Hello Everyone! 

We had a fun week!  On Tuesday we exchanged with the Rockwood Sisters and I always have a great time with Sis Benge!  The three of us (me, Sis Benge, Sis Ramon) were able to teach together so powerfully and had great experiences together.  It was neat :)  We were so blessed this week to find 9 new people to teach!  We are hopeful that they will continue to meet with us and that we can help them progress. 

This picture is with Elder Thomas who knew Jon in the MTC!  Such a small world!  (Do you like my new shirt?  it says "I run like a girl try and keep up" I love it!)

This picture is at transfers with my two mission daughters Sis Cox and Sis Ramon :)  I love these two! 

Sorry we didn't write on Monday or Tuesday-- we were on exchanges w ith our sisters and they had emailed on Monday so you get to hear from me today!  Hope you weren't too worried!  It's SO good having Sister Echols back!  And guess what?  Sis Little is living in our house now!  It's so fun to see her again!  It was almost a year ago when we served together in Abingdon, and it's fun to see what a wonderful person she is again :)  She is helping her companion so much!  

We had a lot of fun with Aunt Betsy-- it was so sweet of her to have us over for breakfast on Monday.  I'm so grateful for the chance I have to see her as often as I do!  

We had zone training meeting today and Sis Echols and I got to do a training at that.  We were training about vision, goals, and plans.  I love talking about goal setting and we had a lot of fun.  Afterwards we played volleyball as a zone and I have gotten a lot better at it in the last 6 months!  I need to play on an intermural team when I get home to keep up my skills ;)  Yesterday on exchanges we were able to find 5 new investigators.  That NEVER happens!  It was such a blessing!! We were able to teach quite a few lessons too and taught in unity even though the three of us had only been together for the day.  It's amazing how the spirit helps us as we are doing the Lord's work!  

Love you all so much!!! 

Emily with Sister Echols

I love to see pictures of my children playing the piano:)

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been a really good one!  We've been able to have several members come out with us this week which always makes a big difference.  It helps the Spirit be so much stronger in our lessons having another voice to testify of the truth!  I love the members in our ward so much and I'm happy I get to stay with them another six weeks :)  I don't know how I'm going to be able to leave this ward!

We had Mission Leadership Council this week so I got to see a lot of dear friends.  I always enjoy getting together to discuss what we can do to help our friends in the mission.  President Griffin is always helping us strive to reach our full potential and to help those in our circle of influence come closer to Christ.  It's neat to have this opportunity to serve in another way.  

This week I've been trying to pray more specifically.  It's been so neat to see how Heavenly Father has answered those prayers.  Some of them are little things, but some of them are a lot bigger.  One of our investigators we've been meeting with on and off for the last 6 months has never read from the Book of Mormon.  But this week, he told us that he's been reading AND praying!  Such a miracle!  He and his family are doing things at their own pace, but they are definitely progressing as they have been coming to Sacrament each week and are working on marriage plans.

I know this is the Lord's work and that He answers our prayers!  

Dear Family and Friends,

Happy New Year!  I always enjoy a new beginning-- a time to relect on what's happened and what's to come! It was fun to go to ward council yesterday and feel the renewed excitement and enthusiasm they have to help the ward continue to move forward and help further the Lord's work in this little corner of the vineyard right here in the Pellissippi ward.  I'm excited for the part my companion and I will play. 

Yesterday we had so many people at church!  For investigators, we had Travis and Felicia and their kids Gabe and Isis who came for Sacrament meeting. Bethany- David's wife came for Sunday School and Sacrament meeting.  For not so active members, the Marshalls came along with Julie Kennedy! We've been inviting Julie to church since August. With the new time at 10:30, I think a lof of people are more willing to come :)

We had a neat opportunity to teach this week a little unexpectedly.  A man came to fix our laundry room (it flooded last P-Day) and he could tell that we were missionaries (the name tag, the picutres of Christ kind of give it away).  Before he left I invited him to church.  He said he just moved and was looking for a new church.  It's great how the Lord puts people in our paths!