I don't have much time left, but I wanted to testify about repentance.  We are working with a lot of less-actives, and they all need to repent of something, even if it's just not going to church.  But when they decide to repent and change, their lives are so much better.  And that holds true for all of us.  I have a quote on my agenda that says, "All of us need the Savior's Atonement to heal us.  All of us are lost and need to be found (Brent H. Nielsen)."  I testify that this is true.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I love you all and I hope you have a great week and a sugary Halloween!

Hermana Kirkland

Today we had a zone activity, it was fun.  We went "hiking," which was on one of the random rock outcroppings that dot the San Juan area.  It was pretty.

We had a hard morning on Thursday.  It started with a misunderstanding that interrupted our studies, and then we could not stay focused during weekly planning, and by the time we left the house, we could tell that we did not have the Spirit like we needed.  We prayed and all, but leaving was hard and contacting was hard, and we were concerned because we knew that we needed the Spirit for an important lesson with an investigator that night.  So I remembered in Preach My Gospel chapter 10 when it talks about creating a spiritual environment in lessons.  I said, "What do we do to get the Spirit?  We sing, we pray, we testify," and I started bearing my testimony to Hermana Stevens and the Spirit rushed back so hard we both started laughing and crying at the same time.  It was incredible the difference.  It was a testimony to me of the strength of a real testimony.

Lots of love,

Hermana Kirkland

I think I will see how many times I can use the word "miracle" in an update in the next two months.  We had one this week!  Elba and Saul got baptized!  Finding them en si was a miracle.  Elba thought that she was a less active but we couldn't find her records and then Hermana Stevens had the bright idea to ask, "Elba, were you ever confirmed?"  She said, "No - does that mean my baptism doesn't count?"  She was so stoked that she got to be baptized again.  They are both very hyperactive but when they were confirmed (30 years late in one case) they were both extremely calm.

We also made our zone goal for baptisms last month and we are well on our way this month.  Hermana Stevens and I got really excited after MLC on Wednesday and sent out an inspiring text to everyone, and we found out today in the zone meeting that because of the text, one of the elders thought, "oh, so I should be setting dates for October!" and now they have a family of 7 that is going to be baptized.  We set goals as an act of faith and look at what the Lord can do when we have a lot!

Love you!

Hermana Kirkland

It was a fun week topped off by conference!  We had a miracle investigator whose favorite phrase is, "me entiende, ve?" closely followed by, "te voy a decir una cosa."  We even got the bishop and his wife to her house with us.  She is always expecting us, with a carefully prepared plate of snacks and the exact number of chairs we will need.  There are miracles everywhere you look.

Conference was beautiful.  I really enjoyed President Eyring's talk.  Hermana Stevens and I evaluate a lot (not just lessons, we evaluate everything) and we have noticed how the Spirit changes us.  Like, when we make good, specific plans for other people in the morning we have the Spirit better all day, which helps us in lessons.  And we notice immediately if we don't have it, because we can't teach (see Doctrine and Covenants 50, thank you very much).

Don't forget to share with everyone what you learned!  My verse this week is Alma 5:14.  Have you experience a change of heart?

Love you,

Hermana Kirkland