#BecauseofHim

Happy Easter! First thing I want to tell you is that if you have not seen the "Because of Him" website, you should go look at it right now! http://easter.mormon.org/  Especially the video about Christ.

Monday we met with a member and his nonmember wife. We talked about having spiritual gifts. It was a really good reminder for me that we all have individual gifts and talents and that is because we have different things to do in our time here on Earth. It doesn't matter if I'm not very artistic, or if I don't know how to speak a different language. What matters is that I have unique things about me that will help me to be able to accomplish everything that God needs me to. And I know that you all do too. 

Tuesday we did a couple of visits, but at about 4 I got a really bad headache. It came out of nowhere! We spent the rest of the night at home writing on cards, updating the area book, and watching some church history videos. 

Wednesday we had district meeting and Sister Bartholomew and I were asked to teach for about 10 minutes on why using the Book of Mormon is so important in teaching. We started by speaking in different languages for about a minute. I spoke some Norwegian that I had learned from being with Sister Frampton for a week last October. Sister Bartholomew talked in Chinese after that. And then we had an elder read 2 Nephi 31:3 "For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understandin." We explained that sometimes people hear our message and it is so foreign to them it is like another language! We then talked about the spirit and how it teaches people according to their understanding. And nothing brings the spirit like reading from the Book of Mormon.

After district meeting we had exchanges with our amazing Sister Leaders, Sister Doty and Sister Ashworth. That night we had dinner with the Woods. Sister Wood is from Scotland and has the most amazing accent! They are so sweet and have an amazing love for the gospel, as so many amazing members here do.

Thursday we had dinner with Sister Lavin. Her daughter's family is also in the ward and were also there. They are the sweetest! They helped us make a card for a woman, Patti, that we have still not met! We filled it with references to our favorite scriptures that brought us comfort. We took it to her house, but she was asleep so she didn't answer the door. We called her a little later to let her know we left the card there, and she was so sad she had missed us. We can't wait to meet her and teach her the gospel! Her health just needs to get better first. And it needs to stop raining because there is a HUGE puddle in front of her house every time it rains because the drainage is messed up. So she can't go anywhere and we have a hard time getting to her when that puddle is there.

Friday we had dinner with Sister Martinez, a less active member, and her extended family. We had very traditional Mexican food, including mole (I guess that's how you spell it?). We read a scripture with her from El Libro De Mormon, but that's about all we did other than eat. It was hard for us to communicate with anyone other than the kids.

Saturday we went to see Brother Nemrov, a very less active member. He reminds me a lot of grandpa! He's about 70 years old and his sense of humor is EXACTLY the same as Papa Joe! We read scriptures with him and invite him to pray and come to church, but he doesn't really want to... yet. We also had dinner with Hazel, the woman from England this week. She made us ribs and mashed potatoes! It was very messy... but so yummy! We also met with another less active member, Sister Grantham. She is a nurse and is so sweet! She also has the CUTEST little German Shepard puppy! It was fun getting to know her and hopefully she can come to church soon.

Sunday, again no one came to church. But we did get to sing in sacrament meeting! We sang with Sister Sanchez "I Heard Him Come." We practiced it once before we sang it, but everyone said it was good. Blessings of the spirit for sure! 

Hope y'all had great a Easter! Love you!

Sister Shurtz