Sending All My Love

Dear Family,

Thank you so very much for your emails this week. They were exactly what I needed to read. I know that your concerns and questions come because you care about me and I appreciate that, really. Things are going much better. My stomach is still feeling fine. I will try the dairy thing like Aunt Lynn suggested and see what it does. Dad, thank you also for the list you sent. Those are all things that I have been trying to avoid. We're also going to make an announcement on Sunday so that the members will also know that I have a sensitive stomach and need to be careful. But yes, enough sickness talk. Blah. I really am fine and I am open to answer questions. I still have contact with the doctor, the good one, and if things get worse I will be able to call her right away. There are lots of wonderful people here taking care of me.

How is everyone at home doing? School, work, seminary? I do pray for you all often and I hope everything is going well. Unfortunately I left my planner at home today! So annoying for many reasons now because I don't have my list with me of everything I had wanted to write about. Oh well, hopefully I can remember.

So miracles of the week -- gosh I don't know, everything's been great. Another great lesson my mission is teaching me -- life is hard. For everyone. And if you ever feel like things are too hard for you, just go out and help someone else. Everyone has problems, but the gospel of Jesus Christ has an answer to every problem. It is possible to find peace. I think that's great.

Lots of people that we have visited and taught this week are going through a really hard time. I totally agree with Susan Marnatti, it's the stinking weather! Dang it, it's so gross. I really think Satan is trying to use it to get people discouraged. Unfortunately it's been working too much. I have made a new goal to not say any negative comments about the weather, and I have given Zuster Kremer permission to hit me if I do. Haha, she'll probably have to hit me a lot. I'm honestly praying for warmer weather. At least sunny weather.

But yes, ondanks all of this, the work of God goes forth boldly, nobly, and all that good stuff. Yesterday after church we went to do a consecrated hour and it was POURING. And cold. And just gross. No one was outside so we went to just go knock on doors. Everyone was in a bad mood though. So I made a personal goal and I told Zuster Kremer, "Whatever happens in this hour, regardless of if people accept our message, I just want everyone to know that I am happy." And so that's what I focused on, just being really happy and letting it show. And it worked! People changed.

Biggest miracle -- We met a young man who just slammed the door in our face but then a few minutes later he called us back and invited us in! He said his girlfriend wanted to hear what our message was. So we went in and gave a the whole first discussion and they were so interested and yeah, we're going back. That was awesome and such a needed tender mercy.

We also have been working with a lot of new investigators. We are teaching an awesome man named Ababujey who's been to church once, and though he's hesitant about baptism, he excepted a teaching calendar and will continue to pray to know if it is right.

Well, I took so long reading your emails that I am out of time. Know that I'm happy, and healthy, and that I love and appreciate you all. The gospel is it. Really, really. I'm grateful for my weaknesses because as much as I may kick and scream a bit during the perfecting process, I always come out stronger and closer to the Lord. I love you all!

Met liefde,
Zuster Holbein