9/29/14

Things are picking up here in Livermore. Last week we had exchanges with our Sister Training Leaders. Sister Stegelmeier came up to spend the day in Livermore with me. She is an incredible missionary and as sweet of a person as it gets. She is amazing and I feel so lucky that I got to be her temporary companion. She really helped me to figure things out and the rest of the week had a completely different feel. Sister Balderee and I decided that we wanted (actually, we really NEEDED) miracles so we fasted. We spent our lunch timeon Sunday running around inviting people to come to church. When Sunday school started there was no one there and in relief society only one nonmember was there. Just as the doors were closing for the sacrament a family sneaked in and I felt like I was going to cry with excitement and humbleness at the love Heavenly Father showed me in granting us this. I had to give a talk on prayer and personal revelation and I noticed a family walk in and sit down as I stood up to give my talk. I talked about Joseph Smith and how he had a question. I mentioned his preparation (scripture study, research...) and of his faith. I also talked about how after he received an answer ( a vision!) he followed through and did as Heavenly Father commanded him. After Sacrament I found out the second family had been the previous sisters investigators and she had randomly showed up without us even talking to her. She was super shy and didn't want to talk with us but her kids ran over to get food from the linger longer we had right after sacrament and she ended up staying for a whole hour! Our little branch was more united this last Sunday than they have been for at least the past 6 weeks. There was SO much food and the company was so pleasant. My heart was overflowing with thankfulness and I felt like I was floating the rest of the day. I was feeling so good and nice we gave our car to the Elders so they could say good bye to people faster and I rode a bike for the first time in a skirt. That turned out to be a huge blessing because as we rode our bikes we were contacting and we happened upon two of our investigators. If we had been in a car we would have gone straight to their house and would have missed them. We got to meet their parents for the first time and got the OK to keep teaching them (the kids are 10 and 12).

These last 6 weeks have been crazy and it has definitely been the toughest transfer on my mission but just when I feel like I can't take another step Heavenly Father wraps me up in his arms and shows me that He loves me and that everything is going to be just fine. Thank you all so much for your love and support.

Hermana Quintana

Also, remember the little kid who sat all by himself and it broke my heart? It turns out his parents really are active but they had just been sick that day :)