the last time we wrestled before God?

Sister McMaster and I sat in the car the other day and she asked me to pray. I fought it for a while because I had built up such strong emotions but eventually I sat there and prayed and prayed. I haven't plead with my Heavenly Father like that for a while. I know that it wasn't until I humbled myself to the dust that I could feel my weight lifted. This is what we told Sister Peveler. We must humble ourselves and ask for help. So simple, but it can be so hard.

There is incredible power in prayer. I prayed until I bawled and felt the spirit. I prayed until I could feel my heart softened. I prayed when I didn't want to. Pray when you don't want to. Pray hard. President Weston told us that if we do not feel opposition while we are praying, we aren't praying hard enough.

I love you all and am so grateful for prayer. I am so grateful for the atonement. I am so grateful for the incredible people here in Nebraska!! I am so grateful for my strong companion, sister McMaster. She is so patient with me. I am grateful for my Heavenly Father. I am grateful for Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon. I am grateful for Nephi!!! (I have been studying in 1 nephi). I am grateful for my family! I am grateful for....

Mom, Dad, Sarah, Jason, (NEW BABY), Priscilla, Ford, Ruth, Talitha, Abby, Hyrum and Joseph!

Best family ever.

I hope you have an incredible Thanksgiving!!

Love you all dearly!

Love,
Sister Call