A Snake in the Tree

Hello!

This last week I got to spend a day in Roanoke, and it was so good to be back! I was so happy to see some of the people I used to teach, and it was seriously the best. I love Roanoke :)

We've had a good week in our beautiful area of Martinsville, aka the blessed land.

My testimony grew in being at the right place at the right time last week. We were in the library, and this lady started talking to Sister Stettler, and asked if we were really sisters. Sister Stettler gave a beautiful testimony of how we are all children of God, and that we are missionaries, and that's why we go by sister. This lady starts talking about how she and her fiance have been looking for a church, but they haven't felt like they've found truth yet. Sister Stettler continues to talk to her about the Book of Mormon, and this lady got really excited. We figured out that she lives right across the street from our bishop, and that they're actually really good neighbors to each other! We're really excited to start teaching her and her fiance in the members home, and I know that the Lord sent us there at the right time, because we actually weren't even going to go, originally. God sure does know more than we do! I'm also really proud with how Sister Stettler has grown. A month ago she would have freaked out if she was in that kind of situation, and would have just passed it along to me, but she owned it this time! I sure do love her, and am proud of the missionary she's becoming.

We also were walking around earlier this week, trying to find some new people to teach, and we see this couple staring up in a tree in their front yard. We asked if we could do anything for them, and the guy was like "no, it's all good. There's just a snake in the tree" and I was like.... wow cool. So then he started beating the thing with a broom, so that it would come down, and when it came down he trapped it in this garbage bag, and took it to the woods. We asked if we could come back to teach them when they're not trying to wrestle a snake, and he said that we could come back on Saturday, and we did. Come to find out, Friday night, his dad was put in his death bed, and the whole family is just waiting around for his dad to die of cancer, because there's nothing the doctors could do. We were able to offer some comfort, and we've been over a lot since then, just to make sure that they're all doing well, and to offer comfort. This man is super appreciative of it, and he keeps saying that when things calm down he'll take time to talk to us. I love how the Lord put us in His path at the right time, and I'm excited to teach him about eternal families and the Plan of Salvation. I know God has a plan!

our friend Sister Carey is still planning on getting baptized in a couple of weeks, and I am so excited! Right now Sister Stettler and I are working hard to find some new, solid people who are ready to make changes in their lives!

Quote of the week, offered by my beautiful cousin Lauren:

"Remember that one of Satan's strategies, especially with good people, is to whisper in their ears: "If you are not perfect, you are failing." This is one of his most effective deceptions but we should never be completely satisfied until we are perfect, we should recognize that God is pleased with every effort we make--no matter how faltering-- to better ourselves." 

- Elder Gerald N. Lund 

Super needed quote. Satan's working hard!

Have a good week!

Love, Sister Kirkby