The Week that Fairborn Started Celebrating Halloween‏

On this week's episode of Sister Cale in Columbus-the Sisters got lost
trying to find member's houses for dinner (twice), Sister Cale
actually remembered to write in her journal (it's one of my goals),
Sister Cale taught Sister Wolf how to crochet during lunch and
finished a blanket, the primary program was the cutest thing that has
ever happened, the Sisters ate tacos, and Fairborn started decorating
for Halloween.

Hello Dear Ones!

Did you know that it is Halloween in Fairborn? I really hope that I
don't get transferred because this is September and things are surely
only going to get better from here on out. On the corners of Main
Street there are already full sized Halloween displays of Pirates and
Zombie catching vehicles. It's pretty cool stuff. Sister Wolf and I
have decided that one of our goals next transfer is to contact as
Zombie and talk to them about the Resurrection. As an important note,
I won't be e-mailing until next Wednesday because we have once again
reached transfer week (next week). Time...it's the least real thing in
my life right now.

We had a pretty remarkable week. I've been trying to increase my focus
on the tender mercies and miracles that are in my life. Guess what?
I'm surrounded. I have been in awe all week that Heavenly Father loves
me so much that he allows me to have the experiences that I'm having
at this time, both the good and the bad. Sometimes the tender mercies
are small, like having dinner with some of the awesome members of our
ward. Sometimes they're bigger-like when one of the primary kids gives
a talk during the primary program that is exactly what one of your
investigators needed to hear. Some of the moments have come as I have
had opportunities to just open my mouth and testify that the gospel
has blessed my life. One came as I tripped last night, totally tweaked
my ankle in all sorts of painful shocking ways, and then woke up this
morning able to walk just fine.

We are working with some of the coolest human beings that I have ever
met right now. Ryan is a rockstar. He is loving the Book of Mormon and
is making such awesome changes in his life. I love when the spirit
works with our people when we aren't there. Don't get me wrong, it's
cool to see it happen when we are there, but I know the experience is
oftentimes more powerful when we aren't there. We were able to teach
the end of the Plan of Salvation to Megan and Ryan separately this
week and it was so cool to be able to see the blessings that come from
the Plan of Salvation through the eyes of people who hadn't heard
about it before. My gratitude for the Plan of Salvation and the
blessings made available to all of God's children through it have been
increasing so much lately. Everything is so divinely appointed and
run. And I am lucky enough to get to help people know that those
blessings are available for them and their families! It's so cool!
Erik and Jenna have really been applying themselves to resolve their
concerns and overcome the things that are hard for them. They totally
caught us sticky-noting them the other night, but that's okay (I've
been caught sticky-noting more times this transfer than the rest of my
mission). They really loved the primary program. It would have been
hard not to. It was so super cute. Primary kids are the best. We got
to read Alma 1 with Tabitha yesterday and were there to witness as the
spirit taught her exactly the things that she needed to hear that day.
I had said something about, "it's funny how God works that out for
us." Tabitha responded, saying something along the lines of, "I've
stopped thinking it's funny and just know that he's going to teach me
what I need to know." We're pretty excited to start teaching the nine
and seven year old children of a family who is working to come back
into activity. Teaching kids is so much fun! I think that teaching
kids reminds me more than anything that as missionaries it is crucial
that we teach people, not lessons so the spirit can do his work.

My most exciting news is that Sam from Delaware is getting baptized
this Saturday. Please pray that President will give us permission to
go and that we can find a ride to get there. Sam has truly been one of
the miracles of my mission. A quick recap on my amazing Sam friend-she
started taking the lessons fifteen months ago, but her parents wanted
her to wait to be baptized until she was eighteen so she would be more
responsible for that decision. She faithfully went to church and was
even Seminary President last spring. She's seriously some kind of
brilliant. We would take her to lessons with us in Delaware all the
time and it was humbling to see how well she worked with the spirit to
teach and bear testimony of the gospel. The Elders started teaching
her Mom back in May. They are both getting baptized this Saturday. I
keep forgetting for a moment and then I get super excited all over
again. I'm so grateful that she's going to be able to have the
blessings of membership in the church sooner than she had anticipated.
The spirit is so cool and this gospel truly is the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. This is His work and I am so grateful that I get to be a part
of it.

The Church is true, life is good, God's in charge, and Satan hates you.

Love,

Jessica