Trusting My All in Your Tender Care

What a week. I feel like I say that every week. But really every week is crazy. We do so much. It's great. Saturday I was on an exchange with Sister Ridge and we witnessed a miracle! We were teaching someone we tracted into and his phone ran during the lesson. He answers it and says, "I'm going to have to call you back, I'm right in the middle of being converted to Mormonism." That was Saturday, he came to church yesterday, and he has a baptism date!

While on the exchange we were trying a few people and ended up talking to this man named Tommie out in his yard. He looked and talked exactly like Jared Christenson! He had a dog with him and he was pretty hyper. He kept trying to give us the dog because he was loosing his patience with him. He finally put a leash on him and puts it over the hitch at the back of his truck, the dog just runs crazy as far as his leash will allow, Tommie than makes motion to get in his truck saying he'll run it out of him. My face must have been priceless because he got a good laugh out of it.

We went to the Jackson Branch yesterday. I love it there. Love it love it love it. Such amazing people. They have changed my life. I am grateful I am serving here.

Sister Kennard and I continue to work and do are very best. The Lord takes his work seriously, we must do the same.

Love y'all

Sister Hartley

ps, Sister Meek emailed me and said she met Katie at a fireside. Small world.

Give said the little stream, give oh give, give oh give

Many mighty miracles have been manifested this week here in Jackson. With the guidance of the spirit Sister Kennard and I have been led to those who need help. God truly answers prayers through people. God trusts us, we must trust Him. 

Tuesday Sister Kennard and I set out on foot, boy was it ever cold. I know I'm from Alberta and should be used to the cold, but the humidity is a whole different cold. We walked and walked, and knocked and knocked, and no answer. My head was slowing starting to hang down when I looked up the street to see a family pull up in a nearby driveway. "That's the family." Sister Kennard mustered under her breath. We knocked on their door with faith, and we were invited in. We shared the Book of Mormon, and he accepted it, asking the best questions. One family, that was all we found, but it was the right family. It was all we needed. 

"Words are often as important as experience, because words make experience last." -Willie Morris. 

Love y'all so much. You're support and prayers strengthen me each day. Alma 36:3

Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah.

Mississippi Girl

 No yuppie business

A lot of learning curves happened this week. It was made more clear to me that I truly am in the bible belt. We should never have an "expired testimony" as Elder Taylor puts it. We really have to always strengthen are testimony and be consistently renewing it. I've made a goal to get to know the bible more, my knowledge of it has tripled since the beginning of my mission, but it needs to deepen further. I also need to gain a renewed testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. I've seen far to much the effects that happen when we get "comfortable."

Sister Kennard and I worked a lot this week with the Jackson branch. I love these people so much, they have changed the way I look at life, and they have taught me that the good life is putting others before yourself. I wish y'all could meet these people. They are amazing. I sent home the pictures from fishing. Boy was that ever a great time. It was just what I needed. We truly need moderation in all things. It felt so good to fish. Sister Michelle is the lady that took us. We've made a deal, she took us fishing last Monday, and I'll be teaching her piano today. God gave us talents to share with others.

Yesterday we were tracting and we ran into a lady from Clinton. We were showing her a Restoration pamphlet and she said that someone at her work was reading the same pamphlet and she told her that that weekend she would find some people who would have a great impact on her life. She made the connection that we were those people. God truly answers prayers, and he truly is mindful of us.

I love y'all. God truly is are Father, and Christ is our advocate.

Sister Hartley.

Southernism: We went to visit some less actives in the branch and the sister that took us out made a little "happy" for each of them. By that she means a little goody bag. Down here their called happies. I like it.

Fishin' in beautiful Mississippi

These sisters went home last transfer. Miss them!

Fishin' in good Ol' Mississippi

Humble to Prepare, Confident to Perform

Reunited after 14 months

Well this week was crazy just like all the rest! I'm loving serving with Sister Kennard. As President puts it, "you two are two peas from the same pod." True indeed! Sister Kennard just came from serving in Texarkana (she took my place when I got transferred.) So now it's the Wake Village sisters serving in Jackson. It is fun to get caught 

up on all the good things happening in Texar. Sister Kennard and I were in the MTC together and haven't seen each other since. Who would have known that 14 months later we would be companions. We are very much a like, minus the fact that she's sweeter than sweet. I've noticed that my past companions have all been extremely sweet. I think President may be hinting that I need to be a little sweeter??!? She's pretty nervous to be a STL so I've been telling her all the things Sister Jones told me. It was pretty funny, we sat down the other day to plan out exchanges and I found myself talking like Sister Jones. Oh and at district meeting I totally acted like her to. We were setting district goals for January and are district leader kept looking at me and saying, "Oh wait Sister Hartley is thinking about something.." And I found myself saying to Sister Kennard the other day, "I just need to ponder this for a bit." All the things that Sister Jones did. I miss her a lot, but I'm so glad she is home with her family.

I'm excited that Elder Zwick is coming to Melissa's mission. He came here in October and I loved it!

Sister McDonough said something awhile back that stuck me, and I am now gaining a testimony of. She says that the spirit is always stronger when you sacrifice. We had MLC this past week. Sister Kennard and I are very blessed because we don't have to drive a long distance to get to it. Lots of missionaries have to drive 3-5 hours to get to it. It is really nice because we get more time to work in are area. On Friday we have a sisters meeting then all the zone leaders come and we have dinner and another meeting. The sisters meeting got done early. Sister Kennard and I decided to go out and tract before dinner instead of staying at the mission home. Well we were out we were able to find, teach, and commit someone to be baptism, as well as place a Book of Mormon, and talk to almost everyone on the street we felt impressed to go to. It was amazing. It really prepared us to be open to the spirit for the meeting that night. "Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven."

The Alhalteh's are an amazing family in the Madison ward. They were sealed on Saturday in the Baton Rouge temple! They had us over on my birthday. (they have two other kids at BYU Idaho.

Sister Jones last day of tracting (it poured)