'Muracles'

Dear Everyone:

This week was an amazing one. Seriously. One of the best weeks of my mission, by far. So many miracles - or as we say it, 'Muracles'. It's like 'Murica, but not.

First thing that made this week great? My parents sent me a package! With nothing but cheese in it! Juustoleipa cheese to be exact. Which is the best cheese in the world. They even sent me maple and brown sugar flavored juustoleipa. It was delicious.

Second thing. We had interviews with President Stoker this last week. So great. President Stoker is so easy to talk to, so personable. And it's amazing how well he seems to know each of us already - especially considering this was only the 2nd time I had ever talked to him. You can tell he really cares for each of us missionaries. I don't know what it is about mission presidents, but I felt like I started bawling everytime I talked to President Wilkey, and President Stoker has the same effect on me. Gah, it drives me crazy. Interviews were perfect though, President Stoker seemed to know exactly what I had been struggling with without me even needing to tell him about it. Even things that Sister Cloward didn't know I was having a hard time with. He is called of God for sure.

Third thing - we had one of the most amazing lessons ever this week! We're working with a less active - Shelby - and teaching her 9 year old daughter, Mo. Shelby had been talking to a distant cousin of hers who had been going through a really rough time. Shelby's cousin and her husband had both starting trying to find their way back onto the right path and they had started looking for a church. Shelby set up a dinner with us and this couple, who are now living with Shelby. The dinner/lesson was AMAZING! As soon as we walked in Eric, the husband, started asking us all these questions about the Bible and the church. We sat down to dinner and started talking about what our church is like, about the Book of Mormon and how it relates to the Bible, and things like that. Unfortunately, Eric and Kristie (his wife/Shelby's cousin) had to leave after about 45 minutes, because Eric had a karate class. He considered skipping his class and staying because he really liked talking to us, but felt like he needed to go. So they left and Sister Cloward and I stayed and talked to Shelby. 10 minutes after Eric and Kristie left they called Shelby and told her that Eric had written down the times wrong - his class had started earlier and they missed it. Then they asked if we were still there and if we could keep talking! They came back and we started having a discussion again about what has been going on in their life and how they knew they needed to start doing the right things and start following Christ. They had just been telling us all about how they had felt so judged in their old church and how they never really felt needed or cared for when all of a sudden someone knocks on the door - it's Bishop Dawbin with boxes and boxes of food from the Bishop's Storehouse for Shelby. She broke down into tears. She told us after that she had been talking to Kristie the day before about how she had been struggling yet was too proud to ask for help. It was PERFECT. Eric and Kristie were both so amazed about how the Bishop knew that Shelby had been struggling and how he came with everything she needed, without her even asking for it. After talking to us, Eric told Shelby after that he hadn't felt so spiritual in a long long time. And Kristie asked Shelby the next day how they can be baptized! They came to church yesterday and loved it as well! We have another lesson with them on Wednesday and we're excited for it!
The Lord truely does have a hand in this work - and it's amazing how he lets us know about it.

Fourth thing - Ken is getting baptized! We're pretty stoked about it. I had a lot of people in Bedford who had baptism dates, yet none of them seemed to really be working towards it. Ken is pretty dedicated to it though, which is awesome! His interview is tomorrow. He quit smoking last week, so we're pretty much set to move forward.

Quote of the week - Ken has a really REALLY bad back, so the actual act of baptizing him might be a struggle. We asked Ken who he wanted to baptize him. Ken's response? "Let's go straight to the top and have the Bishop do it. If I'm going down, I might as well drown with authority."

Isn't he great?

Fifth and final thing that made this week great - coconut ice cream. If you haven't tried it, go get some. It's divine. Serious.

You guys. Augusta is getting really to explode. There's just so much potential in this area! I love it.

The church is true. The Lord is preparing people. Our job is just to go find them. It's like the best scavenger hunt ever.

I love you all. Read your scriptures!

Love,

Sister Lindsey Berg