THE BURCHS CAME TO CHURCH AND MERCEDES GOT CONFIRMED:)

 October 1, 2013

So, I totally thought about both Kaleb and Ashy this week! We are teaching a lady named Marlena who just moved here from Jersey about a year ago, and I took a lady through the jail that was visiting from Japan and she was from Fukuoka (or however you spell it)! Isn't that so cool?!

 Well Mama, I was thinking about you all day on Sunday. I'm so glad you had such a happy day! September 29th, 2013 was such an incredible day! Mercedes was confirmed (she couldn't be confirmed the Sunday after her baptism because we had stake conference) and she bore her testimony in sacrament meeting! She is the coolest, seriously! She started her testimony off by saying, " I know this church is true because I've never been so prompted to fight for something so much." She's obsessed with the Book of Mormon now too! We met with her last week for our BOM book club and she's been marking it and writing notes in it and is just loving it. She texts us about every other day wanting more chapters to read. This girl's on fire! I was talking to her "parents" (the Emmett's in our ward) and they have been wanting her to move out the past few months so she can learn to be out on her own, but they now feel strongly that they need to let her stay there for a while so she can continue to grow spiritually. Bro. Emmett told Sis. Emmett that he thinks Heavenly Father has big things in store for Mercedes coming up in the next year or so, maybe a mission. So she is doing wonderful and I love her so much!

     The other amazing thing that happened on Sept. 29th, was that THE BURCHS CAME TO CHURCH! We found out they haven't been to church in over 24 years. Part of the reason they committed to come (or I should say John committed to come) is because we are pretty sure last Sunday was mine and Sister Rackham's last Sunday together. :( Transfers are this Thursday and I'm pretty sure we will be parting because I got a training call so I will most likely be training a new missionary again. I'm really sad because I love this girl. We get along so well and everyone says we work so well together. I will miss her dearly if she leaves, but we'll be at BYU together so I'm excited about that. She has seriously helped me learn and grow so much. I will forever be grateful that Heavenly Father let me serve with her. She's incredible! Who knows though, it's not a for sure thing that we'll be parting until tonight when we get transfer calls. But anyway, enough about that, back to the Burchs! Words cannot describe how amazing it was to see them at church. They got to partake of the sacrament for the first time in 24 years!  We are planning on doing FHE with them and the MacDonalds tomorrow and then watching conference with them this weekend. When we were at the VC with them and we were at the temple kiosk. Sister Rackham and I told them we were coming back for their sealing and they both were like, "Really?!" So we know it will happen with a little more time. We just have to be patient! They're also going to go to a family in our wards house to watch a Packer game I think this week. They're also from Wisconsin so we got them talking and now they have more friends! Fellowship is so important!

     I absolutely love it here! I love this ward so much! Nothing will ever compare to the ward I grew up in, but this is a close second. They feel just like family. I can't wait for you guys to meet them! We definitely have places we can stay when you come!

     So, quick spiritual thought. I just finished reading the Doctrine and Covenants today and last night I read a verse that meant so much to me. It is D&C 136:31, "My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom." As I have been serving here at the jail, I've thought a lot about the Missouri Era and why all of these things had to happen to the saints and I feel like this scripture answers that question perfectly. Without Missouri, the Saints would have never been prepared for Nauvoo and the long trek to Utah. I wish I could express to you guys what a deep love I have developed for the prophet and the early saints as I have been here. I am so grateful that the Lord places things in our path that try us and in turn mold us into the people we need to be. As we go through these times, the Lord is building Zion within us. I love you guys so much and hope you have such a wonderful week!

love always,

               Hermana Jorgensen

1. Studying my Escrituras!

2. We took the Burchs to the Visitor Center in Independence on Friday! It was so great. They treated us to Culvers before.