The area is flourishing one step at a time

March 4 2013

Me and Dave!
That was a picture of us in his kitchen
Sister Howell and I helped him paint,
thats why I'm in my service clothes  >.>

     Our area is moving forward and during the last few days we have been very busy but guided every step. I am continually amazed and inspired by Sister Howell, she is such a strong and determined missionary. The other day we went contacting in a parking lot in our area, something I have never done and I was so scared but she moved forward fearlessly. She is so determined to be the best missionary she can be and she is starting to really connect with the members and our investigators. I have been working really hard at letting her be able to speak more and we are now more balanced. We have come up with several plans of how we can get more LTMs but at the moment we have not been having lessons at all with investigators. We are constantly seeking new investigators and while we have found many with great promise nothing has borne fruit yet. We are patiently waiting for that time.

these are pictures of us with Dave and his wife Mary
at the Smith Center to watch an amazing concert of awesome

     This week we had an opportunity to provide service for one of the members. He has diabetes and we helped him paint his house for a couple hours. Another member was very tired and trying to clean up when we got there so we were able to help her vacuum and put things in order. We also do what we can to help set and clean the table at dinners. Service opportunities have always been hard to find in my mission but the Lord has been providing us with more of late. We seek them always and pray for them.

Its so BIG!

      Melissa is struggling. We have not been able to go by in a while, in spite of our best efforts, but their fellowshipers have still been seeing her (she had to work this Sunday so only Anthony and the kids came to church). The things I have heard grieve my heart. The children are still doing awesome though, I feel they are prepared, we have been planning to commit the family to a baptism date goal, to help keep them motivated, but again we haven't been able to really meet with them. This week we will find a way.

Piscotta family!
I'm officially part of the Piscotta clan too...

      Many of our less actives are doing better and better. Some are asking us more questions so we can help them resolve their concerns, others are opening up more, committing more, seeking more, and the Lord is blessing us to know what to say and do to help them continue to progress and overcome their obstacles.

      We are continually focusing on our purpose and striving to make every visit and activity meaningful and we have been blessed with increasing success. I am so grateful for all the Lord has blessed us with. Things are going well and I am focusing on Faith and Hope as far as Christlike attributes go, and Listening and Asking Inspired Questions for teachings skills.


March 11 2013

I saw this Pinecone fall out of a tree.
We all know it happens, or must happen,
but how often do you actually see that happen?
Pretty awesome,
its been hanging out on my desk for about
a month now, maybe more.

     This week has gone well. We had several lessons with Melissa and her family. They are progressing well except Anthony, who has been making many comments that make it hard for me to respect him. We are doing our best to support him and Melissa and provide encouragement. We have been reading with them more, when we read Melissa gets it, and she loves the scriptural language of the King James Bible, it is clear to her. Anthony has a different Bible, International I think, one where it is 'translated' to more modern language, and she doesn't like how it words things. The wording in Anthony's Bible is simpler but she finds it harder to understand, which means the reason she is understanding the King James Bible is because the Spirit is helping her. Its easier to read old English with the Spirit to help than to read modern English on your own. Anthony struggles to understand. He claims he believes but talks in circles. Perhaps he does believe, but it doesn't seem to mean anything to him. Melissa on the other hand understands and is making sacrifices because she wants to do it for the Lord. Her kids are also doing really well. This Saturday we went and visited the temple with them. The member who gave them a ride and was present for the lesson bore powerful testimony of eternal families. We tried to set a baptism date goal but they are still struggling. They did decide to commit to know, one way or the other, by April 13th.

Melissa and her family at the temple -
her son Rodney, and her daughter Ma'khaila
also her boyfriend Anthony...

     Overall things are going well. We have a very promising referral we are trying to contact and the work is moving forward. Sister Howell is full of awesome. She is teaching really well and we are getting much better at teaching together. She is taking the lead more and more. The ward is really coming to love her. The area is flourishing one step at a time and the Ward is growing in strength. We are always seeking to do things to help build it up, and strengthen the amazing members here.

Love you Alyssa