Pure in Heart

So so sooo soooos sosoos s this week was GREAT!

This week, we went on exchanges with the sister training leaders, and I was left in Sioux City with Sister Jensen! Man, was that nerve-wracking. I am just barely starting to feel comfortable with the city, I kind of know where people live... haha so it was interesting! 

But God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies those He calls, am I right!?

We had made a goal to talk to everyone we possibly could and to find a new investigator family. We planned according to those goals, and honestly, we just prayed for some miracles. 

As we headed to our first appointment at an assisted living home, I tried to think of how we could teach a significant lesson during our short 30 minutes we had. We said a prayer that we would be able to, and then headed inside. We were talking to the activities director, Susie, about what we could do to help. She was distracted by her computer not working, so she asked us "young folk" to help her figure it out haha as we were working on her computer, we somehow started talking about life after death. She told us that a friend of her just recently passed and that her daughter was struggling to live right now. But she said something amazing, she said, "You know, though.. I know that there is life after this. There has to be." We instantly recognized the truth of the gospel that she highlighted and bore testimony on. We took it and ran. We promised her that yes, it is possible to see our loved ones again, and that only through Christ is that even possible. It was amazing - God provided a way for us to teach His daughter in one of the most unplanned settings. So incredible.

Later that night, we had another great lesson with Yaretd, one of our newest investigators. It was all in Spanish, and as Sister Jensen can't speak or understand Spanish, I was flying solo. But like I've experienced so many times before, God made it work.

The best part was dinner. We made our way to the Lagunas' house for dinner - a less-active family in our branch! They are the sweetest, really just such great people. As we were sitting and talking and helping make dinner, we heard a knock at the door. Turns out, they had invited their friend, Margarita, and her family over for dinner. We 5 adults sat at the table while all the kids played and somehow turned the conversation into a beautiful teaching experience. Margarita opened up to us about some of her fears, and we were able to help her as we bore testimony of the Savior and His atonement. It was amazing to hear the testimonies of Hermana and Hermano Lagunas as they shared their conversion stories with their good friend. At the end of the night, we had an appointment set up with Margarita and her family!

A-maz-ing. God answers prayers! All He requires is effort and faith and a pure heart. He wants us to be putting Him first, and in turn, He will be with us, stand by us, and support us. 

I recently read this scripture in Psalms, chapter 46, and I fell in love.

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved.

I will always strive to be this woman - to be so pure, so diligent, so full of love for Him that I will not be moved.

xoxo

Hermana Brie Gould

pictures: game night and Roscaaaa! We found a baby in some Mexican sweetbread. so.