Week 41- Society Activity, Piccadilly and The Hurricane.‏

Dear Family!

How are ya'll doing this week? So I forgot to tell you the rest of the story..remember the one I told you about last week? The Man and his wife that we met at 'Nawlins grill?'.. Well the end of the story that I forgot to tell you was is after I shared my scripture thought with him and he told us that he knew what I had said was true because we had already witnessed it all night, he called over his friend. ( The friend that is very prominent in their church) Well we learned that this man witnesses to one professed non-christian everyday. He carries cards on what he says to them, to give to them, in his pocket in 3 different languages. English, Spanish and Chinese. It was great to be able to meet him and It was one of those times where I wish with all my heart I hadn't run out of Article of faith cards to be able to give him one. He gave Sister Hawkes I each a card of the one he gives to people. So that was the end of the story. We got to meet the man who he was very good friends with. I felt very honored. They are good people, with good morals and It was wonderful to be able to share a meal with them. We are going to go and visit them this week so I will let you know how it goes..

Now you know the rest of the story..;)

So This week was a semi slow week..but good. We have had crazy weather as of late and as a result a hurricane watch was issued for Friday afternoon/evening. The sirens never went off, but the rain, thunder and lightening were pretty good. ( no don't worry..this is no kind of heroic story..We were safe inside the whole time.)

As far as people we taught this week, We visited a lot of members of the ward. One story that I wanted to share with you was.. Do you remember the lady I told you about a couple weeks ago who yelled at us and then called us back to apologize?.. Well we got into see her again, finally, this week. We have not been able to catch her at home because she has been so busy, Saturday of this last week we were able to see her. She invited us right in as we knocked on her door. The visit with her was very warm and friendly. She is redoing her house and said that shed love us to come help. One thing she does is re-do furniture and sells it, so she might let us come help her with that. The scripture we shared with her was Heleman 5:12. After we read this scripture form the Book of Mormon she was very impressed and expressed her gratitude that we came by to visit her. ( we also found out that her daughter goes to school with one of the girls in the ward! So great!)
Next story takes place four doors down from our friend whom I just told you about.. She is this sweet lady, probably in her mid 60's. We knocked on her door a few weeks ago and she politely told us she was not interested. Well last Sunday when we were eating dinner at a members house they told us we should go visit this lady, who happens to be the members friend from where she works. The member told us to tell the lady she sent us.  So come last Saturday we knock on her door and when she answers we tell her we are friends of the member ( we said her name) coming to visit her and see how she is doing. To this she was happy we came by, but told us she was busy right now. Then she looks at us and asks us if we are cold. The weather outside has been a bit crazy and it was a little chilly so we said yes..she let us come inside and go through some clothes she was going to give away to the thrift store. ( this got us in the door) Then I told her I was going to give her a scripture for her kindness.. Shared the famous Phillipians 4:13 ( love that scripture) and she was so impressed by the spirit it brought that right following the scripture she turned to us and said " are ya'll hungry? Have ya had lunch yet?". She had ordered a pizza and half of it was left and wanted to share it with us. We said of course wed love some! So we got to visit with her while we ate. She was physically injured a few months ago and is recently starting to go back to physical therapy. We offered to have someone come and give her a priesthood blessing, to which she said she would love one, but was a bit hesitant because it would be a "new experience for her". She also said she would love to come to the church and do her family history sometime soon and is looking to set up an appointment in the upcoming weeks. After we ate we said a prayer with her and left. Such a sweet woman. ( oh I forgot to tell you.. her house has pink walls and red couches.. her two favorite colors. Love it! lol)

We have one of the most amazing recent converts in this ward. On Sunday she turned and read Moroni 6:4 to me, replacing all the they's and them's for me and I, and asked me if it makes sense. I was in tears when she was done reading it. I love how much she loves being apart of the church and how she wants with her whole heart to do everything she can do stay true to her baptismal covenants. More towards the beginning of my mission I struggled a lot with my recent converts going less active for strange reasons. Yet I know that that is not always the case and some really are converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We work so hard to prepare them for baptism as it says in D&C 20: 37, which states the qualifications for baptism..

 "All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have  truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their words that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church."

Great week. All is going great. The work is going great. Great great great :)

Thank you for all your prayers and letters. Ya'll are the best family any missionary could ask for!
The work is great and true. I know that Jesus Christ, our savior and redeemer, lives today. God is our Father in heaven and I know that obedience to his laws and ordinances of the gospel will bring us great joy and peace.
Love ya!
Sister Urie

Scripture: 1 Nephi 16:28 ... This is the story of Nephi and the Liahona or the ball of curious workmanship. I wanted to share this verse with you because it goes perfectly with the way the spirit works with us. The Holy Spirit can only be with us if we are choosing what is right and not sinning ( sinning being falling short of the mark) It says in this verse that the ball " did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto" it. We can liken the ball to the holy spirit. As we are diligent and faithful ( obedient) two of the key things we need to do to have the spirit with us, then we will feel him in our lives so much more.
Tracting Tips: none..
Southernism: instead of saying I have 'goose bumps'..they say i got 'chill bumps'. ( not all say this..but most.)