This email was sent by Sister Welker on January 9th.  We received it on January 8th.

Week 22: Exchanges, Lemonade, My Purpose

This week was really really rough, but nobody can say that we didn't try our best.  Plus we did it all with a smile on our faces :D

Tuesday night, I went on exchanges with Sister Fuggle who is the new STL (Sister Training Leader).  We had a great start to our morning and then after lunch everything seemed to fall apart.  The people we went to visit weren't home and our appointments were canceled.  I was so excited to show Sister Fuggle how amazing our area was just to have everything not go according to plan.  I was pretty embarrassed, especially since I was with the STL, but luckily Sister Fuggle helped me to see the positive side.  She also mentioned something that I've been thinking a lot about.  She told me that there's 4 reasons why you'd be sent to a specific area 1-for your companion/other missionaries, 2- for someone/investigator in your area, 3- for your ward, 4- for yourself.  Lately I've felt impressed that my purpose in this area at this time is for my ward.  My area, at the moment, is on "holiday mode" and doesn't want much to do with the gospel right now, and it seems as though the number one reason why someone would go less active is because they feel judged or offended.  So my companion and I came up with a plan to help strengthen the ward by focusing on the members, and to get them excited about missionary work.  We are gonna try it out this week and hope it works, so wish us luck. :)

The other experience I wanted to share happened this last Saturday.  It had been a long day of nobody being home and doors slammed in our face.  We were driving to our next appointment when we saw two little girls selling lemonade on the side of the street.  We turned around and went to go buy some lemonade, oops, sorry, HOMEMADE lemonade. :)  It tasted really good, especially on a hot summer day, and I found out later that my companion said "God must really love me because I was thirsty and then we passed by the lemonade stand." 

That experience just helped to strengthen my testimony that God really knows what we are all going through, and he really does care about us. 

I'm so grateful to be on a mission and to have the gospel as a part of my life.  I know that I'm meant to be here at this time, that this is where God wants me to be. 

I love you all so much!!! Thanks again for all the prayers, love, and support.  Have a good week and talk to you again next week.

Sister Mandy Welker