Hi Family,

This week was transfers. I found out my new companion and assignment.........I'm still in extended zone-emphasis on welfare square!!!!! but that's not all.......I'm training!! I'm only in my third transfer, and I'm supposed to train a new sister coming in fresh from the MTC?! wow! i feel blessed that Heavenly Father trusts me with this great responsibility, and it has been such a good experience so far. her name is Sis. Bohman and she is from Las Vegas. she is a doll. so sweet. very kind, and has an excitement to be here. she is obedient and wants to work hard. things have been going really well with her.

 I feel so luck that I'm training b/c Heavenly Father knows my weakness in missionary work,  and i feel like he is helping me to make those strengths as i am having to train someone- i have to step up and be strong. yesterday we were at beehive house and b/c sis. Bohman didn't know the script at all, it was her first time there, i had to conduct a tour pretty much by myself w/ her there w/ me, but it was with 16 people! i had the choice in my mind to be nervous or to tell myself i can do this and i did! it was kind of scary but i didn't let myself shrink down. I know that you are praying for me, and i thank you for your love and support and prayers, i know my strength comes from you and your prayers. 

 i apologize this letter is going to shorter than normal, but I'm pressed for time, we have to go to walmart to go shopping for the foods-and I'm driving everyone there. thank you so much for everything. fun to read your email, can't believe that jeff is almost leaving. wow. what a man he is!

well, i' have to go. love you so much 

AJ

Dear Family,

It was great to get the fam letter and see the pics. i can't believe those pics of Jeff and Darren on the motorcycle and the 4-wheeler!! woah! so good to see the family! the ranch is soo pretty! everything is soo green! i love it! i MISS the greenery!! man! :( I've forgotten what nature looks like! i get to see the mountains in the background here, but that's about it. i'm definitely a country girl! Ü 

 any who! this last week has been really good! as always, hard and challenging at the same time, just trying to work hard, but you get tired and just the same challenges- sometimes i get shy and afraid when i talk to people, i just need to get over that and not fear!!! 

 well, this Monday i find out who my new companion is, and my new apartment, and what my assignment is. I'm really really sad to end this transfer. i absolutely loved Welfare Square, and sister couto. i'm so sad. it went by SOOO fast. i seriously cannot believe that we are ending another transfer, and I'm on my 3rd! woah baby! i didn't really do a good job at writing down things that happened this week-well maybe nothing really too exciting happened this week. well, i take that back, good things have happened, i remember now!!

~This transfer as a zone, we have been really working on whats called the Kikuchi Method. Elder Kikuchi-from the 70, thought of this method, and we tweaked it to fit to our mission, but we use a format at the end of our tours to help guests understand feeling the spirit. so many people come here and feel the spirit, but necessarily don't recognize that it is the spirit that they are feeling. they feel peace, but don't realize anything more. so at the end of our tours we testify and tell them about the fruits of the spirit in Gal 5:22 and tell them to never forget this feeling, and that they can continue to have of this feeling by referring. ( this is all said in a more nicer flowing way that isn't quite as blunt) its been amazing how using this method has increased our referrals. earlier this week, sis. couto and i used it at the end of our tour at the Welfare Square, and we had a couple refer, and then another couple asked to be contact by the phone to learn more!!!! NEVER has that happened to us before at welfare square. it is very rare that people refer there. it's amazing how you put your faith in the Lord, and he will always bless you. i know it. we are both shy and not very bold and so this was not really easy to do, but i knew that we would be blessed in our efforts, and the Lord would make up of the difference of where we fell short. it's so neat how the spirit works, and how it touches the hearts of people.

 there was this couple that came to Temple Square and took a tour w/ us. you could tell they were very interested and were just soaking everything in. they've been looking for awhile for something different, they weren't satisfied w/ their past religion, they were truck drivers and were the cutest couple together. you could tell they really loved each other. they were prob. in their mid 40's. they didn't refer on the tour, but after the tour they went to go see the family presentation: God's Plan for His Family-after they came out and went to the main level at the North Visitors Center-sis. couto and i just happened to be there-and we talked w/ them for prob. 20min. just answering questions they had, it was all such a sweet experience. everything i said to them, they were just soaking it all in. i think they seriously would have referred but they are never home since they are truck drivers. they wanted to donate $ to tithing! they said they always put a little money aside and on their truck trips they just donate to where ever they go to church. Sis. Peterson-a senior missionary here, she got a Book of Mormon for them and highlighted many verses that were her favorites for them, they graciously took it and said they would read it. they said that they were going to come back to visit. they told me that God kept telling them to come here. they felt like something was drawing them here. mom, it's amazing how this all happens, this is just one of many instances like this. i feel so fortunate to be here to witness it all, to be a part of this work. what a blessing. 

Earlier that day before my personal study, i prayed that i would be able to used what i studied that day in my contacts w/ people of on my tours. i had studied about spiritual gifts, and sure enough, w/ this contact w/ this couple they asked about the gift of tongues, and i was confidently able to answer them. it's just so neat how as we prepare ourselves, God blesses us.

 I'm so proud to be a member of this church. Everytime I'm at Welfare Square, seeing ALL that the church does, how many many lives are touched-and it's not even publicized-this last Thursday- sis. couto and i went and heard the TAB choir sing, and we sat on the very very left right next to the choir. the organ was RIGHT there in front of me, i was just staring at it's detail, just in awe that our members, our pioneers did that, their sacrifice, their dedication, their faith, i am so proud and honored to be a member of this church. I know it's true. i have never been more grateful to say that i am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! Ü

We've had some fun weather here. During the day it's nice and warm- blue skies and then by the evening it's dark storm clouds, and sis couto and i got caught  the storm as we were walking home, and at first we were running trying not to get too wet, and then we figured what the hay! let's just have fun, so there were are running across the temple grounds in front of the church office building and were are twirling and singing-Just singing in the rain!--with lightning and rain above us. it was a fun moment to share w/ each other.

It was fun to read the updates on the family! thanks for everything! i just love you so stinkn' much! i feel so loved and blessed!

 We had a musical talent show in the tabernacle w/ just our mission, All the Brazilian sisters and their companions sang. They sang first in Portuguese, and then we sang the  2nd part.. i totally would have signed up for a solo, but they said only hymns, and i wanted to sing "one little prayer" but i didnt' b/c it wasn't a hymn, come to find out, everyone else that performed did all different church songs! bummer! hopefully we'll do it again, cuz it would be so neat to sing in the tabernacle! well, i sure do love you lots! tell dad n' jeffy and the fam hi my give them my big feelings -o- loooove!!!!!!!!