Crazy, Amazing week! It was so awesome. Funny thing; looking back over the week we had a lot of really hard things happen, but it was still amazing! There were a lot of really sad things that happened this last week with investigators and members. As missionaries sometimes it feels like we have a stamp on our forehead that says "tell me all your problems in every detail and I will solve them!" That's basically what happens even though we don't want to know and don't need to know everything. We had to witness and hear some very sad things, but the amazing thing was is that it truly was all swallowed up in the love of the Lord. We didn't get down and we were able to help them feel the spirit and be directed to the Lord. So cool.

First off: we have started cleaning up the yard for a couple we tracted into named Kathleen and Terry. They have major health problems and so their lawn has not been mowed or taken care of in years. So Sister Haws and I have had the wonderful opportunity to put on jeans and start raking. It has been so fun. There are so many leaves! In one area they went past my knees! It's a fun project that we'll get to keep doing. They said they're not interested in the church, but hopefully we'll be able to love them into at least listening to us :)

Sad story :( we did a Church Tour with Steve the guy that was going to be baptized. We were so excited because the last lesson we had with him he was super excited to be baptized and understood everything. The church tour was a complete 180. All he would talk about was his job and he acted like we had come to his house and forced him to be here. He got so rude at one point that the members wanted to leave. It was so sad! Then he started going off on how he doesn't think that 3 hours on a Sunday is worth his time. Wow. We're going to have to DTR (Dad that means Determine the Relationship) with him and see if he really is interested in the church or just getting a job.

Lopez family: we finally dropped the Lopez family. It was so sad and so hard. We didn't invite the Ramos' to come because we didn't want to make it too awkward and we were hoping the kids wouldn't be there. But... the Lopez's invited the Ramos' and the entire family was there! We both almost started to cry. Baby Justin just started to walk and kept trying to climb on us, Maria wanted to show us all these things she had done. Everybody was laughing and having a good time and we were dying inside! We finally explained to them that we had given them all the tools they needed, that they knew all the things they needed to do and now we just had to let them fly on their own. Maria then said "are you trying to tell us that you're not going to come around anymore?" Yep. It was sad, but they understood why and what they needed to do and the Ramos' are going to continue to be their friends and go by. Hopefully they'll be able to choose on their own now and exercise that faith.

Lamberto y Mari (newly weds): didn't get to meet much with them this week. They stood us up for church again and they haven't been reading. Sad story, but we may have to drop them too. So hard and so heartbreaking! We've come to love these people so much and we know that they have felt the spirit and know that this is the truth, they just won't do anything about it!

Julie Mott: she was our miracle investigator for the week. She works in the stake president's office and is surrounded by tons of Mormons. We taught her for the first time and she is so golden! We're so excited for her. She already acts and lives like a Mormon and her two sons go to scouts. Now we just have to get her baptized :)

We learned a ton about parenting this week too. We watched a family with 3 little boys lose complete control of them and react to them in crazy ways. Then we were at dinner when a little boy walked into the room balancing ketchup on his plate asking for help to pour it. The ketchup fell of his plate and exploded all over the white carpet, my skirt, and the ceiling. Instead of reacting and being very upset both parents very calmly asked him if he thought that was the best way to carry in the ketchup and then asked what he thinks he should do in the future. Then they all calmly cleaned up the floor and said "oh well we'll just have to get out the cleaning supplies." It was so amazing to me! I probably would have freaked out, but they knew that teaching their son in that moment and loving him was more important then what happened with the ketchup. So cool!

We had amazing miracles happen yesterday! First off a certain challenge had come up over the week in our Zone. We were all very worried about it and president Palmer asked the entire zone to fast with him on Sunday to know what to do. About an hour after ending our fast we found out that everything was okay and that the challenge had been resolved! It was the neatest thing ever! We had been praying all week and finally after prayer and fast we received the good news! I truly have a testimony of fasting and prayer.

Guess who came to church?! Brother McManus! He finally went to the family ward with his entire family! He has been going to the singles ward in the afternoon so he could sleep after working the night shift, but he finally came and he brought his in-active son! We were so excited and so was the whole family! We also had 4 other less-active families come that we have been working with and Garrett Minske got the priesthood! It was such a good day. We may not have had any investigators come, but so many less-actives. It was such a neat thing to witness and everyone of them commented on how good it felt to be back and that they want to keep coming back. It was so great! Garrett's mom mentioned earlier how she was really nervous for Garrett to go on a mission. She asked us how our parents reacted to us leaving. Haha those were some fun stories to tell. She realized that most parents have a hard time sending off missionaries, but they know it's right for them and for their kids. Garrett is such a great example to his older siblings, his mom, and all his friends. He is going to change his family forever, he's so great.

It was truly a day filled with Easter miracles. It was so great to hear everyone's testimonies on Christ and see everyone truly turning to the Lord and remembering him in everything. And don't worry, Mom and Grandma, we had an amazing Easter feast at a member's house and then the McManus's had us over for pie. They gave me a lemon meringue pie! Heaven for the mouth :)

It was a hard week this week, but it was a true testimony to me that when we turn to the Lord all our problems truly can be swallowed up in His love. Everything we have is from the Lord. We can do nothing without Him. I know that He is our Lord, Savior, Redeemer and friend. I love Him and love to know Him better. I love watching His love and Atonement touch the lives of so many around me. Nothing can be better than serving the Lord. I am so blessed to be able to do this every single day.

I love you all and hope you had a wonderful Easter day. Love the Lord :)

Love
Sister Probst