A Lot To Catch Up On...

This is just a brief update.

~Henrietta (far right) is getting baptized on May 16th!!!!! Yay! I am so incredibly excited for her, and I can really tell she is doing it because she knows it's true. I'll tell you all about it later when I get the chance.

~Also, I am no longer going into interior design. Although I loved what I was learning, I really didn't feel like it was what I was supposed to be doing. I wanted something where I could help people on a daily basis, and have normal hours, and not have to bring work home with me (which honestly is inevitable when you're a designer). So I changed to dental assisting. I am going to the American Insitute of Dental Assisting over on Power and Elliot. It is just a 13 week course, so I should be done by July 31! Yay! I am very excited about this new chapter in my life. I really feel like it is what I am supposed to be doing. My friend is doing the program with me, so it will be wonderful.

Josh's first baptism.

~Elder Crandell has been in Annapolis for the past 6 months or so, but he just got transfered to a town called Abingdon which is just North of Baltimore. He says he thinks he'll like it there. He LOVED his last area and had two baptisms while he was there. Many of the people he taught were very sad to see him go, and a lot of them cried when he said goodbye.

~ Alright, well that's it. I'm going to go to bed. I just wanted to share my exciting news with you, and just give you a little update. Love you all.

Andrea

Henrietta

Well, as many of you know, I have been trying to befriend and share the gospel with one of my schoolmates. Her name is Henrietta, and she is a very sweet girl. Last week Elder Crandell, some of my family members and I had a fast for her. I was planning on giving her a Book of Mormon yesterday, so I figured I'd ask some people to fast with me that she would be willing to accept it, and want to learn more.

Yesterday was Easter of course, and Henrietta was going to go to church with me. She texted me early yesterday morning and said that she didn't think she should go because she doesn't own a dress (she has come with me before, but just felt kind of awkward wearing pants). So she didn't come to church with me. I told one of my friends after church that I was going to start a "Buy Henrietta a Dress Fund," and he immediately got out his wallet and gave me the only cash he had. By that night I had $60 to spend on Henrietta's new dress. The Lord will provide. I was so thankful to the people in my ward who helped me out with this. Some people I don't even know personally gave money to the cause. It was an amazing experience.

Later that night I went over to Henrietta's house to give her some Easter goodies, along with a letter I had written her, a letter Josh had written for her, and The Book of Mormon. I talked to her for a minute when she answered the door and asked her about when she wanted to go dress shopping (I didn't tell her where I got the money). Her response was, well I am meeting with the missionaries at 2:00 on Tuesday, but we could go after that. What?! She was meeting with the missionaries? I didn't even know! So I asked her if it would be ok if I joined her on Tuesday, and she said she'd love to have me there. So I am going to be there with her when she meets with the missionaries for the first time. I am so excited! I have given people copies of the Book of Mormon before, but I've never actually been able to be around when they were taught. Anyway, we visited for a little longer, and after I left she sent me a few texts. She said thank you for giving her the book, and that although it may take her a while, she would read it. I was glad to hear that. She also told me that she started crying about half way through my letter to her, and that Elder Crandell had referred her to Moroni 10:3-5, but she just read the whole chapter. Later that night she sent me another text that just said, "Thank you both for the inspiration." 

It just amazes me what we can do when we put our trust in the Lord and let him take the reigns. I truly believe that I was supposed to meet Henrietta so that I could share the gospel with her. She is from Mississippi, and she lives here all alone. Everything in her life has pretty much gone wrong since she moved to Arizona, but she has stayed here for 2 years despite that fact. I am so glad I've gotten to know this wonderful girl, and be touched by her sweet spirit. I hope that she will accept the gospel, because I know it is what she needs in her life right now. I am so excited to really begin the process of teaching her about our church, and our loving Father in Heaven and Savior Jesus Christ!