SHE GOT DUNKED!

Once again, I have happy news! Sweet Sunny was baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. My goodness, I have never seen a happier person. This woman has been through more than I could possibly understand, and a series of difficult events led her here - to Bossier, Louisiana! Where she was invited almost immediately by a man in our ward to come to church. From coming to church she met the Adams, an older couple who gave her a room in their home. From their  home she was taught all of the missionary lessons and grew so much in the gospel! I watched the light grow in her eyes and it was amazing to be by her side as she accepted the teachings she had always been looking for. Now we call her Sister Miller and she does a happy dance every time. She has brought me SO much joy and I couldn't ask for a better introduction to missionary life! (not the best pictures, sorry! I am going to see if Sister Adams' are better)

Sunny's Baptism!

I mentioned Thelma last week, she is the woman who is enduring chemotherapy right now. Her brother is a member in Alaska and he sent Priesthood holders to bless her through her trial and missionaries to help her come closer to Christ. OH MY GOODNESS I LOVE HER SO MUCH. This woman has such beautiful faith. She has complete trust in God through this scary time in her life and already has plans for how she is going to help others overcome cancer, even though she's in the very middle of her fight right now. She already has a testimony of the Priesthood because her recovery from therapy sessions have been much easier than they should be. Keep her in your prayers! Once she is done with chemo and radiation she wants to be baptized!

And you thought this was just in the movies!

At the start of July, as Sister Dobbins and I were getting healthy again, we were praying about where to tract. I was praying and fasting for us to be led to those who are prepared to hear the gospel. We chose a street in the far west part of our area! Since then, we have tracted about 7 more streets surrounding it, and we work that area almost 4 days a week. Just recently, we have noticed how many wonderful people we know in the neighborhood! Even if we aren't teaching them all, we have so many friends! Terry always gives us water and we see him out fixing everyone's cars. Jim walks his dogs and lets us share a message while we play with them (even though he isn't interested in the Mormons), Sandra's grandson does everyone's yardwork, Rodney and Anthony are cousins, Stephanie and her mother live on the same street, we ran into Jonathan yesterday and he was so sorry to have missed our appointment so we set up another one, and Don really doesn't like the guy around the corner. I know y'all really don't need to know these little details, but Sister Dobbins and I are really enjoying this area. We are sharing the gospel in such a happy little corner of the world and we love it. Yesterday we knocked on JD's door and he was so glad that the lovely girls who waved at him last Thursday came to teach him! Even though we know chances are not everyone we are teaching will accept the gospel, we have gained a testimony of prayer and fasting and following the Spirit.

I could probably write all afternoon, but I have to get going and that's also not allowed. I thank you all for your prayers, I promise they are helping! Keep my little city of Bossier in your prayers, too!

Have a blessed week!

Sister Bartsch

These sisters love service!  This week they were painting.