An experience this week shows that even after 17 months Soeur Holt is able to recognise that there are things she can learn. Following up from General Conference I have been studying through certain talks this week and I have truly been uplifted through the counsel and word of modern day prophets, leaders and teachers. President Nelson’s talk really touched me and the suggestion that it is our right to have the manifestations of the Holy Spirit every day.

I also studied within chapter 4 of Preach My Gospel and I have been refining my listening and knowledge of how the spirit works within and through me.

An experience which I think highlighted this happened on Sunday. At the end of the branch meal we were heading out of the chapel when President Eclar (of the mission presidency) called us over and asked us about how the work was going etc. We told him that we do a lot of contacting recently and we are searching using all of the ways that we know how: our own efforts, member referral and work, area book etc. While he tried to give us advice I was stubborn and just listened and felt that everything he was saying were things that I have already heard and doing anyway, like teaching a fish how to swim.

On the drive home after the week of studies based on the Spirit as I reflected myself upon my words and the way that I had acted. I definitely felt a clear light that spoke words to my heart; I needed to humble myself (Ether 12.27) and the first step to doing that was calling President Eclar and apologising for the way that I had spoken to him (maybe its eldest child syndrome but I don’t like people telling me how to do something I think I am already a pro at (2 Nephi 20.13) but I am learning…). He told me that he wasn’t offended in any way but had felt that I wasn’t taking his advice on board but he respected me for my humility in owning my mistakes. For the rest of the day it sounds cheesy but I had a true joy in the knowledge that I had followed through with a first impression.

Soeur Holt expressed her appreciation for emails she received last week. I felt overwhelmed with love with emails from Soeur Needs, Soeur Tepapatahi and Soeur Hootini! Wow! I miss my chicas! Then on to Okebab for lunch because the Texan Soeur Munlin wanted some fries and meat! I also bought a creole outfit for a special occasion!

It was quite a brief summary of events from Soeur Holt this pday- as the weeks go on her time on a Monday seems to be crammed with so many other things. The same goes for the other days: it was jam packed with contacting and member visits- highlights Soeur Wina, Soeur Bethina, the famille Desir and Soeur Lima. Oh also when we were in the car with Soeur Eclar and she was calling Alex Boyé [a musician].

Other lessons that Soeurs Holt and Reep were able to teach came from different visits and contacts. We met a super sweet couple called Joanna and William and their two young children they invited us into their home gave us juice and we shared with them a message on the Book of Mormon.

We also met a man who loved the experiment with the Book of Mormon and even asked for the book with the little tabs in so we gave it to him. He said that he liked how he felt the love of God when we read. That evening we taught a lady the Restoration and invited her to pray to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and if the Book of Mormon is true. A good lesson and I felt a great Spirit and Soeur Reep recited the first vision.

We visited with a family in the branch who had accepted the challenge to give a Book of Mormon to a friend. The teenage daughter had done it- the friends mother apparently was slightly put out and spoke to the mum which gave her the opportunity to bear her testimony to the mother and give her her own copy!

We also visited with a lady; bless her she broke down she had just come out of hospital after a miscarriage (she didn’t know that she was pregnant)- we read together Alma 28.12:

“While many thousands of others truly mourn for the loss of their kindred, yet they rejoice and exult in the hope, and even know, according to the promises of the Lord, that they are raised to dwell at the right hand of God, in a state of never-ending happiness.”

She burst into tears- we just served her cleaning and washing the pots.

Love you all and thank you for your emails! xx