finding peace in all things

This week has been great! I'm so grateful for all of the love and support I've been given thus far. I couldn't do this without each one of you and your kind thoughts and words.

Fernanda is doing amazing! She had her baptism interview yesterday, and she passed with flying colors! Woohoo! She is so excited to take that next step in following her Savior by being baptized. She has been making friends in the ward which is absolutely crucial. We're so blessed to have an investigator that is so prepared. It's such a miracle! Her baptism is this Saturday, so we'll be busy with that this week!

Courtney is getting there.. slowly, but surely. She has been having a hard time receiving answers. She's been praying and reading and doing everything right, but no answers seem to come. I mentioned to her about the importance of allowing yourself to feel things. Feel those promptings of the spirit, feel what God would have you feel. Courtney is very closed off emotionally, and I can't help but think that maybe that's why she hasn't been receiving her answers! When you aren't doing well emotionally, you absolutely cannot do well spiritually. So, we encouraged her to let out all the feelings she's been having lately and to just cry. Tears are so good! I know that Heavenly Father will answer her prayers through the Holy Ghost now. She's ready for it, and she's now open to it. 

Barbara, Fernanda's twin sister is doing.. ok. We met with her twice this week and taught her the restoration. She shivered during our lesson and said she had chills all over! (woohoo!!!) We told her that sometimes the Spirit testifies to us through chills! She said she'd never had those feelings before and that she really liked how it made her feel. We were so happy!!! Unfortunately, she had a rough couple of nights out with her friends.. but we're ready to get her back on track! She's the one that needs to have the desire though. If she doesn't want it for herself, it won't happen! Luckily, Fernanda is being the best example to her!

This week, I've focused a lot on peace. Peace in decisions, peace in my work as a missionary, peace in this crazy world, and peace with myself. We happened to have a fireside yesterday about peace! (would you look at that!) I loved it. My favorite thing that was said was:

No Christ, No Peace

Know Christ, Know Peace

Just think about that. When we know Christ, we will surely know peace. I've found that so many times on my mission. When I allow Christ to come into my life and help me along, I find that peace that I'm in desperate need of! My favorite scripture for awhile has been John 16:33 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Christ has overcome the world. We know that for a fact! There are supposed to be trials in this life, but we know that through the healing power of the Atonement, we can find that peace to get through those difficult times. I'm so grateful for that knowledge. This gospel is a gospel of peace. I've seen that time and time again. I love my Savior and I know that He really is the Prince of Peace. Take advantage of that peace He offers, and watch the miracles unfold.

-Sister Stevenett