Staying at IUPIU

GUESS WHAT!!!!! Sister Hales and I get another transfer on IUPUI campus together!!! We are so excited!!!!! It is going to be great :))) We are super pumped cause with school back in session there are just so many people to talk to! It is wonderful!!! This week alone we were able to find 7 new investigators!!!! So end of story, this transfer is going to be amazing :))

Oh and total side note-- totally went running this morning along the canal that runs through Indy with some of my favorite missionaries in my zone.... yayay for Indy adventures :) 

This week we had mission leadership council! Which was awesome, as usual! It is amazing the direction and the inspiration that President Cleveland and the assistants receive for the mission! I am  very grateful for leaders who are in tune with the spirit! We were able to do lots of role plays, which was fun, and good practice! For the last two hours of mission leadership council this time, President Cleveland decided to do something a little different and we went to the park and we played sand volleyball and soccer and kickball. We were all organized into teams and everything! It was really fun-- even thought it was like 90 outside and crazy humid!

Yolanda has a new baptismal date now! Her date is now the 19th of September, so next Friday!!! This week with her was a roller coaster, that is for sure! On day she wanted to be baptized and the next she didn't want to make the commitment to change or want to repent! We had several lessons with her, not really knowing what to except. When she was at her lowest of lows this week, we committed her again to repent. She had expressed that she no longer really had a desire to repent and want to change. We were able to share our testimonies with her about the Savior and the blessings that come from making covenants with God. At the end of the lesson we committed her to pray about begin baptized and to pray for the desire to change. Not going to lie, we left that lesson pretty hopeless. We had been praying really hard for her all week, but we recognized that she had her free agency. End of story, we decided to put it in God's hands and let Him take control of the situation. We knew that if it was right and she could muster even just a little itty bitty tiny bit of faith that a miracle would happen. So that all happened on Wednesday. On Saturday we went back to her house. We had an awesome lesson on commitment and personal revelation. At the end of the lesson we asked her if she had prayed about a date and a desire to change. AND SHE HAD!!!!! She said for some reason she just kept praying about the 19th and she wasn't sure quite why, but she just did and that that was when felt right!! She even took the initiative to make some of the logistical preparation for her baptism! Her new found level of commitment I know comes because of her sincere desire to repent!! I am so grateful that the Lord softens hearts :) These next couple of weeks, well like 10 days are going to be hard for her, but they are going to be SO GOOD too. I know the Lord always provided a way when we do our best to follow His will and to keep the commandments!!

We also had a sweet lesson Sunday right after church with one of investigators named Elliot! He actually was really close to baptism about 2 months ago, but kind of chickened out... but he is meeting with us again! We were able to teach him about obedience and keeping the commandments by teaching him about Nephi in the Book of Mormon! I love how simply the Book of Mormon teaches us EVERYTHING that we need to know! I have heard it said several times that if you sincerely read the Book of Mormon and ask if it is true that there is no way that you can not gain a testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I have seen this time and time again in nearly everyone that I have had the opportunity to teach on my mission. I know that Elliot will be able to make covenants with God by being baptized and be confident in His decision as he reads the Book of Mormon with and honest and open heart-- and is willing to act on it!

I think I have mostly seen this principle manifest in myself on my mission! I have learned so much about my Heavenly Father and about my Savior, Jesus Christ as I have been about to more sincerely study the teachings that are found in the Book of Mormon!! The Book of Mormon truly testifies of Christ and of God's love for all of His children. I am grateful for the opportunity that I have to share this testimony with others on my mission!!!!!!

Well sorry for the super de duper long email today!!!! Thank you so much for all of your prayers, especially for Yolanda!! I know that they are making a difference!! 

I love you all <3

Sister Sarah Mumford