"How great is my calling!": Get ready to see the work explode!

Props to the GenCon camera man who found that kid with his mouth hanging WIDE open in that announcement! Loved it! Yeah, that was INCREDIBLE, Sister DeRuvo and I were punching each other and freaking out during conference, and trying to hold super still and not alarm our investigator. Awkward thing to do. But it was amazing because I was trying to figure out why that made me SO happy when it didn't affect me at all. I decided it was just that I was excited to see more missionaries go out because I knew the numbers were about to jump. It didn't even OCCUR to me it might be because Erin was deciding to go! I did write down all my advice to her about how to decide to go in case she asked, but I thought she would be in a huge inner debate. Guess I grossly underestimated the Spirit!

Seriously though, that's amazing that boys can now go at 18 and girls can go at 19. The Lord must be ready to have his full number of missionaries out- there must be some prepared areas! Get ready to see the work explode!

Yes, I watched the district before my mission-and every day on it during companion study. You should have taped it so I could watch it when I get back too :)

This General Conference amazed me so much. Our investigator, John, came to the first session and was so touched he left in tears. It was awesome. And Elder Holland of course didn't disappoint in my expectations to have my soul burned- man! I really feel the Lord is extending a wake up call to the members of His church. He has a work to be done and he does not want us sitting around not doing it. I LOVED when he paraphrased the conversation between Jesus and Peter "Do you love me? Then why are we here Peter? Why are we having this same conversation on this same lake? If I need fish, I can get fish! What I need is disciples!" Goes perfectly with the call for more missionaries, and the constant theme of needing to serve others. Mom, I thought about you alot during it and abut how it must be giving you so many answers to your life right now, so it's cool to hear that's exactly what happened.

This week was again fantastic. John and Jody are both doing so well, Jody can't wait to be baptized but it looks like he'll have to- an 8 year old boy is being baptized the same day so we may push his date back a week to the 28th. John has a date but for far off in the future, he feels it's far to soon to commit. I didn't tell him last time an investigator told me that he was baptized a month sooner than his date :) I'm definitely planning on the Spirit working on John similarly, people often feel like baptism is too large a commitment to plan on anytime soon but the truth is when we're sincerely repenting and building faith we desire to be baptized- after all, it's the first fruit of repentance! You can't fight it for too long.

Canadian Thanksgiving is not quite as great as American Thanksgiving-most people had about 5 dishes on the table, not 10- but it seems to be celebrated over a 3 day period so that was fun. Also, since it's Sister DeRuvo's first Thanksgiving ever I'm introducing her to stuffing and left over turkey sandwiches. YES!

Okay I got a billion emails this week so I gotta try to answer them/ print some off to respond to. But I love you tons! OH and i got my birthday stuff! Mom I died at the Spanish birthday card, loved it! Thank you so much for the scarf, I am SO excited to have 2 to choose from this winter! And the cds are more appreciated than I can say. Pretty much it was the perfect box :) Thanks! Love you! Have a great week!

Pictures of the week:

With my new Bimba DeRuvo (Italian for Baby DeRuvo)