Tender Mercies

01/12/14 My Dear Family, Sorry I didn't have time to send out a big broad email to everyone. Things have been a little crazy here. But it will get better. We ad a lot of cool things happen this week. Even through our trials, the Lord wants to bless us. "But behold, I Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whomever he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance." It starts with Amanda. She's a new investigator given to us by the Zone Leaders recent convert who happens to be her uncle. She had seen the change in him and wanted to turn her life around. She's an ex-drug addict and dealer. She's had 4 children, the 1st two with her ex-husband and the 3rd she gave up for adoption and her youngest she had while in jail. The child was born with cerebral palsy and she is doing everything she can to gain back full custody of her daughter. She's been prepared for this gospel! She has so much faith in God and is very open to what we've been teaching. She's pretty solid. Well. We met with her again and she had her dad and her boyfriend over. So we taught them, too. We had planned on teaching the plan of salvation but she says to us, "Okay girls, I have a question for you and I don't want to make you uncomfortable but Imma just gonna say it." And she totally goes into the Law of Chastity! Haha! It was pretty stellar. She just has an earnest desire for truth and is so sincere! Which is awesome! We eventually got the 2 guys to open up and join in the lesson too. It was one of the most golden lessons ever! PLUS, when we followed up on Amanda's Book of Mormon reading, she said she read the 1st chapter. I was a little, like, 'ah that's cool.' I was hoping for a little bit more, but I guess it's better than no reading. However, she then tells us that she read a chapter like how Genesis and Exodus are chapters. So she said she was on Nephi chapter 2, but is really on 2nd Nephi! She had read all of 1st Nephi in just four days! She said she was bored so she read for four hours straight and finished the "first chapter." Haha. She's so awesome! Our 2nd miracle was with a less active named Kathy Hill. We visited her on New Years Eve and got along with her really well. She had lived in Idaho Falls for 10 years! and she is a hair dresser like Sister Phadnis so we had a lot to talk about. But this whole week I was feeling like we should've stopped by. But she lives on the opposite side of everyone we normally visit. We finally just made a special trip to see her Friday and she said, "The Lord just knows when I need you!" and she started to tear up! It's always so fulfilling to be an answer to a prayer and it made our day as well as hers! She had been having a hard time and was feeling lonely and she was afraid that she was going to lose her job. I felt prompted to ask her if we could fast for her, which we did Sunday. She came to church and was so happy and filled and gosh I just love her! Anywho… Sorry I have been such a downer. The days are just so up and down and I need to learn how to sustain my ups through my downs. And GUESS WHAT? I got your package today! It didn't come until later in the day, but when it did I cried. I just love you so much. Thanks for all you do for me. Ok, so I got 3 letters from you today and a package from Kylie and a letter from sara st..saifer? sss something. She's your friend :) and a package from Judy and oh my gosh I love you. Things are so much better. Love , Sister Herrin