I'M JUST GRATEFUL

 Hello, all! 

This has probably been the coldest week of my life. We were having one of the warmest winters England has had in a while, and this week the temperatures just dropped like crazy. It even snowed a little bit! It's currently 3 degrees Celsius, and tonight it's supposed to get to -2. And this isn't even the coldest it has been. So I'm grateful for big scarves and warm coats. :) 

Monday, the Cardall's took us all to the Dutch Pancake House, for one last little hoorah. It was a lot of fun, and the best part was that you can order them gluten free. ;) Then that night, we had dinner at the Cardall's! :) Haha it was soooo great. :) They left this week (on Friday) and it was emotional. Elder and Sister Cardall have been there for me since the moment I got my mission call. I'm SO grateful for them and how they have impacted my life. I know that part of the reason why I was called here, was so I could meet them. :)

Tuesday, we had an appointment with Lorraine! She's doing well. We taught about the Plan of Salvation, and she really liked it. Michael came with us, and he is SO wonderful to teach with. She talks a lot, but we're starting to form a really great friendship and trust. I love her, and am excited to continue to see how she progresses. :)  

Wednesday, we had a lesson with a new friend that I met on the bus. He is GREAT! A really cute little Indian man. :) He doesn't live in our area though, so we had to refer him over to the Stratford elders, but we had a really good lesson with him, and I'm excited to hear how it goes! Then we had a lesson with Hollie and Jan! So background, Hollie has been investigating for over a year, and her husband was baptised over a year ago. They are SUCH a sweet family, and have the cutest little boy. We hadn't had contact with them for a while though, but then a few weeks ago, Hollie came to church. :) So we went over on Wednesday and had a great lesson with them! We talked a lot about the Lord's timing and shared to story of Alma the younger, and how it's never to late to turn to God. :) We set a baptismal date with her of February 13th, and we are praying so hard that she will  make it! She's SO ready, and has an AMAZING testimony, there are just a few things to work out. :) I love this family, and am grateful to continue being with them.

Thursday we had district meeting! It's always a party. Haha we combined with the London North district, and I got to give a GAP with Sister Idrizi! (GAPs are teaching drills that we do everyday, and then in meetings, one companionship usually will give one) They switched it up this time, and so it was just randomly two missionaries teaching together. It was fun and Sister Idrizi and I taught well together. She's crazy, and we came at the same time, so it was just a lot of fun. :)

Friday, we had a lesson with Leah about commandments. :) She is SO cute. While it's sometimes hard to keep her attention, she is really starting to grasp the gospel and love it. She is really excited to be baptised as well. Then that night we stopped my this family that a member referred to us. We'd seen them before, but the mum didn't want to give us her mobile number. We turned up, and they let us right in! We had a great conversation, and in the end she gave us her mobile and told us to call anytime we wanted to come over! We'll see them again on Saturday. :)

We had to get a new phone, so on Saturday we decided to just call EVERY potential investigator in the phone. It was a party, let me tell you! I talked to some really...interesting people haha. One person told me "The Book of Mormon does NOT work with the Bible. At all." So I asked her if she had ready and she said "'Uh...no...but...it just doesn't. I know all about it." So then I laughed, bore my testimony, and told her to call us if she ever needed anything. :) But we were able to set up a few appointments with people, we we'll see how it goes this week!

Sunday, we didn't have anyone come to church for reasons we are still trying to figure out. But the Lord always provides! Kemi's little brother and sister came to church again, and really are starting to enjoy it. We'll teach them next week with her, after church. :) They are great! Her sister LOVES primary, and is already very much apart of everything. :) Then after church we stopped by those who didn't come to church, but no one was home. We got a random text from Justina, the miracles from a few weeks ago, that seemed promising, but then she didn't respond. So we'll keep trying with her!

Well! This week, I'm grateful for prayer. Prayer is the only way I have been able to survive. I'm also SO grateful for The Book of Mormon. Every time I open it, I am over whelmed with love and appreciation for these prophets and the people in the stories. The scriptures are incredible, and even though they were written so long ago, they are relevant and needed for OUR day. They are helping us become the "Millennials" we need to be, for those of you who watched President Nelson's YSA devotional talk. (and for those who didn't, DO! It's so worth it.) :) I'm grateful for the Gospel, and for all of you. Have a great week! 

Love always,

Sister Moody