Work is really picking up in the Waterloo Area

Work is really picking up in the Waterloo area. We are being VERY blessed. You said you wanted some stories... well yesterday we were able to have 4 member present lesson and 1 other lesson taught and we picked up 4 new investigators!! What we did yesterday (in one day) is more than I have done in complete weeks here in Waterloo! I think it is because we are really focusing on setting goals and raising our vision. Also planning. So anyways funny story. Yesterday I felt like i was in Mexico hahaha. So we went to Sparta (which is like 40 miles from our house but still in our branch) to meet some potential investigators. The only active member who lives down there is Mexican (Sister Hernandez) and she is AMAZING literally, i want to be like her. So she lives in a trailer with her two kids and it could use some work. But when we walked in she was like WELCOME TO MY PALACE and (she LOVES to talk) so she proceeded to tell us how Heavenly Father blessed her to get that house. And I can't remember all of it. But let's just say she has LOADS of faith. So anyways. we went and ate at a little Mexican restaurant and then we went and met with her family friends Natalie (9) who has been coming to church and wants to be baptized and her mom (Rosita) who wasn't sure if she wanted to let Natalie get baptized and all this. Well Rosita does not speak English. so literally for 30 minutes her and Sister Hernandez were talking and I picked up some words every now and then but let's just say I am grateful I went English speaking. For a second I reflected on how dad must of felt on his mission at the beginning ha-ha. so anyways they talked and stuff and the mom was still like idk. Then I felt inspired to share the plan of salvation so i whipped out my little cut outs (which are amazing and I am SOO grateful for them) and as I spoke Sister Hernandez translated. It was AMAZING! The spirit was so strong. And as we taught Natalie she has so many good basic questions like if we don't get baptized on earth would we go "to the place we don't want to go" it was cute. Then at the end, we invited her to pray. And man it was gold. This is the first time she has EVER prayed out loud. We had just talked about repentance and in her prayer she asked to be forgiven on mistakes and then afterwards I was like "Natalie you just talked with God! How do you feel?!" and she said "it feels so good! I have never done that before, i have never talked with God before" mom. It was great. Literally, sister Roberts started crying it was so great. Moments like these make everything worth it.

Sister Howard had interview with President Bateman on January 17, 2017. I asked her what he told her. This was her reply.

I told him that this area was really hard but it was all good and he said I was called there by direct revelation and Heavenly Father needs me to go through this because later in my mission I will be called to do things and I need this experience.