Beaches and Bob

Hello!!!! 

Happy Easter everyone!!!

This week has flown by. We had exchanges TWICE ths week! Stay tuned for some awesome pictures if I can figure out how to send them!! For the first exchange Sister Fowers and I were in the Camarillo YSA sister's area. They cover Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, and Ojai! We stayed in Oxnard for the day though. Sister Pace (My favorite MTC comp) is in that area and we got to be companions again! Because there were four of us (Sister Pace, me, Sister Fowers, and the other Sister Fowers) we had two companionships and only one car. We asked the assistants if we could borrow their bikes for the day and just like that I became a biking missionary!! It was soooo much fun! We talked to everyone along the way which you can't do in a car and it was waay faster than walking! President is thinking of transitioning the sisters to be driving and biking and I'm all for it!!

Later that day we went out for dinner because it was the other Sister Fowers' 18th month mark! She goes home this transfer with Sister Wynder. After we tracted this strip of houses that literally backed onto the beach. Their side and back yards were THE BEACH. We never get to see the ocean in Thousand Oaks so it was really cool.  

The exchange in our area on Saturday was less exciting. We saw miracles though!! We tracted into some new potentials and were able to get a lot done!! 

We started teaching this man named Bob. He is in his 80s (we think) and we found him in the craziest way! The YSA Sisters were told by a member in our area to go do some service for this lady Lisa. We soon found out that Lisa was not at all interested in the gospel but would let us serve her. We went a few times to weed her yard and then she told us  that her dad could probably use some service too. We went over to her Dad's house and met her Dad...Bob!! We helped him with his housework and started talking about faith. We asked if he would like to learn more and he said YES!! We helped him download the Book of Mormon APP so he could listen to it n his IPad. He is already through 2 Nephi 30!! He is a miracle and he is excited to learn!

This Sunday was Easter Sunday. It is a day to remember the Savior and what he did for us. This is one of my favorite verses that tells of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It is Alma 7:11-12 and it says:

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

Christ came to this earth willingly. He  knows what we experience in this life because he too experienced those things while in the garden of Gethsemane. He is the great mediator that makes it possible for the laws of justice and mercy to both be satisfied. He will never leave us friendless or hopeless. He is a friend and he is hope. I am so grateful for the Savior and what he did for me and for you. We can use his infinite gift to grow closer to our Heavenly Father and too eventually reach our divine potential. 

I love you all!! Happy Easter!

Love, Sister Hadden.