In short, Hermana Stevens and I are both so stoked about being companions again.  We already know each other, we get along super well, and we both love working hard.  We had a fantastic week full of miracles.  Like yesterday I took a wrong turn getting to a member's house, and we saw a woman on a bench and we both started talking to her and we got to answer a lot of her questions.  Her biggest problem with going to church was that she can't wear a skirt because she needs to wear tennis shoes because there is a big hill on the way to the church.  It's nice when people have little, easily-resolved doubts.

In the Bible Dictionary in English, it talks about Christ's miracles and says something like, "they were always in response to faith, prayer, and felt need."  That is something we are trying to implement in the ward right now. The members need to realize that miracles aren't going to just happen.  What they need is to notice something that they dearly need, pray for help, and then keep the commandments and do all that they can as a sign of their faith.  We've been applying it this week and it has been amazing.

Aren't you just excited for conference?  I am.  Funny story, at last conference Hermana Stevens and I were companions.

Peace out,

Hermana Kirkland

We had a miracle this week.  Actually, we had five miracles this week, and the name is the Cordero Rodriguez family.  Hermana Broyles and Hermana Sanchez contacted them in July (and Angel tells the story every time he bears his testimony) - Angel and Anthony were working on the porch and the missionaries offered to help, and he just started laughing at them and said, "You're all so clean and pretty and you want to help?"  But they got an appointment.  I came in the middle of August, and it's been a long crazy ride - health problems, car problems, quitting smoking - but it was all worth it when five of them stepped into the waters of baptism on Saturday.

It's also a good example of member participation.  The week before they were contacted the bishopric prayed and fasted to get some more priesthood in the ward, especially in the young mens.  So the sisters found a family with five potential priesthood holders.  Members make miracles!

So we have transfers tomorrow, and I'm having a fun time learning about logistics when you have fifty or so sisters and half are being transferred and you only have five cars and one day and no one can be alone and they have to bring their luggage with them.  It's like a giant crossing the river problem.  But the most important part is who my new companion is.

It is

HERMANA STEVENS!!!

I am so happy!  I cheered when the zone leaders told us.  It was what I was hoping for but I didn't know if President would be that nice/crazy.  Well, he does what the Spirit directs, but honestly, NOBODY gets to repeat companions!  I'm thrilled.  I could not have asked for a better companion to finish my mission with.

Always working, always happy,

Hermana Kirkland

Included are photos of the baptism and one of Hermana Stevens and I if you don't remember her.

This was a stellar week, with my record for investigators with a baptismal date and investigators in sacrament meeting.  I guess going for so long with out either paid off in the long run.

I don't understand how people make their blog emails long, I never have time.

This is Hermana Sanchez's last week and only one family has invited us to dinner, so that's good in terms of how much time we have to work.  When Hermana Gutierrez went home all we did was eat.  It was Thanksgiving weekend, though.

I am just enjoying my paradise island, thank you very much!  Have a wonderful week!

Hermana Kirkland

We have a great investigator who has a bumper sticker on the back of the car that says, "Si este vehiculo esta conducido negligentemente, que se joda, el carro es mio."  Roughly translated: "If this vehicles is driven negligently, deal with it, the car is mine."  I don't know why I thought that was so funny.  Maybe because Hermana Sanchez was mildly scandalized by it.  But it's pretty typical of Puerto Rican driving.  I've turned into a very defensive driver.

I had my first Mission Leadership Conference this week!  It was uplifting.  Hermana Boucher talked about obedience and President Boucher talked about faith.  Two things that every mission needs.  They are wonderful and I'm so glad they were called to serve here.

Have a wonderful week!