November 19, 2012 Dear Family, How are all of you doing? Are ready for this lovely holiday called Thanksgiving? This week has been pretty fine. Thursday we had zone conference - with our mission president, assistants, and many other missionaries (3 different zones). It was really good. They showed a clip about the atonement. It was very powerful. The Savior went through so much for us. I don't think I can relate what I learned from the clip. But He's experienced it all. HE understands our pain, our sins, our sadness’s, our struggles, our inexperience, our confusion, our suffering, our feelings of grief, worry, anything and everything. HE understands it ALL. He is there for us. The Atonement covers everything! As long as we are repentant and humble and willing to place our life in His, He will succor us. He will help us. He will relieve us. I think that's something that overall I have learned a lot about on my mission. The Atonement is a wonderful thing. We also met with our investigator, whose baptism date is on December 1, 3 times this week. She had a smoking problem, but when we taught her the word of wisdom, right there and then she resolved to quit. She's so dedicated to the Lord. She understands His mercy and understands the necessity to follow His will. She is so good. Whatever commandment we teach her, she accepts right away. She is so good. We also picked up a new investigator! She's about 17 years old and is an actress. She is so sweet. Her mother is a less active member. But they have such a good family. Our new investigator is so willing and eager to learn. Overall, our other investigators are doing about the same. We are working, working hard, and learning a lot. Still. Both of us. Oh! I wanted to share a story from last week that I believe I forgot to tell you all! So we were walking down the street, we had tried visiting a potential investigator, but no luck. As we were walking we saw a group of people outside one house, with a little moveable campfire. Sister Slaugh, good as she is, walked up to them and said hi and asked if any of them were interested in hearing a message. One of them said, Yes. This special lady recently has decided that she needs to get close to God again. And she had been praying all week to make a decision on a job. She is so good. So ready to hear the message. Unfortunately she was visiting a friend and didn't live in the area. But we gave her a Book of Mormon and sent her to mormon.org. From Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon I was in Loomis on exchanges. It was finery. Oh, last Sunday was also our primary program. I love the children. They are so sweet, so cute, and just adorable! There are so many children here that I just love. We got a new ward mission leader yesterday. He is so cool, so on the ball. And young. (Our last one was ancient...and his health was not that good.) Our new ward mission leader has a great vision, to involve the youth; they are the heart of the church. He knows what his purpose is. He's knows what's going on. He is motivated. And he's the type of person that will get things done. (He was just the young men's president and loved it - so good at it.) So yeah, we are so excited for this new change here. Well, Happy Thanksgiving everyone! This Thanksgiving I will be spending it with some of our families. We've had 2 offers to feed us food. So we'll probably go and do that. I love you all bunches and bunches! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving full of thanks! I am thankful for all of you! I am thankful to my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ! And I am thankful for our loving Heavenly Father! Love you all! Until next time! Sister Walston