May 6th

What a great week! I had the best experience of my mission on Saturday. Sister Zwang and I had tracting planned for a good chunck of the day and Emily and Matt wanted to come with us. So we walk to our chosen street and split ways. Two of us did one side, while the other two did the other side. As sister Z and I were doing doors together I just watched Emily and Matt (who are not even missionaries yet) knocking on peoples doors and trying to talk to them about the gospel. The were so up beat and positive about it. Matt and Emily walked by while we were at a door and he says "Sister JJ, guess what?!! I got my first door slammed in my face." Cute kid, it was the greatest thing to hear. He was so excited to get that door slammed in his face. Then I had the opportunity to do a few doors with Emily and she was more then willing to talk and do the door approach. She was so nervous but did SO GREAT!! I tell you what, the YSA's out here are so fantastic! I can't even express it enough. They are going to be the best missinonaries. Bobby Kuhn is so smart and just has the funniest personality, Emily is a firecracker and just wants to go get em all, Matt has the sweetest heart and love for the gospel, Will loves everyone no matter what, Josh is so eager to learn and the list goes on and on. They all have such great Christlike characteristics! They will be leaving this week to go home for the summer! I'm freaking out a little... ok I'm freaking out A LOT! I love them all so much and will miss them terribly. Sad to say, but Matt is gone for good. He graduates on Saturday! Sad Day!!! But I don't wanna talk about that anymore, it gets me all emotional. I LOVE THE YSA'S!!!We set Scott for baptism last night and his date will be May 30th. He's so solid and excited to enter into the gate on to the straight and narrow path. He just loves the scriptures and thinks Nephi is the top dog! It's so great to see his excitment when he talks about the words of the prophets and God's love for all of us. He read 3 chapters out of Psalms yesterday to us and just expressed the power that those words held. It was such a neat experience. And of course Emily was more then will to come with us and Bobby showed up a little bit later.We had a Zone Conference yesterday which was pretty cool. My mission president had called me a few days ago and asked me to come earlier so him and I could have a "talk." That's usually not a good thing, or so I take it to be that way. So I showed up early and we had a GREAT visit. In one of my President Letters I had asked him to pray about giving us both of our wards back and letting us be the only missionaries out here again. I miss the first ward so much but don't wanna give up the 2nd ward either. So we discussed if it would be a good idea or not and I hope he grants me my wish. I also brought up the thougth of keeping me in Harrisonburg for the rest of my mission. The goal right now is to keep missionaries in areas for longer anyway, so I told him I had NO problem staying in H-Burg seeing as how I only have about 9 months left. He seemed to be good with that idea. We'll see...The Zone Conference was really amazing! It was a lot better then the last one we had. It really helped give me that boost and modivation I needed. Our mission president is so amazing! I know that he is called of God and receives revelation for this mission. I have witnessed many occasions to where I've seen miracles happen because of the promptings he gets. I'm so grateful to have him as my leader for my enire mission. We received a lot of counsel about being bold and being excellent at the basics. Its the same stuff we've been counseled on before but we're obviously not doing it if he keeps talking about it. But I came up with many things I'm going to be working on to try and improve my missionary efforts. I really feel that I can be so much better of a missionary and am going to strive my hardest to fulfill the potential that my Heavenly Father sees in me. I don't see it for myself, but I know HE does, and with His help I will accomplish that which He has asked me to do.We met with the Demastus' last night. I love that family so much. They are less active still and I'm still determined to help them in anyway that I can. Bobby and Emily came with us to that as well. Thank heavens they did! I was having a hard time... Some of the things they were saying really hurt me and Bobby and Emily were there to talk to them while I gathered myself together. Sometimes as a missionary you put your ALL into someone to help them become happy, and when you see it's not going anywhere after a long period of time, it really tends to get to you. They feel like they are having charity work done to them, while as a missionary you consider them to be great friends and love them so much and don't think that way at all! Because you love them so much and consider them you're close friends, you want more then anything for them to be happy. Its just hard when they start giving up and not taking any action. They've been wronged, I know it's hard, but it's just one of those pit falls that we have to live and learn from... I hope and pray whole heartedly that I can make a difference in someones life... That's why I came...Today for P-Day we're getting together with a bunch of the YSA's to play some Volleyball and Ultimate Frisbee!! I'm super stocked about it and can't wait! I love having that opportunity to just play! Especially with all of them. They're my best friends!! (Besides my Becki of course) It's their last Wednesday here so I'm glad we get to spend it with them. So I'm sorry in advance for not writing any letters to anyone this week, I'm gonna go do some playin :)Well I'm excited to call home on Sunday for Mothers Day and talk to my family. I'll only be talking to them one more time after this before I come home! I love you all so much and hope you have a great week!This Gospel IS TRUE!!
-Sister J.J.