"Woah, you're HALF WAY THERE, woah, livin' on a prayer"

well my sixth transfer is over, and now I am way way through the mission. I am leaving Ventura! I will be headed to San Lous Obispo aka the SLO life. I will be follow up training a sister named sis gunthrie (sp?) I've heard she's pretty cool.

I thought I would get to stay because sis Parker got her visa to go to Australia, but alas we are both leaving. Because she leaves at 3pm TODAY and then I will have to be with another companionship until I get my new companion at transfer meeting tomorrow, I only have until 3 to pack and get everything done. therefore I will not be able to say goodbye to all the people here that I’d like to.

this week has been great! My birthday was awesome. Mainly because we talked to this guy parked in our church parking lot that was having a rough time. We were leaving from district meeting and there were 10 missionaries in the parking lot, and no one went up to talk to him in his car. I felt so prompted to talk to him, I actually pulled over and got out of the car (I was leaving) and I think it really helped him and made his day. we gave his pres monsons talk from last conference that we had just printed. I cried as we prayed for him. leaving the parking lot I realized THAT was the most memorable, meaningful special thing I could do on my birthday. I felt so much joy. I was able to help someone.

Ray came to church and still has his baptismal date for 3-22. Danni wants to wait until her mom gets out of jail which should be in the next 35 days or so, so we are having her pray about 4-12. and last Sunday I had a prompting to swing by a potentials house and share some words with him, we've had two lessons since and he has a baptism date set for 4-19!

there are many little glimpses and moments I would love to share with you from my mission and from this week, but there simply isn’t time.

but, this is my favorite scripture I have read this week:

"Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:12-13

When it all comes down to it, missionary work, salvation, it all has to do with our heart. ARE WE going to seek him? if we do we will find him. but many days we choose not to. People have so many excuses not to progress in the gospel or learn about it, "the holidays are coming up..." "it’s the super bowl this weekend..." "once I have more time.... ", "maybe when the school years out...." "when the school year starts up again..." "we're having a rough time, once I get the family in order..." the excuses can go on forever! they are all so trivial to eternal salvation. I love when people give us time and listen, and persistence does pay off, people are searching, weather they know it or not, and I have been blessed to see the work move forward here in Ventura. I used to be sad when change came, but in the mission it’s the only constant thing you have. I simply will look forward, knowing there are great things to come. I have the full assurance that everything in the area will be taken care of by sister mason (my mtc companion) who will be taking my place.

this work is the work of god. he directs it. he will direct you, if you let him. there are many changes and uncertainties to life, as pres monson said, "We cannot direct the wind, but we can direct the sails," our response to adversity and change is what defines us, not the change itself. we are here to learn and grow, lets at least have some fun while we’re at it!!!

I love you all :) But not as much as god loves you.