We found Dan!

Jóu sàhn, múihgo yàhn

早晨, 每個人

Good morning, everyone!

It's 丁姊妹 back again! This week has been awesome!!

On Friday we had zone conference! Sister Steiner and I had to wake up at 5 and then start driving at 5:50 so we could get down to Casper and get our car washed an hour before the meeting started because I had to rehearse for the musical number. So it was pretty early and we were quite tired but we made it! Elder Danielson and I went through the piece just two or three times and then we went to join the others in the main room. I had to retune to the piano so that was annoying but you know, musician life. Once conference started, it was really good! We talked about faith, obedience, sacrifice, and blessings and how they're all connected. We got to share our thoughts and some scriptures about each word and it was great. We also got to go into groups to discuss. President Palmer encouraged that a pair of sisters be in each group because sisters bring new insight into conversation 😌. But anyways, guess who I met in the group?? ELDER KORTH! If you don't remember, Sister Korth was in my MTC district! She told me that her cousin was in the Fort Collins mission but this was my first time meeting him! It was a fun connection.

Other than that discussion, we had tacos for lunch which was bueno and then we had a presentation about car safety from a guy who came from the church offices. He first talked about dashboard safety and put up 3 pictures from cars he inspected today. And guess who's sudoku just happened to be on the dashboard when they left the car, MINE. He pointed to the three different pictures, including ours, and talked about how there are airbags under the dash boards and anything on a dashboard when you're driving can turn into a dangerous projectile in a crash. He made us all promise that we wouldn't put stuff on our dashboards anymore. We did, but nevertheless, now whenever Sister Steiner and I put something on the dashboard for a second we yell, "DANGEROUS PROJECTILE". I also came up with a story about our rubber duck Jemimah that used to sit on our dashboard and I said in an old accent, "I'm sorry miss but your daughter has been killed." "oh my goodness how??" "it was a rubber duck." But anyways that's just us. We also had to evaluate each others cars, checking the tire pressure and tread, checking the oil, all the lights, the wiper fluid, the mileage log. So that was fun, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT I WAS GOING TO BLOW AWAY IN THE WIND. When I say it was windy it was wiiiiiiiiindy. I thought I'd be dealing with high winds in Hong Kong but Casper wind was pretty bad.

For most of conference I was pretty much just waiting for when the musical number would be because I had no idea so I was just biding my time. After we got back from the car stuff though, we had it. I was a little bit shaky but not too bad thankfully (I shake when I get nervous). I got lots of nice compliments and praise towards it so I'd say that's pretty good. After the musical number, we had a testimony meeting and I loved hearing everyone's testimonies. I bore mine as well because I don't know how much longer I'll be around those people but I knew that I really do love them.

That was conference though, Sister Steiner and I also got to help Sister Meeks out with goats again this week! Except this time it wasn't the goats per say, but their waste. We took a pickaxe, a wheelbarrel, and a shovel and Sister Meeks would break up the ground with the pickaxe and then Sister Steiner and I would take turns shoveling all of that packed hay and waste into the wheelbarrel and then wheeling it off to the pile. The worst part was probably the smell. I'd be lying if I said I didn't pray to have strength to withstand it and that my muscles would hold out all that shoveling. We got through it though and it wasn't so bad once the smell was burned into your nostrils. Needless to say though, Sister Steiner and I took showers before going out to dinner with a member.

But now what you've been wanting to hear, WE FOUND DAN! When Sister Steiner and I were at zone conference, we were walking to the bathroom and she checked her phone and Dan had messaged us! She threw her phone on the floor and ran and clicked her heels. It was a great moment. We went and saw Dan that night after getting back from conference and apparently he had lost his phone! I had guessed that might've happened but wasn't sure. He was out fishing and had hooked his boat back up to his car to go home and left his phone in the boat! He said it's probably in pieces on the highway by now. So he got a new phone and was finally able to message us back after a week and a half. So obviously, Dan wasn't baptized this weekend, but good news! We had dinner at a member's house with Dan on Sunday and we taught him the last two things he needs to know to be baptized! And then yesterday, Elder Hedquist (our DL) came down with Elder Nichols and gave Dan his baptismal interview and he passed! Elder Hedquist just told us how spiritual it was and how ready Dan is. We're so excited! Now we're just doing all the fun stuff, inviting people, getting Dan a jumpsuit that fits, and putting together a program. I find it such a blessing that I'm able to witness this and I'm so glad.

We had some cool teaching experiences this week, but I want to tell you about Patty. Patty is a lady that we've gone to see a couple of times and have shared messages, but we haven't made her a new person before because we weren't sure how interested in the gospel she actually was. She does believe in God, very strongly. She knows that He's always been there for her and watches over her, but she was never raised going to church and has never really been interested. Sister Steiner and I felt strongly though that we should teach her the restoration and on Sunday we did! It was honestly a miracle because Patty likes to talk a lot and a 15 minute visit will turn into an hour real quick, but she listened and when we did get off topic, it was only for a little bit! Sister Steiner has been helping me be more confident in leading lessons so she had me start it and we switched off during it. I honestly felt the Spirit so strongly as I taught. It was just bursting within me and as I spoke I knew what I said was true. Sister Steiner said she could see it in my face. I was able to give Patty an extra Book of Mormon I've been carrying around and we read her Moroni's promise and invited her to read and pray to find out for herself that it's true. She said she would! Well she really said, "okay." but still good! She also asked us some questions about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon and it's always nice when people have genuine questions about it. We're not sure whether she will take the challenge and truly read and ask, but I'm praying for her every day that she will.

As for the Hong Kong side of life, I got to have language study with Sister Johnson again today! It was super nice to see her as always and she said she's got her visa now!!!! I'm so excited! Now we're both all set to go which hopefully means at the end of transfers we can! She did say, however, that quarantine in Hong Kong has gone up to three weeks 😬. Not only is that a long time, but we're worried that Hong Kong will close it's borders again before we can get over there. Sister Johnson and her companion have been praying that they'll stay open and I told her that Sister Steiner and I will be too now. Since fast Sunday is this weekend, we also want to fast that the borders will stay open so if any of you would like to join us in that fast, it would be so greatly appreciated! The power of fasting and prayer is real! I know that whatever happens will be according to God's plan, but I want to show Him how great my desire is to go to Hong Kong and serve those people!

I truly hope that everything is going well for you all. I know how crazy the world is, but never forget that God will never change. He will always be there for you and will never forget you. Don't be afraid to talk to Him!

This week I wanted to share a passage from Helaman chapter 3. It's verses 25-27 and says,

25 And so great was the prosperity of the church, and so many the blessings which were poured out upon the people, that even the high priests and the teachers were themselves astonished beyond measure.

26 And it came to pass that the work of the Lord did prosper unto the baptizing and uniting to the church of God, many souls, yea, even tens of thousands.

27 Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name.

I know that these words are so true and that God will always listen to us when we ask Him sincerely. I love God and I love this gospel and I love all of you too! You don't know how much I appreciate all of your support and emails. It means the world :)

Make this week an amazing one!

Gāa yáu!

丁姊妹

Sister DelHoyo