“A grateful heart comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives… When we encounter challenges and problems in our lives, it is often difficult for us to focus on our blessings. However, if we reach deep enough and look hard enough, we will be able to feel and recognize just how much we have been given… My sincere, heartfelt prayer is that we may in our individual lives reflect that marvelous virtue of gratitude. May it permeate our very souls, now and evermore.”

THE WEEK HAS BEEN FILLED WITH GRATITUDE FOR MY SAVIOR!

Yes, at times it has been hard. It was difficult being away from home Thanksgiving and spending 5:30pm out in the snow knocking doors and encountering some children of God who weren’t the sweetest. It was not fun having people yell at us, and having to give the police my full name and birthdate and be told I could no longer knock any door in Manchester. (Maybe my smile is just too intimidating for people to handle… Sister DeGolyer and I are pretty threatening haha!) It was pretty crappy having people drop us and having appointments fall through etc. But just as president Monson said, “As we look for the blessings, we will feel of Gods love!” And let me tell you, the blessings are right in front of my FACE! Too many to comprehend! It is overwhelming how many blessings I have been given! I am convinced I am the happiest, most blessed missionary in the entire world! That is how I feel!

Allow me to share with you just a few of these blessings! AHH! I am so excited! Ok:

Kathy!!! Kathy is Amanda’s aunt who asked us if we could start meeting with her! She has had many-a-trial in her life. We just started the stop smoking program with her! She is super solid! LOVE HER.

Nelson!!! Nelson is Amanda’s hubby. We were teaching him last night and I felt the spirit tell me to share my experience with overcoming my reading disabilities and overcoming some dyslexia symptoms through reading the scriptures! I promised him that as he read them each day, he would gain a deeper understanding and obtain a better comprehension of The Book of Mormon. Amanda told me the next day that when I said that, I shot Nelson right in the heart haha. He felt the spirit strongly and really needed to hear that! Apparently he also struggles with dyslexia and has a really hard time understanding what he reads. He took that promise to heart. Thank heavens for the Holy Ghost!

Jordan!!! He is doing so great! Really working hard to gain a deeper understanding of where he stands with God. The other night we all knelt down and he prayed to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet. It was POWERFUL!

I am also grateful for the 9 new investigators we’ve started teaching! All wonderful humans!

Novella!!! She is this sweet woman who we’ve started teaching. She was a tough cookie at first, but man is she progressing! She does twice as much as we commit her to do and has a real desire to follow Christ and be baptized. She is going through a lot of pain, but it is incredible to see the healing going on in her spirit.

AMANDA!!!! Amanda’s baptism was beautiful! She said it felt like her heart was going to explode with joy! I loved seeing her smile as she walked up the font steps, soaking wet and I just gave her a great big hug with the towel! haha! She was COMPLETELY and TOTALLY pure in that moment! I called her a “little baby, fresh from the womb!” haha (we do a lot of baby talk as she’s the mother of a 4-month old, Bella, and as I can hardly wait to be a mother!) Amanda is one of my best friends. We will be friends for eternity! How wonderful it was to have the Boston temple president and his wife speak on eternal families in sacrament then see Amanda take that first step, Nelson soon to follow! By the end of the month we will be going to the temple all together to give their family the same blessings they’ve received! I love Amanda so much. I love my Savior so much. I felt extremely close to Him during this whole process. I feel I have gained a deeper testimony and understanding of His gospel and His doctrine. It is ONLY through Christ that we gain true and lasting peace and joy. That I can testify to you with all my soul.

A couple nights ago, we were again yelled at for knocking on someone’s door. As we quickly walked away down this crazy dark, foggy road, I recited vocally this declaration, and I am here to testify to each of you that: “The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done”

I am so grateful for the knowledge of the true and living gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

I challenge each of you to express your gratitude! Tell your family, friends and God what you are grateful for! I promise you that as you do so, you will feel the love our Heavenly Father has for you and you will be filled with gratitude!