What Weather!

Funny: The people of North Dakota are generally very friendly and kind. Almost everyone will smile and wave back at you when you greet them. The other day Sister Marshall and I were knocking on people’s doors to share the message about Jesus Christ and His Gospel. Some people are not interested in hearing what we have to say, but they are so polite and nice they don't want to be rude. For example, we knocked on a woman's door the other day, and she did not want to talk to us, but she didn't want to straight up slam the door in our face either. So, with a very apologetic look on her face she said "I'm gonna shut the door on you now." She seemed genuinely sorry about it. It was the politest door slam I've ever experienced. I thought it was So funny! I couldn't help but laugh.

Spiritual: We have been experiencing lots of miracles this week! One day this week my companion and I were praying asking Heavenly Father what he would like us to do, and where he would have us go. We decided we needed to knock on doors and see if anyone would accept our message. As we continued to pray to know where to go we felt strongly that this one house in particular we needed to knock on. It was the first door we knocked on that day. A woman opened the door and asked us to come in. We taught her the message of how this is the Gospel that Jesus Christ established on the earth when he was here, and it has been restored by the prophet Joseph Smith. She had heard a message from missionaries before a long time ago, and she wants to know more. As we taught her we asked if she would like to be baptized. So that she could commit herself to the savior and do the things that he has commanded us to do. She has a strong desire to be baptized! It's amazing to see the joy and happiness that is brought to someone’s life when Jesus Christ becomes a part of it. I have felt more joy and happiness by being a part of this Gospel than anything else. That is why I am a missionary. If there is any chance that I can improve someone else's life with the same Gospel that has improved my life so much I will take that chance!

Where I am at: There was a tornado this week. It passed right over Williston and landed in Watford. I slept through the whole thing. It landed in a trailer park and did quite a bit of damage. I hope and pray that the families affected by it will recover. This week I went on my first exchange and that was an adventure! There was a pretty big oil boom right near Williston a while back so there are people from all over living in Williston. It's pretty rare that I meet someone who is actually from North Dakota. When I was on exchanges we met a man named Victor with a very interesting story. His dad was an African King in the Congo. Because Victor was born of the kings second wife (his dad has a lot of wives) he felt discriminated against. He came to Williston for the work, and I think at some point got involved in a gang? He has started to read the Book of Mormon and believes that it is true. He wants to keep meeting with missionaries and expressed interest in getting baptized! The Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is for everyone! "However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don't have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ's Atonement shines!" - Jeffrey R Holland I would like to add my own testimony to this that God loves ALL of his children. You included. He wants to give us all the joy that we are capable of having. He will never stop loving us, and it is never too late to choose to love him.