"Missionaries are the Angels who begged The Lord to send them to Earth to share the Gospel"

Hey everyone!!

Another great week!!!

Hermana Martinez and I have overcome the cold that was holding us down!! So thankful for blessings!! I'm really happy about it because IT'S FREEZING!!! It's been raining every day!! I love sleeping to the sound of rain but walking every day out in the rain is a downer:( If I'm dying from the cold here I don't know what's going to happen when I get home!!

So, we had divisions with the hermanas this week!! I was able to work with Hermana Cook!! She's from Sacramento too!! She lives close to Stockton!! It was really fun. It was my second time working with another gringa and it's definitely an interesting experience. The people look at us like we are different and they always scream "hello!" but it's fun haha!

So we received actually quite a few references this week which is AMAZING!! References rock. Seriously. One of them was particularly interesting and it came from the Elders. A lady named Paula texted them asking for our number. The Elders had given her a pass-along card with their number A YEAR AGO. This past week she texted them asking for our number because she now wants to receive the lessons and her brother too. What a miracle!!

Sometimes we find pass-along cards thrown in the street. It's incredible that this hermana still has one that she received a year ago!!! So, Hermana Cook and I were in contact with Paula Friday and after a lot of bad communication, we made a plan to meet up in front of a taco restaurant so that she could show us where she lived at 7 pm. We went and waited...and waited..and waited. We were stood up!! Hahaha she didn't come and she didn't answer her phone!! We laughed and figured something happened. It was hilarious. We had looked at every lady that walked buy thinking, "Paula?" hahaha! She ended up messaging us at 9 saying that she was held up in work and her phone died! It was a pretty funny experience though. We are still looking forward to meeting Paula.

We ended the night eating ice cream for Hermana Cook's year in the mission!! I can't believe it! I remember when she got here!! That's when I trained Hermana Tejeda!! Time flies!!

Yesterday we had Stake Conference. It was the most spiritual Stake Conference of my mission!!! We were able to hear from the Stake Presidency, Elder and Hermana Sparks (Temple President and his wife), President and Hermana Hayes, the Patriarch, and our Bishop. Every single one of them exhorted us to change. We are to keep the Sabbath Day Holy, go to the temple, study the scriptures and do missionary work! It was the perfect setting. Even while singing the hymns, I felt the Spirit so strong.

President Hayes left a huge impression on everyone. Once again he bore strong testimony about the Prophet, the scriptures and about our responsibility as missionaries. Just as he did 6 months ago, he had us all stand up where we were and he bore fervent testimony of the work that we are here to do. I just love the mission. What more can I say? I felt the Spirit so strong as he spoke for all of us and shared our love for the Savior and for his restored gospel...and I feel it now as I am thinking of what happened and as I'm typing these words. I want everyone in this area, the members, my investigators, everyone to know how much I love my Savior and that I am willing to do whatever it takes to bring this gospel to my Heavenly Father's children. The Patriarch, who helps all of us missionaries regularly, also testified and encouraged others to see us differently. He said that missionaries are the angels who begged The Lord to send them to the Earth to share the gospel. I'm honored and humbled to even hear him say that! The mission is a beautiful thing and a huge blessing in my life. We as missionaries are here to help the members receive the blessings of missionary work! I have seen amazing progress in my area in these past few weeks. I am excited for what more is to come!

I hope everyone enjoys this week and has a very Happy Thanksgiving!! Along with a HUGE list of everything I'm thankful for all of you, and for your love and support!!

Love,

Hermana Zerilli

Our Christmas tree!!! when it's all lit it's beautiful!!! We have our 2 little stockings on the tree.

The coolest thing ever is when you get to Stake Conference IN COSTA RICA and someone from from your actual home ward is there. It's always great to see cha(se)...uhh, Elder Abel. :)