Ava's Mission

This is going to be a long one, but I have never had a week this full of miracles and success. Our 3 best friends got baptised on Friday!! Kenya, Keenan, and Kadasia were the 3 happiest kids you've ever seen, and us missionaries were triple the happy that we've ever been. My favorite moments of that day were when Keenan said, "I feel like one of those giant white fluffy marshmallows." And then because they got there so early Kenya brought in her basketball and they started playing a game in their white jumpsuits. These kids are always balling and for Kenya she is only 12 but it is her life. And she is GOOD. And so I stood there trying to decide if this was okay or not and after a couple of moments of debate and asking Heavenly Father about it, I absolutely joined in in my dress. It was awesome. The spirit at this baptism was so strong and their non member Father Anslem felt it! And then their mother said "wait, when we are all baptised, can we go to the temple to...

Another good week here! Being a missionary in Flagsfaff is Legendary and I never ever want to leave. We decided to have our combined district council outside since it is so nice in Sedona right now (that is where we meet for district council. The drive there is the prettiest thing in this world. It even beats Logan's pass.) The missionaries up here are way too extra and I love them all. President said he "STACKED FLAG" this transfer and we are all so stoked for the hastening of the work that is happening here. It's a whole different world than the valley. Sad news, Kat had everything lined up for a baptism and we were helping to plan the wedding and then her boyfriend said that he wasn't ready for this kind of commitment yet. It broke her heart and ours. We are praying for a miracle! She wants it so bad. We are working with him, he just doesn't have the same drive or goals that she does. I hate agency sometimes. But the Blie kids, Kenya (12), Keenan (10)...

Ok Fam. I don't usually send the hard stuff home, because I only have so much time on Pdays and the good always outweighs the bad so there is only time to share the miracles and the good things! But this week was tough and it's been tough for a good while so I wanted you to know how I really am feeling so that you can know how much I truly appreciate your prayers and encouragement on my behalf! As you know I love sister Doru with my whole heart. But she is the hardest person to be companions with, and President told me that straight up from the beginning. She gets angry so fast all the time and there is always negative before positive when it comes to anything or anyone. She grew up getting what she wants always, so it is really hard for her to understand that this work is not about her and what she wants. I've learned what it means to sacrifice and "long-suffering" has become an attribute that I am learning to master. My days are spent in constant compromise an...

I just had to send a few more pics from this AWESOME week. 1. I needed a capo for my uke for the musical number we were working on but didn't have one so you gotta do what you gotta do. 2. After the baptism we had a Linda Vista ward party where WE ROASTED A STRAIGHT UP PIG. Like in the ground Tongan style. I am positive that I serve in the coolest wards in the world. 3. My favorite family in the world besides my own... THE SPRINKLE FAM!

Friends!!!! This week is going down in history as probably the best week of my life. QUINTIN GOT BAPTISED and it was so happy. The spirit was so strong and my heart is fuller than full. He hasn't seen his kids in 2 years, and by God's hand and straight miracles they happened to come to visit the weekend of his baptism! When he came out of the water he yelled, "WOOOOO!" it was so funny. Mission baptisms are celestial. Watching him make those promises with God was so special. And then Quinia and Quinaiden (his kids) leaned over to each other with tears in both their eyes and said, "it wont be long until we can do that next." He is setting the greatest example for his whole family. He bore his testimony in church yesterday and sang "I can see clearly now the rain is gone" over the pulpit. Seriously the coolest guy. It was Sister Doru's birthday yesterday! We thought this picture was an accurate representation of our different personalities. Ever...

I just wanted to share with you all a little something I learned this week. I learned that we cannot afford to be casual or complacent with living the gospel of Jesus Christ. As a missionary this is huge because consecration to this work and to the purpose of Christ is not a one time thing. It requires a constant, careful, consistent, courageous, continual effort to align your will with God's will. But everything I am learning how to apply in missionary work is no different than what Jesus Christ has showed us how to apply in real life, just on a different scale. I'm so grateful that my sole purpose right now is to bring souls unto Christ and put in my little part to prepare the World for the second coming of our Savior. And I'm so grateful for who I am becoming in the process. Go on a mission kids, it changes lives. I also just wanted to give a shout out to the Priesthood. I'm so grateful for that power and I know that it has been restored to the earth through living...