This week has been one of the best. Last Monday we had our first district activity!! We wanted to go caroling by the Metro, but no one was really there because the Metro got shut down earlier that day. So we took a bus about 5 minutes north of our area and sang by a busy stoplight. We met so many cute people!!! Some joined in for a song or two, and others wished us a Merry Christmas as they walked by.
On Thursday, we had a specialized training to see how the new missionaries were doing. Sister Johnson, our mission president's wife, talked about how Laman and Lemuel didn't really DO horrible things. They left Jerusalem with their family, they went back to get the plates, they got the daughters of Ishmael, etc. They did everything Nephi did. So what was the difference between them and Nephi? Laman and Lemuel MURMURED. They didn't obey with right intentions and they didn't inquire of the Lord, so they were miserable. Do we just go through the motions? Do we DO all the right things, but for the wrong reasons? My mom emailed me earlier in the week and this is what she said: (Hopefully she doesn't get embarrassed. :)
"In order for our hearts to be touched by the Spirit, we need to want to be touched by the Spirit. Whether I'm reading my scriptures, attending sacrament meeting, or in the temple, our mindset plays a big part on what we get out of the experience. Our spiritual growth will largely depend on what we put into it."
I know that's true! We will always get out what we put in.
Last but not least, yesterday we had our first baptism. 
Isabella got baptized!!!! I have never seen a girl with more faith. About a year ago, my companion (Hermana Webster) started to teach Isabella. She received all the lessons and wanted to be baptized, but she was 17 and her parents wouldn't let her. She lost contact with the missionaries and LAST SUNDAY we went looking for her. When she opened the door, her jaw dropped. When she let us in the door, the first thing she said was, "I can't believe you're here...I felt like I needed to go to church today. I still had the number of the lady that used to take me before and I was about to text her to pick me up. I CAN'T believe you're here!!!!" We had an amazing lesson, invited her to be baptized, and she said yes! She is now 18 and the newest member of our ward! She actually reminds me SO much of my sweet cousin, Aixa. She is just SO funny and soooo faithful!
I know that God really does put us where we need to be. Because we followed a simple prompting to visit Isabella ONE WEEK AGO she is now baptized. IT'S AMAZING! Don't forget to keep lighting the world this Christmas with warm smiles and helping hands. I love you all!
Have an amazing week!
Hermana Hayes
(Ps, I'm so sorry that I haven't been able to respond to a lot of you, but please know how much I love you and SO appreciate the emails! I read them all! I'll try my best to get back to you as much as I can!!!)
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