Great week

Hello! Wow time is flying so fast! Already a whole transfer done in Minnesota! I am staying here to finish my training with Hermana Crosby. :) I had another great week in Lakeville! Once a transfer we get to have a district P day and get to do things with the other missionaries. Last week we went and played laser tag and also played some bball and dodgeball at the church! Super fun! I'm super excited for today too, because we are going with some members in our ward to Minneapolis to do some sight seeing! I'll take pictures! Last Monday we also had a super fun FHE with K and her kids! They are adorable. We talked about Lehi's dream and made an "iron rod" out of those wrapping paper tube things. Each of the kids got to hold on to the rod and we would give them scenarios and give them choices of what they would do. If it was something good they got to go forward on the rod until they made it to the 'tree of life' where the 'fruit' was waiting. The fruit in this little activity was cookie flavored. :) They are so cute and I love them so much! I have some other really good news! M and D, the people who we thought dropped us last week have actually decided not too and are still going to be searching for the truth! On Tuesday there was a President's fireside in Bloomington that was really good. They came with us to that. I don't know if they got anything out of it, because they were super tired but at least they came and haven't given up yet! Later in the week we sat down with them and they expressed their concerns. Basically they are trying to find an answer, realize they need to do more on their part, and are going to do what they can so they can find an answer. Please pray for them that they will be able to recognize an answer soon! They are such a sweet family; they just don't see the blessings that this gospel can bring them yet! So, at the fireside, Elder Godoy of the 70 came. We also had mission conference with him the next day! He is awesome. He's from Brazil originally and hilarious. The conference was very good and then afterwards we had lunch and he sat by me. He asked me where I was from and he said that this week he will be in Twin Falls! He's doing something with the stake presidents I guess. I'm not really sure, but I thought it was cool! Recently we started teaching these two girls, P and S. They are roommates and very sweet ladies. P has a daughter who is in 1st grade. They work crazy hours like every single person we teach, but they are very open. Every time we have had a lesson with them the Spirit has been so strong! Hermana Crosby and I were pretty bold from the beginning that they are going to have to make changes in their lives but the blessings that await them are wonderful. I'm really excited to see what happens! This week was just a week full of great things. We taught a Restoration lesson to this couple, A and D. They have a very strong faith in God. They shared with us some experiences they've had and how they know that God really does answer prayers. Angie was astounded when we told her about Joseph Smith's experience. We told them we know it is new and different from what they've heard, but invited them to pray about it. A said she definitely would. She said it would be one of the first things she did! Such an awesome reaction! A lot of times people say things like, "ummm okay I guess yeah I'll pray maybe sometime I don't know we'll see." We asked them what it would mean if the Church of Jesus Christ really was restored on the earth today. D said it would definitely clear up a lot of confusion. I'm super excited to go see them tonight and see how their experiences were! :) I know for sure that if they actually did as they said and prayed about it with a sincere heart they will get an answer. I have a funny story for you guys too. We were teaching this girl named M about the Restoration. She's the one we taught last week about the Plan of Salvation. Anyways, she has absolutely no knowledge about the Bible or prophets or anything like that. We were trying to explain the concept of authority and Hermana Crosby used an example of an ice cream truck driver vs. a cop. What would you say if an ice cream truck driver pulled you over and wrote you a ticket? Probably not listen and tell him to leave. What if the same thing happened with a cop? You would listen and pay the ticket. So we were talking about this and how it is relates to Priesthood authority and then she interrupted and said, "wait, but what if the ice cream truck driver had a gun and threatened to kill you?" Haha. One of the sweetest moments this week was yesterday. We were teaching these two kids, C and N. We were teaching about the Plan of Salvation and about how we lived with Heavenly Father before we came here. C said, "wow I learned something new today! I didn't know we lived with God!" I asked him how that made him feel and he said it made him so happy. Those kind of moments are what make it worth it. It is the best thing ever to watch the joy that the truths of the gospel bring to people. Especially to sweet children like them. :) Last night there was a Thanksgiving concert at the church. It was with different religious groups from the community. We as missionaries ushered at it and then got to enjoy the night and listen to the music! Such a fun treat! Also yesterday W, the man who was baptized in July received the Priesthood! The spanish ward in Minneapolis is going to the temple to do baptisms and he is going to go! And we are also to help! :) The bishop of the Lakeville Ward, Bishop Mason, talked to Hermana Crosby and I yesterday too. He gave me a new perspective as he talked about how what we face as missionaries- watching people again and again not keep their commitments and the frustrations that comes with that- is a small taste of what the Lord deals with all the time. Every one of His children breaks their 'commitments' as they sin. Yet He loves us unconditionally. Wow, I can't even imagine how frustrating that is to have every single one of your children fall short every single day. Well, I love you all. Thanks so much for the emails! Please send me letters too! It is super fun to get mail! :) Love, Hermana Pierce