I found out you have to work hard to get to Heaven… 😉  Being in Pella is HEAVENLY!  But this week was just a tad rough.  There are 26 churches here in this little town and everyone belongs to one it seems!  We’ve already ran into 3 preachers!  I feel like Farmer Jane out here…everyday just planting a bunch of seeds when it’s harvesting time!!!  But we’re working super hard to find those who are ready to receive us.:)
Sister Cannon is such an amazing companion.  I love to serve with her because she is extremely humble.  Everyday she admits she does something wrong and does better.  This companionship is truly what I needed this transfer.  She walks by faith everyday and seeks for ways to improve.  Thank heaven for letting me learn so much from her!!

We’re trying to figure out how to approach the branch with inviting their friends to learn about the gospel.  We had two individuals pull us aside and chew us out for inviting people to be baptized in the first lesson (Which is a commandment from the Mission President).  One even told us if we keep inviting people to be baptized then the preachers are going to start bashing Mormons over the Pulpit and then their kids will get teased and then we will get kicked out of Pella…just like the last missionaries who served there…
We felt like Alma when he got pushed out of Ammonihah in Alma chapter 8.  We had a lot of appointments fall through and promises to come to church not happen. Alas!  We still find miracles happening to us in the field everyday! 🙂

For example, we prayed to know when to see Renae because we kept missing her.  We got the answer at 3:30.  Success!  She was there and we were able to answer some concerns and read her an article that may bring Peace to her life (depending on her personal righteousness). 🙂

We had a lesson with our next door neighbors that went super well.  His name is Daniel and everyone knows that he is kind of a bully to the kids in the neighborhood.  But when we sat down with his family and told them about prayer and “Family: A Proclamation to the World”, they were all super receptive open.  Daniel told us that he prayed for help so that He would stop being mean to his friends.  His parents were shocked!  They had no idea that he was praying.  That’s what the spirit does to us.  It truly touches people and helps them feel comfortable to testify of spiritual things like that.

I got to give a talk in sacrament meeting!  🙂  It was the first time where I didn’t type it all out.  It was from the spirit!  Pretty neat feeling!  DAD–I talked about how I used to eat your sandwiches when you got off work because you always made them look soo yummy. I begged you for a bite, and so would Lisa, and So would Mom.  Pretty soon, you’d have NO Sandwich left. 🙂 And you’d just smile and call it your tithing to the Lord. 🙂  And then I read Mosiah 4 where it talks about giving to the beggars.  And how we are all Beggars to God and we need to give. 🙂 

 We also had a tornado watch!  The Iowa sky is so incredible during a lightnimg storm!  It’s like a FREE Black and WHITE FIREWORK SHOW!!! 🙂 🙂  But waaaaaaaaaay more intense because the house shakes and it’s really wet…Hehe 🙂

Well, I’m sorry there’s not more things to report about.  We’re really trying to get more investigators.  We taught a lot of lessons, but most of them told us no at the end to continue discussions…so there’s not too much news. 🙂  anyways! 

I love the gospel.  I will never get bored of sharing what is so dear to me.  There might be days when I don’t feel like going out, but as soon as I start talking to someone, I feel God’s love for them, and I get the strength to continue! 🙂

I love Heavenly Father so much.  I owe him so much right now!! Ahh!  Thanks for the prayers.  I love you all so much!

Sister Tobias 🙂