Ever since the missionary president seminar last June I've had this mentality that it is the member's responsibility to find people to teach, which is true. However, I've also used it as an excuse to avoid finding as much as I possibly can. Last month we did a mission wide finding fast. Which means we do certain things the week prior and then fast to find new investigators. Well, one of the blessings that came from that was an increased commitment to find new investigators. In the last couple of weeks I've been consciously changing my mindset to find more and more. My desire to tract has changed dramatically. I'm learning what is means to endure to the end.

Wednesday night we had a relief society activity. Basically we sat around and ate chocolate and got pampered all night. Luckily our investigator and the elder's were both there. It was fun to continue to build relationships with the sisters. A fun activity indeed! These members really feel like my family. I love it when a member will call me by name instead of just "sister". It's a good feeling. 

It was a VERY good year mark on Thursday. We tried by a potential's house and set up a return appointment for this week. Then! I got beef and noodles for lunch for the first time. A Hoosier classic and very delicious. We did weekly planning and then did a lesson with a less active sister. That night we met at the church with President Kelly and Chastity and set a baptismal date for her of March 16th! I'm super excited because I didn't think she would get baptized this transfer and I was afraid I was going to miss it. Then we went with the R family to teach Sis. R's niece and her family. They haven't have attended church, have five kids and were pretty open. I get nervous teaching member's family/friends because I'm so much more nervous that I'm going to say the wrong thing. I never thought I would have the privilege of teaching families that members invited them to take the lessons from the missionaries. It's a whole different feeling in those lessons! The Spirit was so strong. When I was reciting the First Vision I know they felt something, but probably didn't recognize was it was. There wasn't a place I would rather be then right there in that living room. Thursday was a bit nostalgic as I thought back on the last year of my life. I have such wonderful memories, only a portion have I been able to write home and share with you. My favorite part is all the people that I have been able to meet. There have definitely been some regrets but I'm working hard to improve myself, especially in my commitment to find, teach, and baptize. I still have so much work to do and I'm excited! That night I felt like the happiest girl in the world. 

On Friday for service we got to clean mold off old books. Definitely not something I thought I would do for service. It actually takes a lot longer than we were both expecting. 

We had our district meeting on Saturday because it was a new month so we actually had miles to drive. I was asked to give a training on developing faith through the Book of Mormon. It was such a blessing! I got asked to do it kind of last minute so I was worried about it coming together. However, as I was studying for it Friday morning the revelation just flowed. I definitely think I learned more by preparing for it then the missionaries in the district. The key to developing faith through the Book of Mormon is being able to find doctrine within the book. Yes it's a story, but it is doctrine understand that changes who we are. I love the quote in PMG that says "The Book of Mormon is a springboard to testimony and personal revelation".

As we are diligent as we study the scriptures the Spirit is then able to teach us the personal revelation that we each need. The commitment I left with the missionaries was to read the paragraphs under "Faith in Jesus Christ" on page 61-62 of PMG and for every sentence find a scripture that teaches that doctrine. It's very tedious but well worth it. I started it last week while preparing for the training and continued it this morning and I'm still not done. I also made the decision I'm going to do it with every sentence found in lesson three (the Gospel of Jesus Christ). This quarter we are focusing on revelation through the Book of Mormon. Finding and understanding doctrine in the Book of Mormon is how it becomes the springboard for personal revelation and the tool for conversion.

After district meeting we went out to eat at Hacienda (Mexican). It was my choice and in celebration of our year mark. One of the ladies working came up to us and asked where we were from. She then explained how the Niles elders had helped with some things are her house because she had recently moved here from Arkansas. She was really impressed and so grateful for the service that we do. I'd like to think it was the Spirit was made me choose that restaurant :) 

We went tracting in Lakeville after that and used a lot of the Indianapolis Indiana temple cards. They work wonders! We usually get a better response out of them then the normal mormon.org cards. We were supposed to see Chastity at 5 that night but she texted us about an hour and a half before and she cancelled on us. So we just tracted for longer than we were planning on. Well we got in the car a little after 5 and we had a miss call from her. We called her back and she told us that she realized meeting with us was more important than what she was going to do so she cancelled her other plans! I was so proud! We taught her about fasting in preparation for the next day. 

Fast Sunday was wonderful as usual. There weren't very many people at church because it had snowed the night before, but the Spirit was still strong! After mission correlation we headed up to the R's house for dinner and then a lesson with their neighbors afterwards. It was a great way to end the week! 

This week was a bit surreal. Tuesday marked a year since being set apart as a full time missionary. Wednesday was the day I left home and Thursday was a year since reporting to the MTC. It's been the best and hardest year of my life. I've definitely changed a lot and my testimony has grown immensely. My understanding of what the gospel of Jesus Christ is....well it's everything!