Week 11 in Sarasota

 Picture with Justin at the temple

Picture with Justin at the "Why I Believe" fireside

This is Elder Menlove's last full week. It's crazy!!! He's working hard and it will be sad to see him go next week but I've absolutely loved serving with him. I'm ready for some amazing miracles this week. We had another "Why I Believe" fireside at the Brandon Stake Center. It was awesome! The spirit was super strong. The University Park missionaries promised their investigator that if he came he would get his answer. We got a call that he did!! Crazy!! He is looking good for baptism this week! Awesome miracle!!! Another miracle happened with the Beneva Elders and a part member family. The wife has been investigating the church for almost 6 years and they had dropped her. They attended a sealing of a couple of the Beneva branch. After the sealing the wife felt she now was the time. So she was baptized and is looking forward to being sealed to her family a year from now. I love how the Lord is working in so many lives! 

We had a great week! We got a text from a man we haven't seen for several weeks. He was apologetic about being so busy and said he has a schedule for reading the scriptures daily. We should be meeting with him soon! We got in contact with several families this week and have lessons planned with them tonight and tomorrow. I'm excited to see where things are headed! The Lord is definitely hastening the work in this area and the entire mission. How grateful I am for that. 

There was a policy change the weekend before last about temple attendance and we were given the opportunity to go with Justin Jacques and the Elders Quorum President to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. It was his first time going so it was super spiritual! Also huge miracle because Elder Menloves birthday just happened that same day they were planning on going to the temple. We got there and there just happened to be a member of the Ward there. It was a huge miracle because it was someone Justin new. The member wasn't planning on going because he usually goes on Fridays but felt like he should go Saturday instead. The spirit was very strong and during Ward council as the Elders quorum President testified of the spirit he felt as he went. The rest of the ward council was very excited to getting involved in the missionary efforts. Justin started his family history two weekends ago and is already 7 generations back on two sides! I'm so grateful for the member who helped him get to that point. Justin is amazing! He's been working hard!

What a blessing it is to be serving the Lord! I'm glad things are going so well!! 

I hope you have a great birthday!! I love you so much!

Elder Hale