“I say unto you, my (daughter), that I have had great joy in thee already, because of thy faithfulness and thy diligence, and thy patience and thy long-suffering among the people of (New York).”    -Alma 38:3

I WANT THE LORD TO SAY THIS ABOUT ME! This week has been AWESOME. I can honestly say this past week has been one of the best weeks of my life thus far. But that’s every week on the mission haha! So first off, I am being transferred to MANCHESTER VERMONT! Sister Park will be staying in Fayetteville and a spectacular sister is going to be joining her. I am very excited and I know that it’s where the Lord needs me to be. I will seriously miss all my family in Fayetteville though. I have really grown to love them. But I know they are in good hands and it’s not goodbye, just “see you later!” These people are not only lifelong friends, but also eternal family! I am more than blessed to know them!

If there’s one thing I’ve learned on my mission, it is P A T I E N C E! The Lord has seriously taught me patience these last few months! It can be really hard and heartbreaking seeing people struggle and not progress or repeat the same mistakes, but boy has it taught me patience. It can get SO annoying and discouraging and confusing and upsetting at times. I have needed an extraordinary amount of patience with myself, the people I teach and the Lord. Heavenly Father has helped me see the beauty in slower progression and development and understand that practicing patience brings me closer to the Savior. I often think of how patient God is with me. I make the same mistakes over and over again, but by and by He is there in all His mercy and love. I am so grateful for the lessons that I have learned here in Fayetteville! They have really blessed my life forever and I hope to remember the things I have learned and make them a part of me so I can use them to bless the lives of others. I hope to become as Christ like as possible in order to be the type of mother God wants me to be. I think about my future children quite a bit out here! When I get impatient, I think “Chill Sister Folkman. One day you’re going to have a child ten times slower than this and you’re just going to have to love them and be a snail with them.” I have really come to enjoy the process of slower development. It is so raw and real and beautiful! Some of the best things in life take the most time. I know that the Lords timing is perfect. He knows what’s up! We can put our trust in His timing!

For example; one morning before church, brother Grant and the elders went with us to go give Becky a priesthood blessing. We were on a tight schedule and were anxious to get there. They are in the process of moving and said they would be at their new house. We drove there and it took an extra 15 minutes or so. We got lost along the way and then turned out they were at their old house haha! I got a bit stressed. Just then, a song called “For the Beauty of the Earth” came on. I looked around me and saw the gorgeous countryside with vibrant colors and a breathtaking sky. I said a little prayer of repentance in my heart and just enjoyed the beautiful creations that surrounded me. It was a gift from God! Just as we pulled up to their old house, Paul was walking up with grocery bags. If we had been any earlier we wouldn’t have been able to meet with them and give Becky the blessing!! The blessing was so powerful! The next day, Becky was completely over her illness! Although it wasn’t in my way or my timing, it turned out even better! It was in the Lords way and His timing.

WE had another cool experience earlier this week. We knocked on the first door of the first floor in this apartment complex. A man in his early 30s answered. His name is Chris. He is a podiatrist, super intelligent and super nice. We taught him the Restoration and he is SO SOLID and had great questions. It was a very powerful lesson and at the end we invited him to be baptized. He had some questions and concerns about it. As we allowed the spirit to speak through us, however, he was able to understand and he committed to December 3rd! It was something I will never forget- the spirit in the room! He had a very heartfelt prayer at the end and asked for Heavenly Fathers guidance! I was literally skipping and spinning and laughing all the way home from that lesson! I cannot wait to see how much this ward grows and grows and GROWS! We have found several new people to teach this week and it is all very thrilling. I love seeing the light in people’s eyes as they feel the Spirit! I’ve notice more and more that as I feel the spirit I feel at home, probably because my home always had the spirit!

Heather, Bill, Steve, Cathyann, Jim, Neil, Becky, Cassandra, Alex, and all those guys are doing GREAT! I love them more than words can describe! I was also able to contact a former named Charlene. We found her my first month out. She was super solid, but one day we went to a lesson and she left the Book of Mormon on her porch with a note saying that it wasn’t for her and that she didn’t want to meet anymore. However, when we went back, she really opened up again and she is going to start reading the Book of Mormon again:D SO HAPPY! All in the Lords timing! We have seen miracles this week. A LOT. God is so good!

This week, I want to challenge all of you to be snails! Find joy in the journey and recognize the Lords hand and timing in your life! Be patient! Instead of worrying about getting through the grocery line because you need to get home to watch adventure time and feed your cat, look around you and smile at someone. Make a new friend, meditate, breath, be in the moment and laugh a little! Snails are very happy creatures! I know because I actually talk to snails. And they told me I need to chill. Doesn’t mean we stop moving, just means we enjoy the path! Love you all! ❤