January 10, 2011.

Hello Family and Friends!

How are each of you? I have had a great week here. I have witnessed many sacred experiences and learned more about my purpose in life. Sister Olsen were blessed to teach many other lessons. I will tell you about a lady named Mary. We tracted into Mary last week. She is 88 years old and lives in a huge house by herself. She is from Holland. We went back a few days later and told her about the Book of Mormon. She kept getting side-tracked (probably the age hehe), but said she would read a Dutch Book of Mormon. She also committed to come to church. Sis. Olsen and I were in a meeting before church and we called Mary to see if she was still coming. She said she was all ready to go! We went and picked her up and she came to church with us! She is SO funny. We sat through Sacrament meeting and then she said she would like to go home. I think it was a long time for her to be sitting. An older man (a widower) had introduced himself to her before the meeting started. When she decided to go home, she asked him if he would drive her home. Then she said "I know it's awkward..." and took his arm!!!!!! I was laughing SO hard. He escorted her to get her coat and then drove her home. We later found out that she couldn't remember how to get to her house and so they got a little lost. I have a feeling she "forgot" on purpose :) It was super cute. Mary will come again next week and we will go visit her sometime this week.

We also had a miracle with a lady named Sue Anne on the same street as Mary. It was a beautiful sunny day with snow covered grounds and we knocked on a house facing the bright sun. Sue Anne answered. We told her who we are and asked if she believed in Jesus Christ. She began to cry and said "Oh yes." Sister Olsen asked how she has seen His hand in her life. Sue Anne then told us how her husband had recently left her and how Jesus Christ has been with her through it all. I then read a scripture with her that I had read to Sister Olsen earlier that day. It was Alma 58:11, which reads: "Yea, and it came to pass that the Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls, and did grant unto us great faith, and did cause us that we should hope for our deliverance in him." Sue Anne wept as we testified of deliverance in Christ. We gave her a Book of Mormon with Alma 7 to read. We prayed with her and through her tears, she said "You are my angels today." She gave us both a hug and kiss on the cheek. I was so grateful to be an angel for someone who so desperately needed it.

Those are my two stories for the week. I hope everyone is doing well and enjoyed their holiday break! I love being a missionary for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am privileged to wear his name over my heart everyday. He lives! He loves us! He IS the way!

Love,

Sister Barton :)