Miracles are happening and its such an amazing time to be a Missionary!!!!

Hey Mom!!!!

This week was awesome!!!! First we had a Family Home Evening with the High Priest group leader in our ward and that was awesome. His wife made this type of cider that uses orange juice and pineapple juice and it was delicious. So we asked and got the recipe hahaha. 

On Tuesday we helped a family move. That took a while. For the first couple of days this week there was ice all over the ground (we had an ice storm which froze all the water and snow) so we could drive anywhere. Well after the move we had a lesson with Brian and went out to give a Baptismal interview out in Sterling. Long story short it was an adventure! Everything worked out well and we had  a great time. Brian is doing amazing. He is coming to church and they are reading the Book of Mormon and keeping all their commitments! When we asked him if he had received an answer to his Prayers if Joseph Smith was a Prophet he said that he felt like he did because every time he reads the Book of Mormon he knows he is feeling the Spirit and that it all makes sense. Man he is so awesome. The ward leaders are really excited for him to be Baptized because they feel that he is such a special soul and everyone is just really excited for him. 

On Wednesday we had this really long meeting during the day. But after I renewed my temple recommend with President. That was awesome. He told me how he really wants me to stay in this area for my last transfer (which was really exciting to hear). After we had a Stake Meeting where we meet with the Stake High Counsel Representative over the Ward Mission Leaders and all the Ward Mission Leaders in the Stake. Basically they set a goal of achieving 50 convert Baptisms. Last year the Ashburn Stake only got 25 and the year before that they got 23. Well as of today we are at........49!!!!!! It is so awesome. Everyone is so excited. There are still 2 people being baptized this month and possibly a 3rd. But all the ward mission leaders really want to attend the 50th and are really focused and pumped about missionary work. It is awesome to see how people are catching the Lords Vision of the hastening of the work. Miracles are happening and its such an amazing time to be a Missionary!!!!

We had the Christmas conference on Friday and that was really awesome. I got to see friends and past companions. We had a lot of fun but also focused on the True meaning of Christmas. President as usual delivered a great talk.

Then yesterday we had a great day at church, and had a lesson with Tracey Haynes and his wife Wanni. It was a great lesson! She understands and speaks a lot more English that we thought. She totally has the intent, but stated she wants to know 100% that this is true. It was a humbling teaching experience because we really had to teach very basic but still be able to teach the correct principles. A couple of times we had to stop and think "ok how am I going to explain this" but it turned out so well. 

Things are going great. We get transfer calls tomorrow so most likely I am staying here with Elder Fink. We are excited about that and for all the work we have to do!

Love 

Elder Powell