s.l.e.e.p.o.v.e.r.

Hi family!!! I'm sure you are all wondering how we have survived this historical blizzard or noreaster or whatever they are calling it!! 

27" of snow fell yesterday and more to come today!!!

This is our story - On Sunday morning we were studying when President Lockhart called to tell us that four people called and wanted to come to church so we were going to move forward with a brief sacrament meeting. We shoveled out of our driveway, wind and snow were already blowing hard and fast in our faces. With very limited visibility we made it to the church. There were four missionaries, two members and two non-members there who wanted to say goodbye to the Lockhart's (they go home next week). 8 in total. 

It was a great privilege to partake of the sacrament. After that, each of the missionaries were asked to bear testimony of the Restoration. It was a sweet moment for me to reflect on how my testimony of the Restoration has grown over the course of my mission. The restoration is the greatest evidence we have of God's love for us. He loves us so He put us in families, He loves us so He sends Prophets, He loves us so He sent His son to die for us that we might all live again, He loves us so He restored His church, He loves is so He has taught us the importance of prayer, He loves us so He provided the Book of Mormon to guide our lives. I am so grateful for His perfect love. So grateful to know that God and Jesus Christ did appear to Joseph Smith and that the keys and authority, essential to our salvation, have been restored to the earth. I'm thankful that we are lead by a living Prophet still today, so we do not have to go astray. I am so grateful for my testimony. After our testimonies, Sister Renda, accompanied by Sister Lockhart, played "Nearer My God to Thee" on the violin. I can't explain the feeling that I had when I heard that beautiful music. Something started in my heart and spread through my whole body. It was like God really was with us - nearer than we could imagine. I felt so happy. 

The meeting ended and we headed out into the life changing blizzard. Immediately it became apparent that there was no way we could even get our car out of the parking lot. The snow was too deep. But the Lockhart's needed to take the two members home so for the next two and a half hours we shoveled and pushed and waded through much snow to drive his car down to the main road (not even block away) Luckily, a plow truck passed and offered to take Brenda and Jonathan home because there was really no way we would make it. We walked to the Lockhart's apartment because it was much close then ours and here we are now!! We spent the night with them watching documentaries and eating chocolate because there wasn't much else for us to do. The snow and wind continued ALL night. Sister Renda and I slept in our skirts on the couch (my couch was a little small so I moved onto the floor in the middle of the night). We woke up a 6:30am and proceeded to do our 5BX (exercises) in our Sunday best..that probably would have been funny for anyone to see :) But we are so grateful that we have a warm house and good company!! 

Elder Lockhart just went out to see if he could get to our car and said that "only if our lives depended on it..could we make it there" The snow drifts on the road are literally five feet high ALL THE WAY UP!!!! We may be staying here a day or two...

Previous to the storm we had an incredible week. Chantal came to young women's on Tuesday and LOVED it. She was so happy and grateful to be there. They are going through a difficult time but they know that God is helping them and that things will start looking up. And Walter is on date for baptism!! He tells us that he feels so good when he meets with us and he knows that this is the path God wants him to be on. I was thinking about how I could describe him to you and realized since he loves Elvis Presley I think he kind of tries to look like him. He has the sideburns and wears glasses with a clear rim and a shirt buttoned all the way up and a leather jacket. He has such a good heart. We love him and have already seen a great change in him. There have been many other miracle this week finding new investigator and less actives that are not even on the Branch list. We went heart attacking on Valentine's Day and a former investigator posted it on his facebook page and told us how we made his whole day!! Every day is busy and we feel so happy and grateful to see the hand of Heavenly Father in every moment. 

The closing hymn in our sacrament meeting yesterday was "Do What Is Right" I love this verse - 

Do what is right; be faithful and fearless.

Onward, press onward, the goal is in sight.

Eyes that are wet now, ere long will be tearless.

Blessings await you in doing what's right!

In a general conference talk that Sister Renda and I read this week, Elder Lynn G. Robbins said, "The Savior, the only perfect being who ever lived, was the most fearless. In His life, He was confronted by scores of accusers but never yielded to their finger of scorn. He is the only person who never once forgot which way He faced: “I do always those things that please [the Father]” (John 8:29; emphasis added), and “I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5:30)." HIs talk is called, "Which way do you face?" It is so important that we always try to "do what is right" and that we never forget "which way we face." HOW can we do this? Follow our Savior. Do what Jesus would do. It is important that we live worthy of the Holy Ghost. It is important that we choose the good and hate the bad. It is important that we love God more that man and that we diligently live His commandments. BE FEARLESS. No matter what.

I LOVE YOU ALL!! We are safe and making memories that I will never forget. Elder Lockhart is making us laughing a lot :) 

Miss you. I hope some of this snow finds you eventually!! IT'S FUN!

Love, Sister G by the SNOW