I had gumbo for the first time yesterday! :)

On Wednesday the District wore Christmas Colors to our Zone Development Meeting :) We like picking themes. Gotta make fun every chance you get :) 

 Also on Wednesday it POURED rain. It used to rain quite often, but not lately. We were out tracting and I said "Sister Dobbins, I think we should go get our raincoates from the car - it's looking pretty stormy up there" She said fine, so we started on our journey back to the car, it started to drizzle, and then we ran into a wonderful woman named Tonya out on her porch! Since we are missionaries, we ended up talking with her for like 45 minutes and the rain came down like buckets. We were very grateful for her covered porch :) The rain hadn't let up when we finished our discussion, so we had to run to the car in the storm.. desperately trying to keep our precious Books of Mormon dry! Anyways we were drenched, so we went to Sister Adams' house (pretty much the embodiment of Southern Hospitality - I completely love her) and she let us wear her fuzzy pajamas while she dried our clothes. WHAT AN ANGEL. 

 In other news, Charlie got baptized! Charlie is the sweetest and she was being taught by Elders in my district. Sister Dobbins and I do a Book of Mormon study with her every Wednesday and have totally fell in love with her and her husband Ross. They just got married last weekend! My first Waptism! (Wedding-baptism) She, Ross, their grandson, and our missionary family is pictured and is so complete :) 

 This week we got SO MUCH DONE. Lots of lessons, tons of tracting, plenty of service, and not enough sleep. I woke up sick again today, pray for me! Unfortunately, we didn't see most of our friends that I have told yall about. Thelma is still sick but we contacted her brother! He has been reading the Book of Mormon for about a month now and we are excited for him to meet some missionaries! Shawn (Shaun? We don't know) wasn't home last week but we taught his wife and daughter and went back on Thursday to help around their barn. Sunny is in Oklahoma and is still so excited about her Enid ward. 

My whole zone showed up to help that single mom with her flood cleanup, there was like 40 of us working on her little mobile home and we got lots of work done! We met a lot of brand new people this week, and they all seem pretty excited about the restored gospel. One man named Andre had a really powerful answer to his prayers and knows that Joseph Smith was a prophet. We are stoked. 

Pretty much being a missionary is awesome. The Spirit of the work I am doing is unlike anything in the world, I am convinced. Sharing something you love with others is so rewarding, especially when you can watch what you share change their lives :) I am meeting so many wonderful people and improving myself every day. 

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers! Have a blessed week 
 Love, Sister Bartsch