SISTER ZACKRISON: Roll Tide! (it never gets old!)

Hey Y’all!

This week was a busy one! Being in the YSA and being with students sure keeps you on your toes. We spent a lot of time on campus, which allowed us to meet lots of new people. It has been a cool experience to be able to engage in conversations so easily with the students that lead to gospel topics. Every week we play Frisbee on the quad and so many nonmembers come! The members invite a lot, and people just walking by come and join. I can’t say I am much of a Frisbee player. I usually just run around and look silly, but the good news is that it is getting darker earlier, so most people don’t even see me. Ha ha.

We are seeing miracles happening in this branch. Maggie will be baptized on Sunday. I haven’t known her for that long, but I have seen the ways that the gospel is touching her life. She is changing in front of us. I think that is how the Lord must feel about us, when we make more righteous choices. We also have been working with a couple, Kimberly and Braxton, and they are really curious. Which has been amazing! They don’t wait for us to invite them to act, but they choose to on their own. They want to learn, and they really want to find truth. They ask us a lot of questions, and they seem to really like the answers. And the best part? They aren’t living together! So now there is nothing stopping them from getting baptized. We are trying to set a date with the two of them this week. We have been seeing a lot of progress with our foreign investigators. Alex is from Columbia, and Pai is from China. They have taught me about the power of prayer. They both pray so sincerely because God is new to them. Alex has expressed to us how he knows this is important, this is his faith. So he is really making sure he makes the right decision. And Pai, wow she is something else! She is new at praying, but she is really experiencing how God answers prayers. She is going to change the lives of so many of her family members back home when she decides to be baptized.

When we were adding up our numbers, we realized that we had 8 progressing investigators. That has never happened to me before! Our goal this week is to set baptismal dates with each of them. We have invited all of them already to be baptized, but none of them have dates yet. They are all in a place where they could be ready soon, and where they need that little push. And it is so exciting to me! I really hope that we can help them grow this week.

We had a cool experience happen to us on Sunday. A member brought a girl he has been dating to church, and we sat by her. We taught her after church and the spirit was so incredibly strong. She told us that she felt warm, that she felt peace, and that she felt like someone was holding her. It was amazing to see that right away she felt the spirit. She knows we can’t make that feeling up. She told us that she really wanted to learn, and that she really wanted to find out for herself before she made any decisions about baptism. But she did tell us that she really liked what she saw so far, and wanted to come back. I know the Lord placed us in her life when she would be ready to receive it. It was an amazing first lesson.

“A testimony is found in bearing it.”

-Boyd K. Packer

My testimony of prayer has grown so much. I spend more time on my knees than I ever did before. I can tell you that I know He answers prayers. I know that they are being heard, and I know that we are never alone. That gives me so much comfort. It also brings me to the quote of the week. This one is by Boyd K. Packer. He says, “A testimony is found in bearing it.” I know this to be true. I know that as we bear our testimonies to our friends and families when the opportunity comes, that they will feel the spirit. They will be able to see that what you are saying is real. I know that it can be scary to bear testimony, but I know that it will only bring strength to the foundation you already have. I challenge y’all to do something this week to bear your testimony. Whether it be online, or in person, or letter, or what, try it! It will bless your life.

Shout out to my amazing brother in law, Joey! His birthday is tomorrow, and I haven’t gotten the card in the mail, so it will be late. I am so sorry about that Joey! Life has been crazy, but I promise it is coming! I love you very much. Just like I love the rest of y’all! I hope you have a great week! Remember the Lord in all you do!

-Sister Zackrison