"I am a Child of God" - October 31, 2022

Oh hello hello everyone!!

Happy Halloween!!!

It was quite a crazy week. We began with exchanges with the University sisters in Morgantown! Sister Gallacher came to Fairmont with Sister Livingston and Sister McLendon and I stayed in the YSA area! It was so much fun!! We did our studies and everything and then the Fairmont Sisters called us. Sister Livingston asked me to step out so she could talk with me over the phone. Basically there was a Sister being ET'd and she would stay with us for the night so we needed to end exchanges with the YSA Sisters. Crazy!! We exchanged back and then got hints organized for this sweet Sister to come and stay with us. We had a wonderful 4 hour exchange with the University sisters and told them we would find another time to exchange!

We woke up Wednesday morning and met the Charleston STL's at the Flatwoods church building! We dropped off the Sister and they then took her to her new area, Barboursville!! I am soo excited for her to serve there! That was my very first area!! She will love it! Sister Livingston and I are sad to be down one sister but we know that the Lord has many more miracles in store for her in her new area!

We met with Ronda and Katie! They are doing wonderful! We read Ether 12 with them and discussed faith. Faith is believing in something even though you cannot see it. We had a great discussion with them!! Also, Ether 12:41 is one of my most favorite scriptures! "Seek this Jesus" everyone, and you will never be lead astray!

That evening we had our ward trunk or treat!! It was so much fun!!! Our friends, Donald and Ashley, came with their two little girls!! It was so amazing!!! They came 30 minutes early, on accident, and helped set up and then left 30 minutes late so they could help take things down. It was so wonderful!! And then!!!!! It gets better.... Donald came to church on Sunday!!! It was so cool!!! He brought his two little girls. The whole meeting was about missionary work, haha! We aren't quite sure what he thought but we are meeting on Tuesday! Oh, please keep their family in your prayers!

Thursday we had exchanges with the Clarksburg Sisters!!! Sister Smith came to Fairmont with Sister Francis and Sister Livingston went to Clarksburg with Sister Johnson!!! It was so good!! Sister Smith and I came out together!! And, back in July I met her family when they came to Beckley for a family reunion! So crazy!! She was also companions with my last companion, Sister Holt! We had a lesson with Anita and read 1 Nephi 1 with her. We then went knocking and met some kind people! One nice guy told us that in the neighborhood across the green field there are a bunch of important, cool people. They all have really nice homes. After knocking we drove through the neighborhood and it was crazy!!! Those homes are huge and beautiful!! We had some quick member lessons with Sister Saoud and the VanGilders. It was great!!

We exchanged back Friday morning, had district council and then drove up to Morgantown for exchanges with the University sisters again!!! We kept it the same so I was with Sister McLendon at the University! It was homecoming so we saw the parade and everything!! Kinda wild.

Saturday was quite the ride!! We exchanged back that morning and then did our studies. We had a lesson with Sister Etzi! I love her so much! She has some cool stories to tell. Time ran away from us at her house, though, so when we left we decided to knock a little neighborhood just down the road. We talked to some nice people but none of them were interested. Then, we had about 4-5 more houses. We knocked the first one and a nice man came out onto his porch and just started talking to us! He told us a lot of interesting things that came down to him believing the earth is flat and thinking that everything they tell us in life is a lie. Sister Livingston was amazing and simply testified that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live and love us and that we are all Children of God. We thanked him for his time and walked away. It was wild!!! Neither one of us have ever met a real flat earther!! It was great!

Later that evening we had s'mores with the Chapman's. They had a little fire in their backyard. It was so much fun!!! We roasted marshmallows and then talked about the miracles Jesus Christ performed. It was wonderful. I know that Jesus Chrsit helped create this earth, under the direction of Heavenly Father. He lived and died for us and lives again!

I love Sundays! This week the whole program was focused on missionary work! It was awesome! There was a guy who came in before we started who was dressed quite nicely. We all kinda thought he was from a different ward in the stake. Sister Livingston asked where he was from and he said Virginia. We then thought he may just be visiting because he is traveling. After the meeting ended he came up and talked with us. He said his name was Jason Wright. He asked us where we are from. We told him and he then said he was writing a book based in the city where Sister Livingston is from!! It was so cool! He asked if we had any friends at church and we introduced him to Donald! While they talked the Bishop told us that Brother Wright was an author! He wrote Christmas Jars and other books! What?! So crazy!! We talked with Brother Wright again a little later and found out he was good friends with a member of the ward. He was coming to surprise that member by being here but then that member was out of town!! It was funny. But, everything happens for a reason even if we don't quite know what that reason is right away!

Song of the Week: "I am a Child of God" Hymn 301 and Children's Song Book 2. What a simple yet priceless truth. We are all Children of a loving Heavenly Father. This phrase has gotten me through a lot of hard times on my mission. Remembering that I am a Child of God gives me strength to endure. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love me. They are there for each of us!

Have a happy week! Talk to y'all next Monday!

Love,

Sister Sariah Francis

Pictures!!!