Tender Mercies

So my friends, this week not much has happened. Tuesday we had a visitors center training meeting. The four sisters that met Elder Holland got to talk about it for a minute and I just bore my testimony on the spirit that was there. and the next day at the zone conference Sister McPheeters, one of the senior missionaries, told me how much the spirit touched her while i was baring my testimony and saying how i have everything figured out and together haha it really means a lot when people tell me that because im always afraid im not making any since but i really do have power in what i say. I just need to believe that for myself. and also at zone conference sister morby called me to lead the music hahahha that's funny huh? I don't know how to lead and im not comfortable standing in front of people. but of course the Lord knows how to stretch me in different ways and get out of my comfort zone. Then on friday morning a member in our ward invited us over because they were inviting a whole bunch of people over for a bbq and a lot of them would be nonmembers. we pulled up to their house and it was HUGE! i've never seen anything so big.  they basically had a water park in their backyard and had a sign in front of their house that said Welton Estates. that's their last name. some people haha and then on friday night i was just minding my own business at the visitors center and it was really slow so I was watching mormon messages i haven't seen yet and my companion runs and says "Elder Holland is here!" I get up and run out super excited thinking Elder Holland came in again and I see Elder Holland! my buddy Justin Holland!  It was so good to see him. Apparently in July when the mission split he was transferred to the Salem Mission and is the AP there. and then on Saturday he came in again. both times he brought a less active. On saturday we took his less active on a temple tour. everything i said shes like "I like that" "I like how you said that" After a rough beginning of the week things always turn around. Then on sunday we went to see one of our less actives and she only likes to chat. and then i asked her one question and that was to tell me about herself and she told me her whole life story and we got into talking about the atonement and we left her with a chapter to read in the book of mormon and a return

 appointment. that never happens. we usually just have to drop by. She we're moving somewhere with her hopefully. and when we were talking to her at the end she said "Thanks for going on a mission" I've been really struggling with my purpose and why im even here and that was an answer to my prayer. Also, a less active family with a mom that's kind of active. she goes to church to fulfill her calling and then goes home. but one day this week we ate at their house and left them with a message like we always do. we left them with d&c 84:61 its about being forgiven for your sins when you bare your testimony. i knew you could be blessed and get a stronger testimony when you bare it but i didn't know you could be forgiven of your sins and on sunday the mom bore her testimony. short and sweet and to the point but she did and it was great! people actually do listen to our message. then on saturday we were going to a stake breakfast and we were driving on the freeway and apparently Oregon state and Oregon university were playing and everyone was driving down the freeway with their flags on their cars and i was having football withdraws. i miss it. and then we were at a members house teaching a short lesson to get them involved in missionary work and we were talking about the 49ers and neither of us could remember the quarterbacks name. I always called him capricorn so i couldn't remember it and then in the middle of the lesson he yelled in out hahah it was so funny. he said he'd keep me updated on byu and the 49ers and austin collie haha ;) don't tell anyone. well that's all for this week. keep smiling my friends. love you.