Well, the big event of the week was Sister W's birthday yesterday! She and I and J (the guy that got baptized a couple weeks ago) all went over to the W's after church and had some cake and opened presents (I got one too, because they are just so nice :)) and had a gospel discussion. And then, after tracting and seeing miracles, like we do every day because Heavenly Father loves us so much, we went to dinner, and the wonderful couple that fed us had decorated with balloons and streamers and had brownies and everything! This ward is so loving and supportive and is full of incredible people. Brother and Sister F, who were the ones that had us for dinner yesterday, have such an amazing conversion story, and while we were talking, I just felt so uplifted and motivated and inspired! It was such a testament to me that we need to surround ourselves with good people and that we are so blessed to have good friends and family and neighbors to support us and strengthen our testimonies with theirs.
It has been sunny here the last few days, finally, but it just seems a little odd and out of place now to have sunshine and clear enough skies to see the stars...haha. But many mornings, it is foggy, and it is just gorgeous to drive over the bridge into town and see the fog over the lake and the mountains and trees...it always just helps me remember that I'm so blessed to have been called to Oregon. Heavenly Father loves us so much.
He definitely loves me enough to put me with a stellar companion! I just love Sister W so much. She is such a goof, but that is perfect, and she always helps us to work hard and know what we can specifically do to always be improving. I think she's exactly what I needed in a trainer, and Heavenly Father definitely knew that. We have talked so many times this week about how incredible it is that God has such a detailed, perfect plan for every single one of us, and I know that nothing happens by coincidence. It's so fun when Sister W and I both get so excited about just being missionaries and we just are so happy! That happened last night, when we were talking about how much progress and growth we have seen in some of the people we are working with. That's one of the best parts of being a missionary--we get to see so much positive change in people's lives and notice the improvement that they might not even notice themselves! Missionary work is a wonderful calling and it is such a blessing to act on that, even if you're not a full-time missionary.
One of our investigators had a miracle this week! It was even a miracle inside a miracle. She has dyslexia, so she has had a hard time reading her scriptures, although she has gotten better and wanted to read more and more as she has gained a stronger testimony. But this week, she got an answer to her prayers through reading the Book of Mormon! She was so worried that she wouldn't get an answer, so it was SO exciting when she texted us Mosiah 5:2 and 1 Nephi 11:6! She also quit smoking this week, and she is the one motivating her inactive boyfriend to come to church every week. I sure love that woman and I am so glad I get to serve here and know her.
While we were tracting one day, we knocked on a door, and the guy was like "This isn't really a good time..." and he was using his legs to hold something back from running out the door, which is what a lot of people here do with their dogs. But when I looked again, I realized they were children! And as he was shutting the door, and we said we'd come back another time, the little boy yelled out "COME BACK IN FIVE MINUTES!" haha, Sister W and I have been cracking up over that all week. I'm not sure that it's actually funny to any of you, but I appreciated it.
And we had a tracting miracle! So every night, we prayerfully set goals for the next day on what we want to accomplish. And then we strive to hit those goals! Well, it was 5pm, and we hadn't taught any "other lessons", but we had as our goal to teach three...so we were worried we wouldn't hit it, and we only had twenty minutes before our dinner appointment. So we went tracting, and we got all three lessons in those twenty minutes! Heavenly Father definitely blesses us when we work hard and follow the Spirit. We also got three return appointments with people while tracting and continually get to have conversations with wonderful people...So Sister W and I love tracting! Even though every single time we go tracting, it starts pouring. Or even hailing! (That's why we look all wet in the picture attached...cuz, you know, Oregon is rainy!)
One day while we were tracting, we saw a salamander in the middle of a driveway, and we decided that we should move it so it wouldn't get run over! So Sister W picked it up to save it, and she accidentally dropped it and killed it! (Also shown in a picture...sorry.) It was so ironic and sad.
Also a little sad is that we are having water troubles...our water is orange and yucky, so we are using water bottles to brush our teeth, and we can't do laundry or shower until it gets fixed, which will hopefully be soon!
Sister W's mom called a salon here and arranged for a birthday surprise for her--and me! But it was really cool, because she didn't know how she would let us know about it, but she ended up calling the girl who does the Bishop's wife's hair! So she was able to let us know, and we got to go do that this morning. Sister W got her hair cut and colored, and I got a pedicure! I just thought that was so thoughtful and wonderful of Sister W's mom and so cool that it all worked out through Sister H :) But while we were there, I was upstairs with my nails, and she was downstairs with her hair, and it was a little freaky to not be with my companion! Just a month in, and I'm already so used to having someone with me 24/7! I can't imagine what it will be like after 18 months...haha
Also, thank you Reachel for doing my outfits...I'm already needing to get creative, and definitely using the pictures you took, but I feel pretty accomplished that I still haven't repeated an outfit yet!
Thank you all so much for all you do, really. You are so appreciated and I love you so much! Have a most wonderful week and keep me updated on all that you do! :)
Love,
Sister Partridge
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