I turned 21 this week and found an A&W to celebrate.

Went on Exchanges and found an A&W

Early December in Mississippi

Crunch Crunch Crunch

Tracting on a Sunday afternoon in Jackson Mississippi

Thank-you for all the birthday wishes! They mean a lot to me! It's a raining day here in Jackson. Y'all sure have a lot of snow there! Yesterday was so nice, no coat required, just a cardigan. 

 I had the craziest finding opportunity to date this past week. I was on exchanges with a brand new missionary. We were coming out of a lesson and walking to the car. I was really into the conversation that we were having, I didn't notice that there was a big pile of dog poop. Well I slide a good minute and got it all over my shoe. Meanwhile Sister Uffens runs to the car to get her water bottle and paper towel to whip my shoe off. As she's doing this we hear someone laughing and look up to see a girl walking home from school and she's laughing at us! Luckily the neighbor of the former investigator was out washing his truck so he yells at us to come use his hose. So we walk up to his driveway and hold out my shoe and he sprays it off and then gets his bottle of degreaser and starts spraying it! It was quite the site. Anyways when all the remains is washed off and my shoe smells somewhat human again I put it back on and then we start talking. Turns out a few months back some previous sisters tracted into him and left him a copy of the Book of Mormon. He goes and gets it and we talk for a good 30minutes. He asked us all sorts of questions and was very curious about it. At the end of are conversation he goes on to say that he's a preacher and at their church library they have a book which lists all the false churches and are church was one of them listed. I looked him straight in the eye and said boldly, "We'll sir, that is a false book, are church is true." Who knew that God would have me slip in dog feces in order to testify to a preacher. That's testimony right there that God has a sense of humor! 

I love y'all. 

Sister Hartley

Witnessing for Jesus

I love teaching people.

 

This week was wonderful. I love teaching people. I love being a missionary. We are so blessed here in Jackson, (I still can't believe I'm in Jackson!) Last night sister Jones and I were trying some people we have tracted into recently, on one door the guy we talked with wasn't there, but his friend was, we asked her if we could teach her and she starts saying that she is really busy and doesn't have time...I held up my hand and pleaded, "Just give us 5 minutes." She agreed and invited us in. We watched He is the Gift, and it brought the spirit of Christ into her home. We then read the start of Helaman 14 with her when Samuel prophecies of Christ's birth. It really interested her to hear of the signs in America. We asked her if she would like to keep the Book of Mormon and she said yes!  Sister Jones and I got to help Sister McDonough decorate the mission home for Christmas. Being close to the mission home is such a blessing. It's only a 20 minute bike ride from are apartment. I have learned so much from being around President and Sister McDonough.  I love y'all so much!  Sister Hartley

"What made y'all stop at our door?"

Oh sweet sweet family. Oh how I love y'all! You mean so much to me. The start of the holidays has got me somewhat homesick, but in a good way. :) The good Lord has been so good to the Hartley family. I love you all so much, and I miss y'all. BUT I am LOVING my mission. I just love it here. The Lord has shown miracles to Sister Jones and I this week. It has been amazing. As Elder Zwick says, "The Lord has his boots on the ground." He's hastening his work and we're doing everything we can to keep up. We saw so many miracles this week!

I was on exchanges on Saturday and we went to see a less active member in the Jackson branch. Her visiting teacher was so nice as to accompany us. Sister Eschler and I didn't know what to plan to share in companion study because neither of us knew her. We just followed the spirit and felt to share how the Book of Mormon and Bible work together to clarify and expound doctrine. When we went inside we noticed that she had her Book of Mormon laid out. (good sign!) The conversation went on and she kept saying that she always reads the bible, but hasn't read the Book of Mormon in a long time (I think years) because she couldn't find it. Well, she found it about two weeks ago. She also said she hasn't been to church in at least a year. Well the Lord is merciful because the message we had planned to share tailored perfectly to her! And guess what?!? She came to church yesterday! Oh it was a miracle! Oh the Lord is so good!

We've had so many tracting miracles this week! We were out in a nice neighborhood and a lot of the people weren't giving us the time of day. We knock on the last door and this young dad lets us in and goes to get his wife. We introduced the Book of Mormon and neither of them said much, until the end. The wife asked, "What made y'all stop at our door?" We explained that the spirit led us. Her husband then said that just before we knocked on the door they were having a talk about the scriptures, and then we knocked and are offering them another book of scripture. Oh isn't the Lord so mindful of us all!

We have found so many people to teach it's wonderful! I love it. Oh I love it I love it I love it. I need to go though, we have had a busy day. It's operation Christmas Prep P day. haha We've decorated are apartment and are getting things all ready! I love it! Love y'all!  We're so very blessed!

Love y'all

 Sister Hartley

                                                                 

Help cook Thanksgiving dinner in the mission home.