May 23, 2016

ALOOOHAAA!

And another one bites the dust. I am officially half way through my mission!!! 9 months!!  Where does the time go? I feel like it was just the other day that I was leaving Mom and Dad at the airport to go to Mexico.  My mission is something very sacred and special to me.  I have absolutely LOVED the past 9 months.  It has been extremely difficult.  But I wouldn't trade it for the world.  I have grown so much.  Learned so much about myself, and learned to really focus on others around me, and learned so much about my Savior Jesus Christ. Who He is to me personally and how I can be more like Him and help others come unto Him.  Best 9 months ever. I LOVE ALABAMA.

This week has been incredible.  SERIOUSLY.  Miracles out the wazoo!!

One was last week on Monday.  We were tracting and one of the first doors we knocked was a lady named J*****.  She opened the door, looked at us with a confused look and then exclaimed " Oh Mormons! Come on in!"   She knew sister missionaries from long ago and just adored them.  She told us that she knew we were sent from God to her.  She is an older lady and just a hoot.  Earlier that day while we were emailing at the church Sister Anderson and I heard  someone trying to come into the building.  We both didn't know if it was the wind or not so we just let it be.  Turns out it was J*****! She told us that she was at our church earlier that day trying to find someone to talk to Family History about.  It was no coincidence that we were in her apartment complex that evening tracting. 

Another Miracle!  I got a call this last week from one of my past companions, Sister Mitchell (my first trainee)   telling me that a guy that she and I found forever and a half ago in Huntsville got baptized a few weeks ago....areyoukidding....His name is **** and this guy was a trainwreck too! Smoking while we were talking and not interested at all.  We gave him as a referral to the Elders in the area just because he said we could come back and he has completely turned his life around.  Clean cut, attending YSA activities and holds a calling.  A testimony builder to me of what happens when you talk to everyone no matter their circumstance.  God truly has a plan.  And he uses us to plant seeds.  We are all a team. What is going to happen to himin 15 years?  #marriedinthetempleandkidsonmissions  hahaha just a cool experience. I love this work with all that is in me!

Sister Anderson and I have been working really really hard recently and we are seeing so many amazing miracles from it.  We have investigators coming out of the woodworks! Through referrals and through our own efforts.  We have had a lot of success this week with finding new people to teach and have really had a stellar week!!!! WE ARE ON CLOUD 9.  We found taught some amazing people that are truly ready and open to this gospel. One of which is R******!  She is this big black girl that we met in Walmart! (STORE CONTACTING WORKS:)  She is so awesome.  She is very smart and intelligent and loves hearing about the Book of Mormon. I already love her so much!!!  Her and so many more.  Just flocking to us! 

This past Wednesday we had Zone Conference! We spent the night in Huntsville since Madison is a good ways away from Athens.  Huntsville! My old stopping grounds! It was good to visit.  Right now one of my favorite sisters in the mission is serving there and I just LOVE HER. Sister Hubbard!  I want so badly to be companions with her but she goes home next transfer!  But anyways-President Hanks came to Madison along with all the senior couples and APs.  It was an AWESOME Conference.  Really just inspiring and amazing. That day was by far one of the best days on my mission.   I have such a firm testimony of something someone told me in the MTC.  They said that we are not called to missions but to mission Presidents.  I know that I was called to president Hanks.  I have no doubt.  He has been such a blessing to me.  I have learned SO MUCH from his infinite wisdom and love for this gospel!!  This Zone Conference was his last one.  He leaves to go home next transfer.  The Conference itself was so amazing! My hand was cramping so bad from writing so many notes! At the very end he shared Mosiah 18:30 and replaced the word Mormon for Alabama. Look it up! I was overcome with happiness and joy and just a overwhelming feeling of love for my mission and my Savior.  I was crying like a lil boob.

He lives.  We are His disciples.  This is His work. Let's be steadfast in Him.

Sure love ya Molines Rock and Missionaries Rule!

Con mucho amor,

Sista Malone