Preaching in Pennsylvania: He qualifies the called!

My dearest family,

It's so good to hear from you and write you!

I have made it through the first week in Beaver! And it is fantastic.
I'm already starting to love it here. Sister Smith is just wonderful
and I am definitely in good hands. She is originally from New Mexico,
but her family moved to Riverton, Utah when she started college at BYU-I
so she will be going home to Utah. It's so weird that she'll be home in 5 weeks.I don't really envy her though. I love Pennsylvania too much. ;)

So, Beaver. I know you're dying to hear all about the area, so here
are some cool things:

- The area that covers this ward is split into two--a set of elders
serve here too (their names are Elder Foster and Elder Pennington).
- We live in Beaver, but don't actually serve in Beaver...we serve in
nearby areas like Beaver Falls, Midland, and New Brighton.
- Our apartment is really nice and spacious. Yes, we have a
piano...but it's terribly out of tune-sad! I'll probably still
play it though...maybe. ;)
- We live right across the street from a run-down train station, but
trains still ride past constantly, so we hear trains zooming past all
the time.
- They actually say "yinz" over here! I had just gotten down "you's",
so now I need to adjust my PA vernacular. ;)
- Pittsburgh is an hour bus ride from Beaver so I'll get to go one of
these P-days! I am so crazy excited!!!

Saying goodbye to Sunbury and Sister Schofield was one of the hardest
things I have ever done, but the Lord has helped me so much. He really
has. I still have moments where I miss my other home, but the Lord is
already making room in my heart for this area, this ward, and
everything else. Along with that, I am further coming to realize that
the Lord really doesn't call the qualified. He doesn't. If He did, we
wouldn't need Him hardly at all. Instead, He promises to qualify the
called...and I am no exception. I am not qualified to serve here and
take over the area in 5 weeks. On my own, I'm not. But if I will do my
part, the Lord will do His and He will qualify me to meet the demands
and expectations of the work here. I am so grateful for His love,
compassion, understanding, and long suffering. I truly need Him every
moment of every day.

When we were walking down the street other day, we bumped into this
guy named Joe. He had a lot of questions about what we do as
missionaries, and then I can't remember how the conversation led this
way, but he said: "Ain't nothin' like the Lord, man." Ha ha can I get
an Amen?! I would definitely have to agree. :D

Miracle that happened this week: we went to see our investigator Erin
on Wednesday. Sister Smith and her last companion had only been able
to see her once or twice before (they bumped into her while trying to
find a less-active in the ward), but it had been really hit and miss.
We showed up at her house on Wednesday, and she came out to sit with
us on the porch. We knew something was wrong, so after Sister Smith
asked her, so proceeded to tell us her boyfriend had just passed away
that morning from complications following a heart attack. She burst
into tears, and my heart just broke. I had just met her, but I gave
her a hug as she cried and cried. Sister Smith and I cried with her
and were there right when she needed us the most. We showed her the
"Because He Lives" video, which she really liked. (Later she asked for
then link so she could watch it multiple times.) That moment in time
is yet another testament to me of how infinitely perfect God's timing
is. We walked away and were talking about it, and Sister Smith said
that as soon as she saw my picture on the transfer board, she thought,
I bet she's here for Erin. I am actually starting to feel the same
way. I know I was sent to this area for a reason, and I think she is
one of the reasons.

Conference was incredible, as always. Elder Holland's talk hit home
for me. I still have moments I am hard on myself as a missionary, and
his talk is just what I needed. The Spirit penetrated my heart, and
I'll never forget it. I feel so incredibly blessed to live in the most
blessed time this world has ever known. Especially to having a living
prophet and apostles on the earth today. We are incredibly blessed!!

"With the gift of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the strength of
heaven to help us, we can improve, and the great thing about the
gospel is we get credit for trying, even if we don’t always succeed. …

"Please remember tomorrow, and all the days after that the Lord
blesses those who want to improve, who accept the need for
commandments and try to keep them, who cherish Christlike virtues and
strive to the best of their ability to acquire them. If you stumble in
that pursuit, so does everyone; the Savior is there to help you keep
going. …

"Keep trying. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep growing. Heaven is
cheering you on today, tomorrow, and forever."

I LOVE YINZ SO MUCH!!!! Have a fantastic week.

With so much love,
Sister Bartlett

I got to ride from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh with my Mama!
So happy to see her and say goodbye one last time before she
headed home :') I Love You Sister Talbot!!