....at the feet of an Apostle!

Dearest family,

Holy cannoli guacamole I have SO much to tell you. Hold on to your hats, it's gonna be a long ride. ;) I'll share a few highlights from the week and then the ultimate highlight (this weekend). By the way, no apologies for the length of this email...there is just too much goodness not to tell you (almost) all of it! Ha ha :)

Tuesday evening, we had a church tour with Donny and Rose (you prolly remember them, right?). As you know, we haven't been pushing baptism with Donny because he told us he's not ready for it. But when we were standing in front of the baptismal font, Donny told us that he was baptized as a baby, but had no say. Then, he expressed his desire to be submerged, to be baptized in this way. We were shocked. He wants to get baptized!! We will all be praying a ton that his work schedule will allow him to start coming to church.

Wednesday and Thursday we went on exchanges with the Greensburg sisters, and I got to be with my granddaughter, Sister Beckstrand! She is awesome! We had an amazing lesson with Tonya and when we followed up with her, she told us she felt really peaceful when she prayed, and that she also feels like everything in her life is falling into place. It was sooo good!! She's on date to be baptized December 10th. I can't wait!!

We also did several hours of service!! Part of that consisted of helping with the Gigliotti's annual leaf harvest (pictures included). Another involved baking cookies at the Carlson's (they're non-members) for a big event in December (more pictures included...with the GIANT dogs they have).

Okay. Now for Saturday. Saturday was an AMAZING AMAZING day. We got up at 5am to pick up the elders to drive to Altoona (about 2 hours...#roadtripsfordays). We got there early enough to visit with missionary friends, practice our song, and then sit quietly in the chapel. Oh, ha ha, I forgot to tell yinz! Sister Johnson asked a group of 16 of us to sing "Savior, Redeemer of My Soul" (I have positively decided this has become my mission song...and my favorite hymn as well :)). President Johnson showed us the new initiative video, "Light the World"...and oh my heavens it was AMAZING! I felt the Spirit beautifully strong. I am so excited for yinz to see it!! Elder Stevenson walked in not long after we watched the video (about 20ish minutes before the meeting started), and we all stood as he came in. It was such a reverent moment. After he was up on the stand, President announced that Elder Stevenson, Elder Hallstrom, and Elder Kunz all wanted to shake our hands. So we all got a chance to shake their hands. It was amazing!  The Spirit in that room was incredibly strong. And as I felt that Spirit, I felt the love of my Heavenly Father and Savior so strongly and so purely. As we recited D&C 4 and Our Purpose, I couldn't hold back the tears. I got so choked up, especially as I looked at President and Sister Johnson on the stand wiping away tears. It was one of the most powerful moments of my mission and my life. When Elder Hallstrom spoke, he said, "We want this mission to change you forever." As I reflected on that, I realized that is absolutely true for me. It has changed me forever. And I felt distinctly that at this time, I can't even begin to comprehend how much my mission will continue to bless my life. That was an amazing and humbling thought. Elder Hallstrom stressed the importance of coming away from this meeting with a determination to act, a determination to change. He said "If you don't come away from this meeting and do things differently than you did before, it will have had no purpose." I made the decision then and there to apply what I learned in that meeting to my missionary work and be a more effective instrument in His hands because of it.

When Elder Stevenson began his talk (keep in mind he knows President and Sister Johnson really well), he said, "Now, Brad and Rosie...President and Sister Johnson. Can you believe Brad Johnson married Rosie Miller?! I couldn't believe it, it was like a head-liner!" We DIED. It was hilarious!! He then took some time to talk about how when we go home and unlock our hearts, that the elders should "find a Rosie" and we sisters should "find someone like Brad". It hit me that when it comes time for me to find and marry my eternal companion, I want a marriage like President and Sister Johnson have. Next to you, mom and dad, they are my two biggest role models. I love and appreciate them more than I could ever say. He talked about how disobedience never was happiness...never was, never will be. But obedience *always* brings blessings. He said, "When Elder Hallstrom and I get up at 6:30 in the morning, we're just tired. When you get up at 6:30 in the morning, you're blessed for it." And it really is so true! God *always* blesses us when we are obedient. He taught us a great deal on helping people make and keep commitments, which really is a process of repentance, which helps them to change and prepare to make and keep covenants. It brought so much direction, instruction, and clarity and I am so excited to implement what I learned. He bore his testimony at the end, and to say it was powerful would be an understatement. The Spirit was incredibly and undeniably strong. I knew without a doubt in that moment that he was called of God. I shed so many tears during that meeting because of the magnitude in which the Spirit was present. I will never forget that day. ** Don't get me wrong, I love all church meetings we attend. But nothing will ever compare to meeting with large groups of missionaries--the Spirit there is unreal.

On a lesser of importance side note, it was amazing to see some old mission friends and past companions and missionaries I had served with. They were having a Priesthood leadership meeting right afterwards, so I also got to see my old Bishop from the Beaver ward and the two bishops from the Sunbury ward. It was seriously the happiest of days (pictures included).

And THEN on Sunday. Tonya came again!!! The meeting was phenomenal and so rich with the Spirit. I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to hear from Elder Stevenson two days in a row. I felt the Spirit so strongly and was reminded that I really am His daughter, He knows me personally. I am His and I was bought with a price. I was deemed worthy of the Savior's precious blood, and I am graven upon the palms of His hands. Sister Stevenson spoke, and she said something that I loved: "Missionaries are the happiness and the medicine the world needs." I feel so privileged to be a part of this royal army, bringing people to Christ through Whom they can experience ultimate joy, peace, relief, hope, etc. There is nothing that will ever compare. I also felt the love that President and Sister Johnson have for me--they really are my other set of parents. They love me like a daughter and I love them so much. I realized that to feel this loved and to be so far from home is a miracle. Elder Stevenson talked more about obedience and I am coming to gain the strongest testimony of how obedience brings blessings and also happiness. During his talk, I received revelation that I know will help and bless me throughout my life. It was beautiful. We sang in the stake choir and sang, "Savior, Redeemer of my Soul" (there it is again ;)) and "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing". I always feel the Spirit sooo strongly through music, and this was no exception. Singing these songs were two very powerful moments.

Are you ready for this?? Yinz'll never believe it. After the meeting, almost everyone came up to shake his hand. I got in line with Tonya and....SHE GOT TO MEET HIM!!! It was so amazing! I got to shake his hand and I introduced her to him. He shook her hand as I told him that she is investigating the church. He was so elated! He asked how long she had been meeting with us (she is usually pretty shy, but she totally talked to him and everything!). He told her to keep meeting with us and that we have a beautiful message to share with her. She told him that he was a really good, powerful speaker--it was amazing!! I still can't even believe that she got to meet him.

This weekend was by far the highlight of my mission and I am incredibly grateful to my Heavenly Father for it. I feel like He has opened up the heavens and poured out blessings upon my head that I don't even have enough room to receive all of them.

As I sat in these meetings basking in the Spirit, my testimony of this gospel was strengthened and reconfirmed to me. There's no way I could feel what I felt and deny that I know this church to be true. I know that this is the true church--the only true and living church on the face of this earth. I know that we have a Heavenly Father Who loves us, wants the very best for us, has a plan for us, and wants us back Home. I know that we have a Savior, who suffered, bled, and died for us. And not just so we could repent and be forgiven, but that we could be strengthened, comforted, carried, healed, and changed. He died for us, and now He lives for us too. He stands at the head of this church and guides it through worthy men who hold His priesthood. The Book of Mormon is the very word of God, and it is one sure thing that will bring you to Christ. I can't even express my gratitude for my Heavenly Father and my Savior and the chance I have to serve a mission. Words are less than adequate.

I invite you to constantly strive to be obedient--as obedient as you can be. Even and especially in the seemingly small things because those lead to obedience in the big things. I can promise you as a servant and representative of Jesus Christ that He will bless you for your obedience. And with those blessings, you will find happiness and joy that you will not find living in any other way.

I love you. God loves you. Remember that you are His. Have the most beautiful week!!

"Keep loving. Keep trying. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep growing. Heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow, and forever." (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland)

All my love,

Sister Bartlett xoxo

                                                   With Tom                                                

Leaf Harvest!

New BIG furry friends!

Together again with Sister Schofield! Happy Day!

Sunbury Reunion:

                                                  Bishop Snowden (former), Sister S, Me,
                                               Sister Thorson, and Bishop Balukoff (current)

Me and Sister T :)

The WHOLE Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission!

Perfection is pending....

To the best family in all the land:

Oh boy oh boy do I have stuff to tell yinz! Ha ha, 'twas a good week. Where to begin...

It was another sick week. Sister Simpson and I have just been ping-pong-ing back and forth with this cold stuff. But all will be well. She's now the one that's sick right--please pray that she'll get better soon!

Despite being sick, we did more service this week! Some of which was super last minute. My new motto has become: "Plan with precision and execute with flexibility." Ha ha that is pretty much Pitt 3rd in a nutshell.

On Friday, we drove to Altoona for our MLC meeting. It was really good!! President introduced the new Christmas initiative...#LighttheWorld ...needless to say I am SO EXCITED!! This time of year is literally *the best* time to be a missionary. I love it so much!! He also announced some big changes to the mission. We are now going to have zone conferences and interviews every 6 weeks versus having them alternating every 12 weeks. This is huge! I am super excited about it, because it means I get to see President and Sister Johnson more often!! #tendermercies  (Also. Very very excited that Elder Stevenson is coming in 5 days!! And then to our stake conference the next day. Feeling so very blessed.)

So yesterday...TONYA CAME TO CHURCH!!!! Can I get a 'woot woot'?!?! It was soooo fantastic!! Kay, you have to know how nervous missionaries get when an investigator is coming to church on a fast and testimony meeting Sunday. You *never* know what is going to be said or preached. False doctrine, song lyrics, 20 minute-long rambles...it's always a hold-your-breath sort of thing. But God is SO merciful. Yesterday was one of the best testimony meetings I've ever been to in Pennsylvania. #hallelujah #tendermercies We also had an *AMAZING* lesson with her on Wednesday. We went in there and taught to her needs--we took it at her pace and testified of God's love for her as His daughter. She told us of some hard things she went through a few years ago and started to cry. Through her tears, she said, "I wish I would have known about this years ago." The Spirit was so strong, it was beautiful. I love her so much, and I feel so blessed to be able to witness her journey coming to Christ.

I titled this email "perfection is pending" because I read a talk about perfection this week that changed my life. But first, a little background. Yinz know me--I'm a perfectionist...have been from day one. Wanting to do everything right, everything perfect. And being so frustrated with myself when my "plan to live perfectly" goes wrong. I beat myself up endlessly...trying to be perfect. Which doesn't even make sense. But what I learned this week (in addition to last week watching "The Perfect Lie") has changed my whole outlook. The talk is titled "Perfection Pending" by Russell M. Nelson from the October 1995 General Conference. A few things I learned:

Matthew 5:48 says, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." After Christ's resurrection, He says to the Nephites in America, "Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect" (3 Nephi 12:48). "This time he listed himself along with his Father as a perfected personage. Previously he had not."

** I was floored that Christ had not achieve full and complete perfection until after He was resurrected. It blew my mind. **

"We need not be dismayed if our earnest efforts toward perfection now seem so arduous and endless. Perfection is pending. It can come only in full after the Resurrection and only through the Lord. It awaits all who love him and keep his commandments. It includes thrones, kingdoms, principalities, powers, and dominions. It is the end for which we are to endure. It is the eternal perfection that God has in store for each of us."

Wow. I can't even tell you what reading this talk did for me. It brought me so much peace and clarity and comfort and reassurance...I won't be "perfect" or "complete" until after this life is through, until after I am resurrected. So I can stop trying to be perfect and instead rely on the Savior to make me a little bit better each and every day. It's a lesson that has taken me 20 years to learn and continue to learn, but better late than never, right? Will you read it this week? (You could even do it as a family! ) I promise it will change your outlook and help you come to know the Savior better.

Mom, Dad, Brenden, and Cameron: Heavenly Father loves each of you SO much. And His love is always there. He doesn't love you for anything you did, or didn't do...He loves you because you are *His*. He loves you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer, bleed, and die for you. If you were the only one who needed saving, the only one who needed a Savior...He still would have gone through it just for *you*. He understands it all perfectly. All the mistakes, the guilt, the shame, the heartache, the disappointment, the frustration, the discouragement, the anxiety, the brokenness...He knows it all. And He is always there for you--right by your side, holding your hand, and walking you through it. Always remember that, and always remember to turn to Him.

I love you so very much, and hope you have a beautiful + thankful week. 

"Keep loving. Keep trying. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep growing. Heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow, and forever." (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland)

Sending love and a huge hug from Pennsylvania,Sister Bartlett xoxo

                                                             Buddies from Sunbury ;)

Driving back from MLC

Coasting in the "The Bruiser" with all the Elders!!

With Tonya at Church :)

Apostle visit countdown! SO EXCITED!

God is so good!

My dearest family,

Holy cannoli guacamole. This week's title doesn't even begin to describe how blessed I feel. I'll share some of the miracles I've seen this week, because man...God is SO good. My eyes are being opened to see even more of the good of God and how merciful He is to us as His children, and me, as one of His missionaries. Don't get me wrong, there have been discouraging and tear-filled moments too, but I look back, and I'm focused on the joy I've felt.

Transfer news came on Saturday.....and I am staying in Pitt 3rd with Sister Simpson. PHEW. Ha ha. I was pretty sure I was staying, but I'm glad to know for sure. I just love her so much and am really grateful to have another transfer with her. Our musical of a companionship continues. ;-)

Also. SISTER MORGAN IS TRAINING. Ahhh I'm so excited for her!!! And yinz know what that means. I AM GONNA HAVE A GRANDDAUGHTER. WOOHOO!! So so proud. Also, we are getting a second set of elders in our district! It will be good for the P3 elders because up until now they've been in a Relief Society district ha ha ;)

On Tuesday, President and Sister Johnson came to our district meeting to interview us. His focus this time around was spiritual gifts, and as I reflected on the ones God has given me, I realized throughout the course of my mission, He has brought clarity to me about the gifts He has given me. As I recognize them more, I am able to use them and develop them in greater abundance. It is amazing! They are gifts meant to be shared--I know that is true for each and every one of us. He asked me to share two of my gifts with him, and he came back with comforting words of affirmation. He has seen these gifts in me as I have used and developed them.

Tuesday evening we saw Donny and Rose Meuser. Yinz prolly remember me mentioning Donny before accepting baptism...well...he's not ready to be baptized yet, but he and his wife are making progress! His heart has definitely been softened from when the sisters tried to teach him before, so that is a huge blessing and miracle. We even read the Book of Mormon with them! It was awesome.

Kay, so do you remember Tom? So, he's super super awesome possum lemon blossom. We met him at Starbucks for another lesson, and found out he had read all of 1 Nephi! Wowzers. And he got so much out of it! He understood what was going on and describe 1 Nephi as "a journey of faith". As such, we talked a lot about faith. He talked about some of his life experiences, and we shared ours (I even shared the story about my tumor...he's in he medical field so that was especially profound to him). We asked him if he had prayed to know if the Book of Mormon is true, and he said he hadn't. He said he hadn't and he said he feels like he doesn't know enough. We testified that he could come to know the truth of it and our message if he keeps reading, studying, and praying. He asked, "What is the benefit of knowing that the Book of Mormon is true?" We led him to the introduction of the Book of Mormon and had him read the last two paragraphs. We asked him what it meant, and he sat there and reread it. He sat back, and said, "Oh, that means this is the next step." We watched it sink in as he thought about it more. A huge smile came on his face and said, "Okay. This is the next step for me to take to get closer to God." (This was one of the coolest moments!!) I knew we needed to invite him to be baptized, so I asked him. "Tom, once you come to know the Book of Mormon is true, will you follow Christ's example by being baptized by someone who holds the prophet priesthood authority of God?" His response was a resounding "Absolutely!" It was so amazing. He is so open and prepared, and it's amazing to see the Spirit work on him like that. I am so excited to see where he goes! And I am just amazed. I think back to how we meant Tom, on our way to visit a member of the ward in the hospital one afternoon. God truly is in every single detail.

Earlier this week I was in tears because a less-active member of the ward was less than kind. Our efforts to reach out in love and concern were in vain as she came back with hurtful words and belittling names. (She struggles a lot with many different challenges, but it still was painful to be on the receiving end.)

But this gives me comfort, peace, and hope:

"When you struggle, when you are rejected, when you are spit upon and cast out and made a hiss and a byword, you are standing with the best life this world has ever known, the only pure and perfect life ever lived. You have reason to stand tall and be grateful that the Living Son of the Living God knows all about your sorrows and afflictions." (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland)

He knows. He knows what this feels like. He knows what it feels like to be rejected, cussed out, and cast out. He knows the hurt that it brings as well as the tears. But I take comfort knowing that I am standing with the best life that has ever lived, the best life this world has ever known. And He knows. He knows it all. And He hasn't left me alone, nor will He ever leave me alone.

While we're on the topic of opposition, let me tell yinz about our lesson with Isabel. She is this sweet older lady (in her 80's) that we went to go see. We taught her the Restoration, and showed her the 5 minute First Vision video. I kid you not, right as the first vision was being depicted, a big truck is turned on across the street, and right as the words "Joseph, this is my Beloved Son. Hear Him!" are being uttered, a crazy-loud lawn mower started up next door. Are you kidding me?! But all is well in Zion--she felt the spirit...even though she said she wouldn't be baptized. I believe we played a part in helping prepare her for the spirit world. We did our part, and that's all we could do. But oh boy. Satan's influence is so real. But the work will move forward. "No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing." 

So, real quick: the sisters serving in Wheeling, WV came up to blitz our area (when we split off and all four of us work in this area). It was so fun! And miracles happened. We ordered pizza for dinner and that night after our nightly planning, we watched the Studio C Face2Face event. IT WAS SOO GOOD. The tears. The laughs. The spiritual moments. TENDER MERCIES for Sister Bartlett to get a taste of Studio C on my mission. I'm so grateful!!

Man. So many things! The gem of all gems: Tonya. Wednesday night (I wasn't there), the elders brought an investigator to BOM class. They found her while tracting in their area (she was babysitting for someone there). She came, they read 3 Nephi 11, and had a church tour right afterwards. The spirit was really strong, and she even asked in the chapel, "So, how do you become a member?" They invited her to be baptized and she accepted!! She actually lives in our area, so they passed her off to us to start teaching her. We had our first official lesson yesterday and it was so good! She is so genuine and sincere and she even prayed for the first time out loud at the end of our lesson. It was beautiful.

Ahhhhh!!! Soooo many miracles, tender mercies, and just goodness. I hope you have a beautiful week and see all the goodness God is blessing you with. And always remember that He is on your side and always will be. He's fighting for you!! I LOVE YOU!!!!

"Keep loving. Keep trying. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep growing. Heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow, and forever." (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland)

sending love and a huge hug from PA,

Sister Bartlett xoxo

                         The Pitt 3rd plus Greensburg District and President Johnson

Twinner Twinner Chicken Dinner!

A small glance of Fall in PA - Beautiful!

With Sister McDonald - softening hearts, one door at a time!

With Sisters Jacobson and McDonald

Me + Christ = MORE

My dearest family,

Hey hey hey!! Happy Halloween!! Hope yinz enjoy your taco soup tonight and handing out candy to all the little kiddo's ️ (we get to spend our evening cleaning our apartment! Yippee! Ha ha #cleaningfordays) 

Before I go any further, the Apostle that is coming is....drum roll, please....

ELDER GARY E. STEVENSON!!! And the other members of the Seventy that are coming are: Elder Donald L. Hallstrom and Elder Milan F. Kunz. I am super super excited!! #tminus12days  It is such an incredible opportunity to learn at the feet of an apostle and these general authorities. I feel so very blessed.

As far as this week goes, it felt very off. We gave up a lot of what we had originally planned to do to help people out last minute. That was the theme of this week it seemed. But I realized something: my mission is giving me opportunity after opportunity to turn outward, to look outside myself. To put aside my pride and my selfish desires and serve others (thank goodness, because I definitely need it!). That is what the Savior would do, right? I'll be honest, at the beginning of my mission, I saw service opportunities, at times, as inconveniences and burdens. But now, even though at times they are slightly inconvenient, it doesn't matter. I can put everything aside to serve, to help someone like He would if He were here. And you know, it feels great! On top of that, hearts are being softened as we reach out and serve them.

We had the trunk-or-treat Saturday night and got to hand out candy. (Lo and behold, guess who dressed up as a sister missionary?! Yours truly!! ha ha.) Twas super fun! A downside was that I started feeling sick on Saturday, and it's kind of gone downhill from there, but I'll be alright. 

I would say the most profound part of this week came when plans quickly and unexpectedly changed. Once upon a time, we took Anne with us (a member who recently returned to full activity) to go see some people. We stopped at the hospital to visit a member there, and we sang to her. Her IV was really messed up and a nurse came in to change it. I didn't watch because I've never been a fan of these things, but Sister Simpson did and it made her lightheaded and queasy. She sat down and was pretty pale. We finished our visit and walked out arm in arm and she made it to the car but since she wasn't feeling well at all, we decided to cancel our lesson and go home.

But most likely one of the reasons why this all happened was so Anne could show us a video on Mormon channel. I say that because it touched me (and Sister Simpson) so much. It was called "The Perfect Lie". And oh my heavens, it changed my life. No joke. Yinz definitely need to look it up and watch it! It was sooo good. The lady who spoke talked about how Satan wants you to believe that "me + more = Christlike"...but with Christ clearly on the wrong side of the equation. We can't do it by ourselves. We NEED Christ. So the true and accurate equation is "me + Christ = more". More kind, more charitable, more loving, more humble, more spiritual, more righteous, etc. We HAVE to let Christ help us become more, otherwise we won't get anywhere. This is changing my entire outlook and is an answer to so many prayers. I have made it a goal to invite Christ in more as I strive every day to be a little bit more like Him. I know it's a lifelong pursuit, but I also know that although He wants and expects us to *eventually* be like Him, He doesn't expect or want us to do it on our own. 

We also planned for exchanges this week and the theme we want to focus on. We chose the theme of "being instruments in God's hands". We especially loved this quote by Mother Theresa:

“I’m a little pencil in the hands of God. He does the thinking. He does the writing. He does everything--and it’s really hard--sometimes it’s a broken pencil. He has to sharpen it a little more. But be a little instrument in His hands so that He can use you anytime, anywhere. … We have only to say Yes to Him.”

I am excited to discover this transfer how I can be more of an effective instrument in His hands. I invite you to do the same--be someone He can work through, be someone He can count on!!

Hope yinz have a blessed week!!

"Keep loving. Keep trying. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep growing. Heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow, and forever." (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland)

All my love,

Sister Bartlett xoxo

                        Found out a house we heart attacked, they are gone
                                          until Christmas - oops!

With Sister Snow-the Bishop's wife

Best costume at the Trunk or Treat!

Gotta love the Gumball machine though!

Here is our set up, passing out Books of Mormon!

"I knew Mother Teresa".....

Hi. Hey. Hello.

It's me again.  Can you believe it's Monday?! I can't! #crazycakes

So last P-day we went with Mike and Chris Ritz to visit the Heinz History Museum. And how amazing it was!! There was so much to see!! It was one of the biggest museums I have ever been to--Cameron and Brenden: there was even a sports section--two levels of it ha ha! There was a section all on Mr. Rogers with the set and everything because (I believe) it was all filmed in Pittsburgh. 'Twas super cool. Plus they took us Primanti Brothers for dinner...mm mm good.

On Wednesday we had our zone training in Oakland. We were trained on a few things, two of which being a new Chapel Tours app they have come out with (to give church tours to investigators) and our new "standards of excellence". One thing that has been unique about our mission is we have not had these standards before. President has not created them, because he has not wanted to impose strict number goals on us and hold us to it. I have appreciated it because it is easy to be very hard on yourself when you don't meet those goals. But lately he has felt very inspired to set 3 dealing with finding, lessons, and baptizing. So as a part of MLC, he had us get into 3 groups to discuss appropriate numbers for these standards of excellence. It was a spiritual experience as we discussed these numbers and I know they were inspired. They were the same numbers he had come up with on his own as well. And the amazing thing is that I didn't feel (and still don't feel) overwhelmed coming away from it, I feel excited and motivated. It will give us something to work towards, which will be awesome!

We even played ultimate frisbee afterwards which was super fun! I hadn't played since I was in Beaver, so my skills were a little rusty. But it was still super good!!

Before President announced them in MLC, Sister Johnson gave a training on the importance of having a vision. She shared this quote which I found profound:

"Vision without effort is daydreaming, effort without vision is drudgery; but vision, coupled with effort, will obtain the prize." (President Monson)

I learned that without both effort and a vision, you won't be able to accomplish much. As I sat there pondering, the song "Be Thou My Vision" came to mind, which is one I have come to love on my mission. It was a touching reminder that He really is our vision. Everything we do, especially as missionaries, is centered on Him.

So we've been teaching this guy named Andrew. He has lots of questions and mainly they are focused on picking out what appear to be differences in the Bible and the Book of Mormon...each lesson was border-line bashing and I would come away from each lesson feeling upset and overwhelmed. Definitely not a good thing. Last weekend was an especially rough lesson. I didn't feel like I could do it anymore. But we decided to try one more time and bring Bishop Snow and his wife with us. Bishop saved the day. We talked to Andrew about our purpose as missionaries and how central to that is preparing people for baptism. He argued he had already been baptized and his other opinions about how we all have the priesthood, etc. Most of his pointed questions were at Bishop, and he took them like a champ. He kept his cool and asked Andrew lots of inspired questions--it was awesome. We left that night and I felt completely peaceful and it was wonderful. We dropped him as an investigator, but it's interesting. Dropping someone doesn't appear to be a way to help us fulfill our purpose as missionaries. But it does. Dropping someone means your putting the faith in the Lord knowing that person isn't ready yet to progress towards baptism, and that someone else is.

As we've taught him, and as I've had other experiences on my mission, by testimony has grown stronger and stronger. No matter what anyone says, I will never waver. I will never move from the truths that I know. I know that this is Christ's church on the earth today. I know that Joseph Smith really did see our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I know they spoke to him and called him to be the next prophet. I know that the priesthood of God, His very authority was brought back to the earth. I know that it is through this church and the covenants and ordinances found therein that we can progress towards eternal life. I know this church and this gospel is true! And nothing will ever shake what I know.

Later this week, we went on exchanges with the Washington sisters, and I stayed in Pitt 3rd with Sister Kelley. It's amazing because originally Sister Simpson was going to stay in P3 with Sister Kelley and I was going to leave...but we decided to change it. And it worked out exactly how it needed to. We both had experiences that we needed to have. Thursday night, I told Sister Kelley the story of my brain tumor and surgery. She then told me she needed to hear my story--that my experiences and perspective and testimony helped her so much. It was an amazing tender mercy. There have been times lately I have felt commonplace and not very needed or wanted...but that night with Sister Kelley proved otherwise. It was a very real and tangible reminder that I am needed. I am wanted. That I have experiences and gifts to offer that are unique to me. The Spirit was so strong that night, it was amazing. 

We went on an adventure yesterday...and yinz get to hear about it. We went to contact two referrals who live right next to each other. One wasn't interested and the other didn't answer the door. So we knocked on another house. A lady came to the door and said, "You know that this is a Catholic household?" She was very kind and before I knew it, she had invited us in and told us all about how she knew Mother Theresa. She showed us all these pictures she had taken of her and we talked about the need for more good, Christian people. She gave us a few pictures that she had taken and a quote her as well that we could fit into our wallets. Later Sister Simpson read 2 Nephi 25:26 that states "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." It made me think about how I am grateful for wonderful Christian people that have done a lot of good in the world, but I am most grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, who has done the most good for us. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He has provided us a way to return Home. He is our vision, our focal point, our focus. We talk of, sing of, rejoice in, preach of, prophesy of Him. I love Him with all of my heart.

I hope you have a wonderful week!! Keep on keepin' on!! LOVE YINZ!!!! ️

 "Keep loving. Keep trying. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep growing. Heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow, and forever." (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland)

With all my love,

Sister Bartlett xoxo

With Sisters McDonald and Kelley

Mother Teresa

                                 "Not all of us can do Great Things--
                                 But we can do small things with Great Love!"

The Pitt Zone!

Primanti Brother's

                                 Famous Sandwiches with Grilled Meat, Coleslaw & Fries
                                                                between Italian Bread!

At the Heinz Museum with Mr. Rogers :)