Our first full week of a trio with two areas went pretty well!  I love the chance to get to know and learn from Sis Clark and Sis Nelson better-- they are great missionaries!  We were able to see people in both ward areas and we worked pretty equally in both wards.  Together we were able to teach a good number of lessons, but I hope to be able to increase the lessons taught in both areas this week.

Travis and Felicia and their son Gabe came to church this week and the ward greeted them with lots of love.  It was so good to see!  Felicia even came to our Relief Society activity this week!!  I think once they get married (the date is a surprise, but they should be getting married in the next month or so) then their baptism will follow quickly!

We were finally able to meet up with Amber last night and had a good lesson with her!  She has been coming to church for 2 months now with her friend and she's really thinking about baptism.  She was asking good questions and really is interested.  A member took both of them to the temple (to walk around) and she said it was a really special place.  I'm hoping to set a baptism date for her in our next lesson!  She is great!  It's neat because her friend who's been bringing her to church just started coming back in October.  It's neat to see how both of them are letting the gospel change their lives and helping them become better people and closer friends.

I love this gospel and I'm so grateful for the opportunities we have to grow and change and continually become better and happier people.  This gospel is true!

Dear Family and Friends,

Well this week has been a different week.  There have been lots of changes!  Sis Gotchy switched spots with Sis Reynders because Sis Reynders was sick and needed to be closer to President and hospitals.  But after a few days up here, it was determined that she would go home and recover there.  I said goodbye to two companions in 4 days!  Now I'm in limbo for the next three weeks awaiting transfers for my new companion then.  The Ward has been really supportive and will essentially be my companion as we go out and see the people in the ward.  When I'm not with a sister in the ward, I will be with the Sister missionaries that I live with covering both areas.  This will be a new adventure!

We had zone conference this week and we really saw how President Griffin is the right man to be serving here at this time.  We loved President Irion, but President Griffin will help us continue to grow and progress.  He has a lot of love for us which motivates us to be even better. 

It's been kind of crazy this week, but I know that the Lord is in this work and will help us make everything work. 

Thanks for all your love and support!

Emily with the Knoxville County Mayor

 

Emily got to help serve food at the Knoxville County Mayor's birthday party at the VA

Hello dear family and friends!

 

Life is good in Knoxville!  I'm starting to get a better grip on our area and am meeting all the people here.  I can now drive to the library and to church without the gps and without getting lost! 

 

We met a lot of new investigators this week which has been a blessing!  After a lesson we were heading to our car at 8:45 pm and Sis Gotchy saw a lady outside talking to her kids so we went over.  By the time we got over there, she had walked into her back yard.  We didn't want to be creepy and follow her back there,so we stood awkwardly on her driveway for 30 seconds trying to decide what to do when she came back to the front!  We talked with her and said she would love to talk with us and that she really needed God in her life.  When we back on Sunday to see Alicia, we had a great lesson with her and committed her to be baptized!  She is so prepared for the gospel!  The only problem is that she's moving to another stake on Friday.  So we won't be the ones to get to see her through to baptism, but we're all on God's team working to bring our brothers and sisters back to Christ! 

There's a part member family--Travis and Felicia--that missionaries have been working with since at least November.  They are moving slowly, but are still progressing.  We had a good lesson with them and their kids-- Isis, Tristin, and Gabe.  The kids are so ready!  Their parents are coming along too :)   They are having a hard time setting a date for baptism, but we talk about it all the time and it's something they really want to do so they can be sealed one day.  They came to church this Sunday for the first time in a few months!!! They only stayed for sacrament meeting, but baby steps are good!  I have a good feeling about this family and know that once they get everything sorted out, they will be a strong family in the gospel and great influence for good. 

I know that Heavenly Father is in the details of our lives and that He loves all of us, His children, unconditionally.  I'm so grateful for the gospel and for the chance I have to share it with others!

Emily's new place in the Pellissippi area of Knoxville

The porch of her new place

Reading scriptures on the back of a truck

I love my new area!  I'm back in Knoxville in the Pellissippi ward.  My companion is Sis Gotchy and she goes home in 6 weeks so I need to work hard to figure everything out soon!  Sis Gotchy is wonderful!  I love her!  We have already had so many miracles in finding people this last week.  This is going to be a wonderful transfer! 

There are so many new people to talk about, and I just don't have time!  But there are lots of great people who have been prepared to receive the gospel right now.  We feel so blessed!  I really want Sis Gotchy's last transfer to be a great one so we are working really hard and feeling the Lord's hand guiding us.  I know that this transfer was inspired and that I'm supposed to be here.  I love being a missionary!

District in Abingdon

Gospel Principal's class in Abingdon

Emily, HG and Sister Cox