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Aloha, Family and Friends!!!

This week... Was so amazing. I wish I could express how humbled and grateful and indebted I am to Heavenly Father for His tender mercies and allowing me to be here. 

I don't have much time, but I wanted to share an awesome story that happened this week. I was on exchanges with Sister S in her area and we went out tracting her area because she was new to the area (as was I). Our goal for the day was to be genuine as we talked to people. We decided we would go to these 3 green houses that were next to each other to see who lived there. The first house was a less-active family, which was nice to know. As we approached the second house, we saw a blond girl in her 20's doing homework on the porch. She told us that she was not a member and she wasn't interested and to leave. So we skipped along to the third house and there wasn't a car in the driveway, but we thought we'd try anyways. We had to get through the gate to get to their front porch/door. When we knocked, suddenly a woman with super short shorts, a tank top and tattoos all over answered the door and stared at us in anger. She growled "Did you let yourself in through the gate?" And we were kind of in shock because we realized (without trying to judge) that she probably wasn't a member. We just stared at her and said yes. And she just kind of glared at us and said "one sec" and went back inside and started yelling something. Sister S and I were just kind of confused and scared and she came back out and stormed past us and said come with me and led us to her back yard around the house. Now, in most cases I would have been scared to follow but we did, and tried our best to act unfazed. She took us to some chairs behind her house and said "sit." and walked away. We sat. She came back and said "Is it okay if I smoke in front of you? This is my house and you trespassed so I can do what I want." In my mind I was like "dang, this has to be a joke, nobody in this world is this mean!" But we did say that we were super duper sorry for trespassing (we were) and that we wouldn't do it again. Then she said "okay you obviously want to talk so what is it?" So Sister S and I began telling her about why we were there and what we do as missionaries and that our message is centered on Jesus Christ. After some inspired questions, she began opening up and went inside and grabbed her bible and a BOOK OF MORMON! She put out her cigarette and started listening. We got to know her a little more, and taught her about the restoration and shared our favorite scriptures. She had many similar views with us about the purpose of life and she began to actually be really sweet. Something that was strange though was that every time I would talk she would look at Sister S and every time Sister S would talk she would study me. When she was finished listening and sharing, she thanked us sincerely for coming. She said that she knew that we really believed what we were saying and she gave us both big hugs. My heart melted for her. She said we could come back and "trespass again." One of the last things she mentioned to us was how sincere and genuine we were about our faith. That was our goal for the day! After we left, sister S and I looked at each other in awe. To see someones heart change so fast was an experience I have never experienced before! It was such a cool event to witness.  One of my favorite scriptures: 

And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?

Alma 5:26 

I know that the Lord has the ability to literally soften hearts. He has softened mine. I am grateful for the atonement and the ability that it gives us to not only repent and be clean, but to overcome our natural man. Without Christ's hand in my life, I know I would not be here. He truly is the author and finisher of my faith. And it is a power that I have been feeling every day while I have been here.

So now I have a question for you: If you have felt His power in your life, I would ask can you feel so now?

His arms are open and He is waiting for you to come to Him. I know this is true.

Aloha nui loa,

Sister Willardson