Adventures of Hermana Jennifer Duvall: November 7, 2016 "There's a plan for all of us!"

¡Hola mi familia y mis amigos!

I hope you all had a wonderful week! For me, this week was pretty good! With the time change, it's getting dark around 5:00pm so that's making the work a little different. People think it's so late because it's dark, even though it's like 6 o'clock. It kind of makes missionary work a little harder, but the work is still going on of course!

Random story: I had pizza with jalapeños for the second time this week, and I ate a whole grilled jalapeño. It was spicy, but my tolerance for spicy food is getting stronger, and now if I eat something it seems bland if it doesn't have any spice to it. My tastes buds are slowly changing haha.

We had a regional conference yesterday. We watched it in Spanish with the members of our Branch, and I could understand basically everything. I was a little surprised at what I could understand. Now, if only I could speak like I understand haha.

We teach an English Class every Wednesday night! Since I've been here in Lakeville, Leo was the only one who would come each week. Hermana Rowland and I put up somesigns for the English class around our area, and four people ended up showing up on Wednesday! All of them moved here from Mexico about a year ago, and have a desire to learn English. They are all super awesome, and I look forward to seeing them progress in English. We made a deal that I would help them with their English if they help me with my Spanish haha. It was super exciting to have more people come to our English Class!

One night, we decided to stop by a member's home to talk to him about his cousin Andy. Andy was someone we were teaching when I first got to the Lakeville area, but he moved to St. Paul. We've been trying to figure out what his address is so we could the missionaries in St. Paul can visit him! So, we wanted to see if David has had contact with him. We weren't planning on staying too long, but his mom invited us in. Ernestina had been taught by missionaries before, but didn't want to continue to take the lessons. We ended up talking with Ernestina and then we sang a song to her. After Hna Rowland and I were done singing. She looked at me and said: "I'm not crazy. I had a dream the other day, and in the dream I saw and heard a choir in heaven singing. The voice I heard in my dream was your voice. I want to tell you that you have a loving Father in Heaven. He has a very specific plan for you." So, yeah...that kind of caught me of guard. But it was a nice little reminder that God is aware of me and loves me.

This week we worked a lot with and found some former investigators. We met Manólo y Egisela. They took the missionary discussions about a year ago, and both wanted to be baptized, but they weren't married so they couldn't be baptized. But when we showed up at their door they were super happy and welcoming! I love finding families; it makes me so happy. They still are pretty interested in the church, and want us to come back and teach them some more. They still aren't married, but they have a desire to be baptized eventually so fingers crossed!

We had a really amazing miracle this week! One of our appointments with a less-active member feel through, and at first we were kind of disappointed. But we went about following our backups. We planned on going to this lady named Teo. When we got there her daughter, Areli, was outside cleaning her car. She invited us in to visit with her and her mom. Areli ended up telling us about how the night before she got in an argument with her mom. She said she felt really bad, and so she decided to go to her room and say a prayer. She told us how she told God that she feels like she doesn't really know how to talk to Him anymore, but wants to be better at knowing God again. Then, the next day we showed up at her house. She expressed to us how every time she is at a low point in her life, the Mormon missionaries show up! She told us that we were an answer to her prayer; and, she knows what she needs to do to get closer to God again. She wants to pray more and continue to meet with us! Throughout this whole visit she expressed over and over again how thankful she was that we stopped by. It was sad that our original appointment fell through, but it lead to a miracle that was meant to happen. Heavenly Father loves all of his children so much, and he has a plan for everyone. I really love seeing some of these plans unfold before my eyes. I know it wasn't an accident that we decided to go to Areli's house.

One theme that seemed to be very constant throughout this past week is that Heavenly Father really does have a plan for ALL of His children. We don't have to worry about where we are going to end up, if we are following Jesus Christ. It's as simple as that. Of course, we are all going to have difficult times in our lives, but that is all a part of the plan that Heavenly Father has for us. I love this aspect of the gospel, because it provides me so much peace and comfort.The best part is that we don't have to go through this life alone. I love the scripture that is in John 4:1-6:

"1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

I know this to be true! Heavenly Father loves us all SO much. He sent his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to die and atone for us. Jesus Christ has provided us with the perfect path that will help us return to live with our families forever and to live with God again. This path is provided for us, and it is up to us to choose whether we will accept it or not.

I love this gospel so much! I know it's true!!
I love you all so much. But, more importantly, Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, love you all so much more! Please don't ever forget or doubt that!!

Love,
Hermana Duvall