WEEK 35: A Hard Week (But God Is Still Good!)

Howdy, y'all!

This week has been rough, I won't lie. But I've been focusing on all of the things that have gone wrong this week, and I don't want to do that in this email. So here's just a couple good news moments!

1) We were able to have a lesson with Vance and Sara this week!! They haven't come to church, since Sara was baptized in January. We've had barely any contact with them, and it's been really hard. But thanks to the INCREDIBLE members of the Desert Rose ward, we were able to set up a lesson with them and finally talk with them again! They've been going through a rough patch, but they're working things out and have missed coming to church. We read from 3 Nephi 11, and they shared some of the things they're working on. Brother Pond was fantastic in simply loving them and telling them that they have been missed, and that their mistakes don't decide their worth or how much we love them. It was amazing to see the softness and light in their countenances! The Spirit was with them, and it healed part of my heart to see that. Prayers for the both of them, that they will continue to gain a desire to draw closer to God, and lose the desire to hold on to their addictions. Plese pray that their hearts will continue to soften and they will feel the Holy Ghost guiding them. Miracles have already happened, are currently happening, and will continue to happen!

2) Amanda is doing well! She's been reading from the Book of Mormon consistently, and we invited her this week to pray about it and seek to know the truthfulness of it. She did! And she had a beautiful experience and she shared with us that she knew God was speaking to her. However, her addictions are really gripping her right now and she doesn't feel the desire to work through them, yet. It's really sad to see how much progress she's made, and that she had a spiritual witness of the Book of Mormon, but she's not acting on it right now and doesn't have the desire yet. Please pray that her heart will be softened and that she will lose the desire to continue with these substances. She's truly come such a long way, but she still has a long way to go.

3) Dewayne called us this week! We stopped teaching him a bit a go, as he couldn't accept Joseph Smith as a prophet. But he called us randomly this week and told us that he's been reading the Book of Mormon on his own, and he finished it! He had some questions and asked us to come over! His heart has also been softened by the Book of Mormon. He's quite a work in progress, but he's such a sweet man and really wants to know. Please pray for him, that he'll understand what we teach and the Spirit will continue to resolve his concerns through the Book of Mormon.

4) Last but not least, we finally got back in contact with the Gilbert family this week! We're hoping to get back over there soon, and get them back on track, as Gavin and Aiden still want to be baptized, and told us that they've missed having us over. So hopefully that will pan out this week!

So, all in all, we've had some good moments this week. There's also been a lot of tough moments. It's been a hard week mentally and emotionally for me. There's been a lot to work through, and it's just been straight up difficult. But I'm doing my best to press forward and endure and trust the Lord. He won't abandon or forget us. He will heal every broken thing. I trust His promises. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

Even though it's been one of the hardest and most draining weeks yet, I know that God is still good. He's still guiding this work, even though we're not seeing immediate results. He is all-knowing and loves each of us completely and perfectly. I know I'm not perfect, yet somehow He still loves me and trusts me to do this work. Thankfully God uses the weak and simple to move His work forward, and He is patient and merciful (check out Doctrine and Covenants 1:23, it's quite good).

Anyway. That's all I have this week.

I hope things are well with you and your loved ones.

- Sister Malmstrom

231 W Horizon Ridge Pkwy #2226 Henderson, NV 89012

Pictures

- Bundled up against the wind and the rain this week!

- Soaking wet while walking around in said wind and rain.

- Sister Volkel and Sister Rigby heart attacked us today!!!! Best neighbors ever.

- We're starting to see blossoms on some trees! It's slow, but it's progress.