We went for a drive last Sunday evening to check out a place that we found out about when the owner called with a request for an accountant. There is an actually lake, only about 15 minutes away, that not even many of the local people even know about. We definitely need to find time to go back and go on the horse drawn wagon ride that looks like it goes around at least part of the lake. We saw some very small deer that looked like they were not any bigger than a special dog we know by the name of Taz. We also saw buffalo and are curious as to what else we might see. There is a restaurant there and so many fish that loved the fish food the children were throwing out to them. It was in a setting quite different than the mountains and pine trees we know and love, but was very beautiful none-the-less.

We had Stake Conference today, which was the first since the Stakes split. The message throughout was on building faith in Jesus Christ and strengthening families. We were so blessed by being there. Also, three members that had recently gone to the temple in San Antonio bore their testimonies and were each unique and special. I share one about Jesse, who is hearing impaired, and how he had miracles happen for him and his wife to be able to go. Someone provided a vehicle for him and someone else gave a gift card for gas which was enough to get there. He didn't know how they would get the money for gas to return home but decided to exercise faith and go anyway. When it came to return home, someone, without them knowing who, gave them money in an envelope. We all felt a beautiful spirit of what this gospel is all about; serving one another. President Chandler had wonderful counsel for us and promised us that if we humbly prepared ourselves and listened to General Conference, that answers would come to help us in whatever trial we were experiencing. I am so grateful for how much we are loved.

I thoroughly enjoyed Elder Holland's talk in the Ensign on Lessons from Liberty Jail. I heard this particular time referred to by another person as being a "prison temple" and this article explained it so well. I shared one part of it with an investigator when we went with the Sisters, that really opened my heart even more. "Jesus experienced everything that the entire family of man had experienced and would experience in order that we would not have to face them so severly or so deeply. However heavy our load might be, it would be a lot heavier if the Savior had not gone that way before us and carried that burden with us and for us. In our moments of pain and trial, I guess we would shudder to think it could be worse, but without the Atonement it not only could be worse, it would be worse." We are visiting again on Monday and pray she will commit to baptism this time.

I am so grateful for the experiences we are having and how we are growing stronger in our marriage through this commitment to serve this mission. We are so tired at the end of a long day but are always renewed to do it again the next day. The Lord truly blesses us!

With love,
Los Averys