News from Portland and a possible change

We had a lot of meetings and service projects to go to this week and so there were many opportunities to learn and grow, naturally. District Meeting on Tuesday helped us to find more initiative in our goal setting and we were encouraged to set higher goals and have more faith to find. Elder Baxter and I have only one investigator and a few less actives to teach, so we are really striving to exercise our faith in whatever we can do to enhance our teaching and finding experiences.

The following day we went to Zone Conference back in my "home crib" at the Woodburn church building. I was so excited to be back in my first area for the first time in a few months. I was able to meet up with some missionaries, as well as the Relief Society Presidency from North Marion Ward. It was wonderful to see their smiling faces in recognition of someone familiar. I was overwhelmed with emotion as I greeted and thanked them for once again providing food for us missionaries. They are wonderful and I miss them.

The meeting was also very enlightening. President Morby called us to repentance (if needed) in having companionship study every morning ("why wouldn't we??" was my thoughts. Ha ha), having the faith to find by using the Area Book containing the records for the people we have worked with and talking with (not to or at) everyone. We were invited to commit to offering a vocal prayer at least once a day in the morning before we start our studies. Elder Baxter and I have made it a habit for a couple of months now, to pray vocally before bed anyways, but now we are blessed even more in conversing out loud privately in the earlier hours of our day as well. I appreciate this time and I encourage and invite you all to strive to pray out loud at least once a day outside of your other personal and public prayers.  It works wonders for focus and inspiration.

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Thank you for the letters I received this week! Just by way of reminder - another six weeks has come and gone and this next week is the last week of the transfer. We'll find out this Saturday whether anything is changing or not, but I would ask if everyone could hold off on sending me any mail directly to my apartment address until next week when I confirm it. Thanks.

I love all of you. I hope everyone is doing well. I pray for your well-being daily and am grateful for all the blessings I receive on behalf of your sacrifices and prayers.

Special week after Easter

After an exchange on Wednesday with the District Leader and our routine weekly planning session on Thursday, we had a wonderful time at the Portland Temple on Friday. We were able to visit the newly built and opened Temple Visitor's Center and watch and listen to all the interactive stations about Prophets, Temples, and the Book of Mormon. We watched a quick video on Heavenly Father's Plan for us which was greatly focused on families. :) Although the Portland Temple Visitor's Center isn't quite as spectacular as good ole' Salt Lake's, I loved it nonetheless.

Then we got to go through a session with our District in the Temple. It was so neat and I absolutely loved the feeling of being there with 'my brothers' in the service of God. We were surrounded by the Spirit and I could feel God's love in teaching me and strengthening me as we departed. What a blessing to have a temple in my mission! A gorgeous one, at that! I couldn't be more enthused to be in Portland.

Special moments & guardian angels

This week we saw the blessings of tracting and being in the right place at the right time. A man drove past us and called us to him. He invited us over to his house and related a confession of how he was actually on his way to buy some alcohol, but was prompted otherwise at the sight of us walking through Sellwood. He asked us to give him a blessing and told us how grateful he is and how much he loves us and the preceding missionaries that he's met in his past.

We also had the opportunity to serve some people as they moved into new residences in care facilities. Both were very grateful and eager to show their appreciation by providing us with food for lunch and continually thanking us. It was interesting to me to note the persistence in the woman we were helping, as she continually sought to know and accommodate our comfort, despite our presence there to give her aid, "by this ye shall know my disciples."

We are ever in debt and gratitude to the members of our ward, who provide blessings through meals and constant camaraderie as we go through our daily activities. Even members who we don't know never cease to approach us with hopes of paying for our lunch or groceries, quite often. I can't help but appreciate and acknowledge the awe-inspiring evidence of Heavenly Father's love through His children.

Six months out, happy, and going strong.