Challenge Accepted!

It was actually in the 70's this week, so we celebrated by digging our cardigans out of our suitcases and wearing them! :)

Meeting Megan's former mission president, John Pingree and his wife, Ann, at Megan's cousin's homecoming talk yesterday - they are wonderful people and we are so glad Megan had the opportunity to serve with them.

Hey y'all!

It has been a great week out here in the Texas Houston Mission.  Things are continuing to move forward, and it's great. :)

First miracle:  Sister Funk and I have been praying and fasting to be able to set baptismal dates with our investigators, because although we are teaching a lot of people none of them had committed to baptism.  So last fast Sunday that's what we fasted for.  And we were expecting a miracle to come, because that's what fasting and praying with real intent produces - miracles. :)  The miracle came in the form of a challenge from our Zone Leaders.  Late Wednesday night we got a text from them, inviting us to set a baptismal date the next day.  So that's what we set out to do.  We were meeting with Colin, our 9 year old investigator, and were already planning on teaching about baptism and inviting him to be baptized, but the challenge from our leaders gave us the extra push when things didn't go the way we planned during the lesson... we had been there for about 5 minutes when he interrupts us and starts to say that he doesn't want us to come over anymore because we were taking time away from his family and friends... in my head I was thinking "no way are you dropping us right now - we need to set a date with you!"  But we asked him if he wanted to be baptized and he said yes, and so we told him that in order to be baptized he had to learn a few things first, and that's what we come over to do - to teach him the things he needs to know.  He seemed to understand that, and so we asked him and his mom if we could set a date as a goal to work towards.  And so we agreed on October 18th - it's going to happen. :)

Jamie is still doing well - she's reading and praying and sincerely looking for her answer.  We read from the Book of Mormon with her, and the spirit was so strong.  The spirit is always strong when we are with her.  She hasn't asked her family if they want to learn yet, but she had planned on bringing her daughters to church yesterday except they all got sick... so that didn't happen.  :(  But we'll get them there eventually.

We had lunch with Honorio last Saturday, and that was great.  We haven't been able to meet with him lately because his wife Jenniffer has been in Venezuela and he wanted to take a break from our meetings, but then he offered to take us to lunch out of the blue.  So we went and it was great. :)  He has been reading from the Book of Mormon!!  Which is HUGE because that's his biggest concern right now.  Now he's just got to pray about it. :)  Baby steps.

Lately our mission has been putting a huge focus on family history - using it in our finding, teaching, retaining, and reactivating.  So each week we meet with one of the family history consultants in the ward and they train us on how do do it.  I'm excited to get involved with my own family history and learn more about my ancestors.  And we've been using it with our finding efforts, and it is amazing how long we talk to people about their families.  The spirit of Elijah is real.  And we are using it to help bring others to Christ. :)  It's great!

If ya'll could add someone else to your prayers - a family in our ward found out that their 7-year-old daughter Faye has leukemia again. :(  The cancer was in remission for almost 3 years, but they found out a few weeks ago that it's back.  So if y'all could pray for Faye and her family that would be great.  I'm sure they can use all the prayers that they can get. :)

Well, that's all from Houston for this week.  I love y'all so much and hope you have a great week!

Sister Ririe

James 1:12