Exchanges & more rain!

From email of June 22, 2009: Sounds like a very eventful week! I'm a tad bit jealous that you were able to go to the Manti pageant and see the beautiful temple there. We will most definitely have to go when I get back.

Let Holly and Trenton [sister & brother-in-law] know that they will not be alone in speaking in church. Sister Mortimer and I have to speak with the high councilor this Sunday. Ugh! This will be the 3rd time since I've been in Groton. And the subject is...of course...missionary work. Hopefully that goes well. Yesterday we had a recently returned sister missionary speak about her mission in SLC. Sister Park moved to Connecticut to live with her sister for a while and then decided to go on a mission. Her parents live in Ukrane right now so CT is closest to home. After the meeting she found us and referred a friend of hers, Alex. Apparently she had referred him to the missionaries about a year ago, but not much happened. Last week we were looking through our old referral records and ran across his name. We had planned to stop by him sometime this week, but Sister Park beat us to it. What a coincidence...or was it? Later that night we taught him about the Restoration with Sister Park and he accepted to learn more. He is really searching for something more in his life that the gospel can fill. The spirit was VERY strong in the room and I know that most of what we said was put into our mouth. I loved to see Sister Park still actively engaged in missionary work even after she was released. That's what I want to be like.

My baby, Sister Mortimer, left the nest for the night as we went on exchanges with the Fairfield Sisters. It was our first time being apart for so long! But it was good. I stayed here in Groton with Sister Thomas, from SLC. She's only on her 2nd transfer, but I still learned a lot from her. One big thing is talking with everyone. There are times when I let my shyness get the best of me and I chicken out. But with Sister Thomas, we talked with EVERYONE and saw great miracles happen. We were out contacting in the morning and took a little detour from our usual contacting route. We ran across a guy who was setting up for a car wash to benefit the Relay for Life. At first he wasn't too excited to listen to us, but as we shared our testimonies and recounted the First Vision, he softened his heart. He already owned a BOM so he promised us that he would pick it up when he got home. It was crazy to see the change in him just over a span of a few minutes. We just happened to be at the right place, at the right time.

We have also been floating away from the extreme amounts of rain. I heard that there was a flood warning issued somewhere in CT, but I don't know for sure. I'm looking forward to some sun, too! I do like the cooler temperatures, though.

I want everyone to know that I love them very, very much! I'm blessed have the greatest family. I see so many families broken up and wrecked, which makes me appreciate the love and closeness that we have. And it is because of the gospel that our family is so good! I can't imagine it any other way! The picture is of us sisters on exchanges. Mortimer, Baird, Thomas, & Me. I look a little funny because I had to sprint back to get into the picture. Enjoy! :)