I LOVE being a missionary!! What a week!!!

Mum, Pops, Sib(ling)s, and Fwends!:)

Hey hey hey!!!! So you know how I love being a missionary? oh, well....I DO!!!! SOOOO MUCH!!!!:) and you know what else I love??? All of YOU!!! eyup. everyone. todos personas. :) (*side note to life: it's been a long time since I took Spanish back in high school, and I dunno if that's right. no judging if it's not...;)) You're all just my favorite! I've learned so much from every single one of you, and I love that I am continuing to learn from people I meet out here on the streets every day! Because we don't have a car, we're able to talk with LOTS of people on the streets each day and share with them the BEAUTIFUL message of the restored Gospel, simply by talking with people this week, I've learned how to be kinder, how to just be a friend to people passing by, how to speak a little slower (you all know I talk fast, alright. I'm learning...:)), and we've also learned that our smiles to people change their day. I mean, I've heard stories of that happening, but never really thought much of it. But on Monday night, S. Messer and I were contacting near our home and were talking to lots of people who didn't really want to talk with us. Even if we were turned down rather quickly, we still smiled and wished them a good evening. We then crossed the street and met a man named Lloyd. Lloyd is from Jamaica and lit up when we told him we had a message about Jesus Christ that could bless his life. He told us that he never goes outside and talks to people because most people, he thinks, aren't very nice and they never show a kind gesture. So when he saw us talking to people and smiling it up, he wanted to talk with us!:) We got his information and have taught him twice this week, the Restoration and the Gospel of Jesus Christ!!!:) He keeps telling us that God is the reason he has what he has in this day and that he wants to be baptized, if he gets the answer that it's true!!!! Needless to say, we were rather THRILLED at this response and invited him to be baptized on March 3rd! He said he would if he got the answer, but he wanted to pray about it first before he makes any promises!!! WAHOO!!! We know it's just a matter of time before we visit him or he calls us up to let us know how he felt!!!:) Moral of the story; smile. because it could possibly be an instrument in changing ones salvation. :) We have another appointment with him this week so I'll let you know how that goes!
As for the rest of the week, we got canceled quite a few times with our appointments, but instead of getting down on ourselves, we visited the less actives and recent converts in the ward!!:) We were able to visit 8 of them this week, and are trying to hard to help them come back to church to again feel that Spirit in their homes and in their lives. They are all SOOO kind, but we keep hearing that "I just stopped going and got lazy with my reading and praying, so I don't know if it's true anymore" from most of them, so we're challenging them to begin praying and reading the scriptures daily with their families, and they were pretty willing, so we'll see how that goes, eh?:) The people in this ward are all so kind, so our goal is to get them to be involved in supporting each other, cause we know that will help the less actives TREMENDOUSLY!!!:) It takes time and effort. and patience, of course. :)

Well, I'm ready to jump into....QUESTION TIME!!!!:)

1.  How did Maria's talk with her son go?
In her words, "It went much better than I thought it would. I thought he'd be angry, but he was very gentle and accepting." so THANK YOU for your prayers on her behalf, it helped so much! The only thing is now, we think her son brought up some questions about the Church that she's allowing to sway her faith. She keeps saying she's very wishy-washy and that "one moment, it's true, and another, I just don't know anymore..." We're trying to help her recognize the truth that she has already gotten a few times, and that Heavenly Father wants her to trust Him, and we're praying that she'll continue to want to find out, but she is swayed quite easily by what people say about the Church. When we invited her to be baptized at the end of February (she's been taking lessons since November with previous missionaries) she said that it was too soon, and that she might in June. So we invited her to pray about Feb 24 specifically to see what the Lord has planned for her, and so we'll see what happens there. Please keep her in your prayers, as she needs to hear the testimonies and support of many people right now!! Thanks, lovelies!:)

2.  Charles.....?
Sadly, He's having some issues with his ex-wife and kids and doesn't feel like he has time right now, so we told him we'd still check up on him in the future, but he doesn't feel like he can't keep visiting with us right now. He'll be a kingdom builder for sure for some future missionaries!:)

3.  Sheila....?
Sheila was another one of those who canceled on us. She's having issues with ex-husband and custody of her kids, but she is willing to meet with us on Tuesday. She says she's sporadic on her praying and reading cause she doesn't have much time, but we're trying to help her out and feel the Spirit as she does so!

4.  Other investigators....?
We had some potential appointments this past week that fell through but we have a few lined up for this week so I'll let ya know soon!:)

5.  Seeing as I so enjoyed your Most Embarrassing Moment recap last week, is there another one for this week? :0)
hahaha....well I think I'm destined to get soaked once a week out here for the rest of the mission. our drains in our bathroom and kitchen got backed-up somehow, and so we couldn't use those or the dishwasher because it would raise up the water. So we had this brilliant idea to plunge it out with our plunger. bad idea when you don't clog one side of the drain because when we plunged, old faithful exploded out of the other side of our sink. I got drenched in nasty pasta sauce water (along with other food items haha) and we dropped on the floor laughing!! Because S. Messer brought up all her energy into that little plunge and shot up SOOO much water!!! haha ya know, there really isn't a day that goes by that we don't laugh at least 15 different times. I just love it so much!!!:):):)

6.  Best spiritual "ah-ha" moment of the week...
mmm there were SOO many! But my favorite one was in Sacrament meeting yesterday, we had ward Conference and our stake president told a story about his mentally disabled little brother, who, when he was 3, pulled out a picture book of the Savior and pointed at Him saying "Gia" and smiling. and no one in the family had yet taught him who that was, but they could tell that he somehow remembered who that Man was. It just made me think of what is truly important in this life, and what isn't. God knows who we are and what we need to go through in order to grow. I was reading in Jacob 5 about the Olive Tree and how the Lord of the vineyard knows what to do to spare his trees, because "it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard". God knows what I'm experiencing. God knows what you're experiencing, and God knows you can get through it. But not alone, of course. When you question why God gave you a specific challenge or put you in a place that doesn't make sense, remember what the Lord said to the servant in verse 22; "Counsel me not; I knew that it was a poor spot of ground; wherefore, I said unto thee, I have nourished it this long time, and thou beholdest that it hath brought forth much fruit." God knows what will allow you to bring forth much fruit, He needs you to simply trust in him and keep on going!! :)

7.  How was Zone Conference?
INCREDIBLE!!!! We talked about the nature of prayer and helping investigators understand the importance of it and the role it plays in conversion. We did some role plays and had a fantastic spiritual experience!! Ah! I just love missionary work!:) Oh yes, and I got a splendid package from my wonderful mother!!!:):):) LOVE YOU!!!!

8.  Did you receive your "Green-y Package" that I had sent to the Mission Home?
I did!!!! funny side note, though. when I opened it and saw everything Green, I hadn't read the note yet and assumed it was a St. Patrick's Day parcel, and was curious how my mother could have mixed up her holidays!!!!???:) haha but then I read the note and saw Green-y. eyup. I am sorry I doubted you!!! You're so clever, madre!!!:) THANK YOU!!!

9. What have you learned the most from Sister Messer?
what HAVEN'T I learned from her!?!? haha probably how to teach with simplicity!!! It is so great listening to her teach and learning from her!!! I just love her kind of a lot. :)

10. Did you meet Sister Scott YET?!?
on the phone, yes! How cute is she??? Next big conference or transfers I'll meet her, for sure!:)

11. Any message you'd like me to give the soon-to-be-married Kristi Vogelsberg?
Oh my goodness, congratulations Kristi!!!! I got your invitation this past week and you are absolutely ADORABLE!!!!:) Best of wishes on your day!!! I'll be praying for you!:) LOVE YOU!!!

12. Specific messages for anyone else?
SPECIFICALLY to EACH one of you; I love you. so. much. (!) :)

Well, my dear friends, I am out of time! But I love you all so much and hope you have a SPLENDID week! (ps my P-Day is Tuesday next week so expect a letter then, not on Monday!) other than that, know that I KNOW this Gospel to be true! The Book of Mormon is a real and true book and increases my testimony of our God and Savior each and every day!!!! It's true my lovelies!!! but don't take my word for it, find out for yourself! You only get out what you put in! tis true. :) LOVE YOU ALL!!! until next week...

Love for now and eternity,
Sister Janelle De Groot:)

READ Jacob 5: it's a good one! :)  (see below)

Picture: the craziest snow storm yet!:)

Missionary Invitation #4: get the number of the local missionaries in your area, put that number on a pass along card, and give it to someone you introduce to the gospel. Just open your mouth a little this week, help the missionaries out a bit, and change someone's life!:) 

Jacob 5:

 1 Behold, my brethren, do ye not remember to have read the words of the prophet ^aZenos, which he spake unto the house of Israel, saying:

 2 Hearken, O ye house of Israel, and hear the words of me, a prophet of the Lord.

 3 For behold, thus saith the Lord, I will liken thee, O house of^aIsrael, like unto a tame ^bolive tree, which a man took and nourished in his ^cvineyard; and it grew, and waxed old, and began to ^ddecay.

 4 And it came to pass that the master of the vineyard went forth, and he saw that his olive tree began to decay; and he said: I will^aprune it, and dig about it, and nourish it, that perhaps it may shoot forth young and tender branches, and it perish not.

 5 And it came to pass that he ^apruned it, and digged about it, and nourished it according to his word.

 6 And it came to pass that after many days it began to put forth somewhat a little, young and tender branches; but behold, the main ^atop thereof began to perish.

 7 And it came to pass that the master of the vineyard saw it, and he said unto his ^aservant: It grieveth me that I should lose this tree; wherefore, go and pluck the branches from a ^bwild olive tree, and bring them hither unto me; and we will pluck off those main branches which are beginning to wither away, and we will cast them into the fire that they may be burned.

 8 And behold, saith the Lord of the vineyard, I take ^aaway many of these young and tender branches, and I will graft them^bwhithersoever I will; and it mattereth not that if it so be that the root of this tree will perish, I may preserve the fruit thereof unto myself; wherefore, I will take these young and tender branches, and I will graft them whithersoever I will.

 9 Take thou the branches of the wild olive tree, and graft them in, in the ^astead thereof; and these which I have plucked off I will cast into the fire and burn them, that they may not cumber the ground of my vineyard.

 10 And it came to pass that the servant of the Lord of the vineyard did according to the word of the Lord of the vineyard, and grafted in the branches of the ^awild olive tree.

 11 And the Lord of the vineyard caused that it should be digged about, and pruned, and nourished, saying unto his servant: It grieveth me that I should lose this tree; wherefore, that perhaps I might preserve the roots thereof that they perish not, that I might preserve them unto myself, I have done this thing.

 12 Wherefore, go thy way; watch the tree, and nourish it, according to my words.

 13 And these will I ^aplace in the nethermost part of my vineyard, whithersoever I will, it mattereth not unto thee; and I do it that I may preserve unto myself the natural branches of the tree; and also, that I may lay up fruit thereof against the season, unto myself; for it grieveth me that I should lose this tree and the fruit thereof.

 14 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard went his way, and hid the natural ^abranches of the tame olive tree in the nethermost parts of the vineyard, some in one and some in another, according to his will and pleasure.

 15 And it came to pass that a long time passed away, and the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant: Come, let us go down into the vineyard, that we may ^alabor in the vineyard.

 16 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard, and also the servant, went down into the vineyard to labor. And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: Behold, look here; behold the tree.

 17 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard looked and beheld the tree in the which the wild olive branches had been grafted; and it had sprung forth and begun to bear ^afruit. And he beheld that it was good; and the fruit thereof was like unto the natural fruit.

 18 And he said unto the servant: Behold, the branches of the wild tree have taken hold of the moisture of the root thereof, that the root thereof hath brought forth much strength; and because of the much strength of the root thereof the wild branches have brought forth tame fruit. Now, if we had not grafted in these branches, the tree thereof would have perished. And now, behold, I shall lay up much fruit, which the tree thereof hath brought forth; and the fruit thereof I shall lay up against the season, unto mine own self.

 19 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant: Come, let us go to the nethermost part of the vineyard, and behold if the natural branches of the tree have not brought forth much fruit also, that I may lay up of the fruit thereof against the season, unto mine own self.

 20 And it came to pass that they went forth whither the master had hid the natural branches of the tree, and he said unto the servant: Behold these; and he beheld the ^afirst that it had ^bbroughtforth much fruit; and he beheld also that it was good. And he said unto the servant: Take of the fruit thereof, and lay it up against the season, that I may preserve it unto mine own self; for behold, said he, this long time have I nourished it, and it hath brought forth much fruit.

 21 And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: How comest thou hither to plant this tree, or this branch of the tree? For behold, it was the poorest spot in all the land of thy vineyard.

 22 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto him: Counsel me not; I knew that it was a poor spot of ground; wherefore, I said unto thee, I have nourished it this long time, and thou beholdest that it hath brought forth much fruit.

 23 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant: Look hither; behold I have planted another branch of the tree also; and thou knowest that this spot of ground was poorer than the first. But, behold the tree. I have nourished it this long time, and it hath brought forth much fruit; therefore, gather it, and lay it up against the season, that I may preserve it unto mine own self.

 24 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said again unto his servant: Look hither, and behold another ^abranch also, which I have planted; behold that I have nourished it also, and it hath brought forth fruit.

 25 And he said unto the servant: Look hither and behold the last. Behold, this have I planted in a ^agood spot of ground; and I have nourished it this long time, and only a ^bpart of the tree hath brought forth tame fruit, and the ^cother part of the tree hath brought forth wild fruit; behold, I have nourished this tree like unto the others.

 26 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant: Pluck off the branches that have not brought forth good^afruit, and cast them into the fire.

 27 But behold, the servant said unto him: Let us prune it, and dig about it, and nourish it a little ^alonger, that perhaps it may bring forth good fruit unto thee, that thou canst lay it up against the season.

 28 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard and the servant of the Lord of the vineyard did nourish all the fruit of the vineyard.

 29 And it came to pass that a ^along time had passed away, and the Lord of the vineyard said unto his ^bservant: Come, let us go down into the vineyard, that we may labor again in the vineyard. For behold, the time draweth near, and the ^cend soon cometh; wherefore, I must lay up fruit against the season, unto mine own self.

 30 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard and the servant went down into the vineyard; and they came to the tree whose natural branches had been broken off, and the wild branches had been grafted in; and behold all ^asorts of fruit did cumber the tree.

 31 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard did ^ataste of the fruit, every sort according to its number. And the Lord of the vineyard said: Behold, this long time have we nourished this tree, and I have laid up unto myself against the season much fruit.

 32 But behold, this time it hath brought forth much ^afruit, and there is ^bnone of it which is good. And behold, there are all kinds of bad fruit; and it profiteth me nothing, notwithstanding all our labor; and now it grieveth me that I should lose this tree.

 33 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant: What shall we do unto the tree, that I may preserve again good fruit thereof unto mine own self?

 34 And the servant said unto his master: Behold, because thou didst graft in the branches of the wild olive tree they have nourished the roots, that they are alive and they have not perished; wherefore thou beholdest that they are yet good.

 35 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant: The tree profiteth me nothing, and the roots thereof profit me nothing so long as it shall bring forth evil fruit.

 36 Nevertheless, I know that the roots are good, and for mine own purpose I have preserved them; and because of their much strength they have hitherto brought forth, from the wild branches, good fruit.

 37 But behold, the wild branches have grown and have ^aoverrunthe roots thereof; and because that the wild branches have overcome the roots thereof it hath brought forth much evil fruit; and because that it hath brought forth so much evil fruit thou beholdest that it beginneth to perish; and it will soon become ripened, that it may be cast into the fire, except we should do something for it to preserve it.

 38 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant: Let us go down into the nethermost parts of the vineyard, and behold if the natural branches have also brought forth evil fruit.

 39 And it came to pass that they went down into the nethermost parts of the vineyard. And it came to pass that they beheld that the fruit of the natural branches had become corrupt also; yea, the^afirst and the second and also the last; and they had all become corrupt.

 40 And the ^awild fruit of the last had overcome that part of the tree which brought forth good fruit, even that the branch had withered away and died.

 41 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard wept, and said unto the servant: ^aWhat could I have done more for my vineyard?

 42 Behold, I knew that all the fruit of the vineyard, save it were these, had become ^acorrupted. And now these which have once brought forth good fruit have also become corrupted; and now all the trees of my vineyard are good for nothing save it be to be^bhewn down and cast into the fire.

 43 And behold this last, whose branch hath withered away, I did plant in a ^agood spot of ground; yea, even that which was choice unto me above all other parts of the land of my vineyard.

 44 And thou beheldest that I also cut down that which ^acumberedthis spot of ground, that I might plant this tree in the stead thereof.

 45 And thou beheldest that a ^apart thereof brought forth good fruit, and a part thereof brought forth wild fruit; and because I plucked not the branches thereof and cast them into the fire, behold, they have overcome the good branch that it hath withered away.

 46 And now, behold, notwithstanding all the care which we have taken of my vineyard, the trees thereof have become corrupted, that they bring forth no good ^afruit; and these I had hoped to preserve, to have laid up fruit thereof against the season, unto mine own self. But, behold, they have become like unto the wild olive tree, and they are of no worth but to be ^bhewn down and cast into the fire; and it grieveth me that I should lose them.

 47 But ^awhat could I have done more in my vineyard? Have I slackened mine hand, that I have not nourished it? Nay, I have nourished it, and I have digged about it, and I have pruned it, and I have dunged it; and I have ^bstretched forth mine ^chand almost all the day long, and the ^dend draweth nigh. And it grieveth me that I should hew down all the trees of my vineyard, and cast them into the fire that they should be burned. Who is it that has corrupted my vineyard?

 48 And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: Is it not the ^aloftiness of thy vineyard—have not the branches thereof overcome the roots which are good? And because the branches have overcome the roots thereof, behold they grew faster than the strength of the roots, ^btaking strength unto themselves. Behold, I say, is not this the cause that the trees of thy vineyard have become corrupted?

 49 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant: Let us go to and hew down the trees of the vineyard and cast them into the fire, that they shall not cumber the ground of my vineyard, for I have done all. What could I have done more for my vineyard?

 50 But, behold, the servant said unto the Lord of the vineyard: Spare it a little ^alonger.

 51 And the Lord said: Yea, I will spare it a little longer, for it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard.

 52 Wherefore, let us take of the ^abranches of these which I have planted in the nethermost parts of my vineyard, and let us graft them into the tree from whence they came; and let us pluck from the tree those branches whose fruit is most bitter, and graft in the natural branches of the tree in the stead thereof.

 53 And this will I do that the tree may not perish, that, perhaps, I may preserve unto myself the roots thereof for mine ^aownpurpose.

 54 And, behold, the roots of the natural branches of the tree which I planted whithersoever I would are yet alive; wherefore, that I may preserve them also for mine own purpose, I will take of the ^abranches of this tree, and I will ^bgraft them in unto them. Yea, I will graft in unto them the branches of their mother tree, that I may preserve the roots also unto mine own self, that when they shall be sufficiently strong perhaps they may bring forth good fruit unto me, and I may yet have glory in the fruit of my vineyard.

 55 And it came to pass that they took from the natural tree which had become wild, and grafted in unto the natural trees, which also had become wild.

 56 And they also took of the natural trees which had become wild, and ^agrafted into their mother tree.

 57 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant: Pluck not the wild branches from the trees, save it be those which are most bitter; and in them ye shall graft according to that which I have said.

 58 And we will nourish again the trees of the vineyard, and we will trim up the ^abranches thereof; and we will pluck from the trees those branches which are ripened, that must perish, and cast them into the fire.

 59 And this I do that, perhaps, the roots thereof may take strength because of their goodness; and because of the change of the branches, that the good may ^aovercome the evil.

 60 And because that I have preserved the natural branches and the roots thereof, and that I have grafted in the natural branches again into their mother tree, and have preserved the roots of their mother tree, that, perhaps, the trees of my vineyard may bring forth again good ^afruit; and that I may have joy again in the fruit of my vineyard, and, perhaps, that I may rejoice exceedingly that I have preserved the roots and the branches of the first fruit—

 61 Wherefore, go to, and call ^aservants, that we may ^blabordiligently with our might in the vineyard, that we may ^cpreparethe way, that I may bring forth again the natural fruit, which natural fruit is good and the most precious above all other fruit.

 62 Wherefore, let us go to and labor with our might this last time, for behold the end draweth nigh, and this is for the last time that I shall ^aprune my vineyard.

 63 Graft in the branches; begin at the ^alast that they may be first, and that the first may be ^blast, and dig about the trees, both old and young, the first and the last; and the last and the first, that all may be nourished once again for the last time.

 64 Wherefore, dig about them, and prune them, and dung them once more, for the last time, for the end draweth nigh. And if it be so that these last grafts shall grow, and bring forth the natural fruit, then shall ye prepare the way for them, that they may grow.

 65 And as they begin to grow ye shall ^aclear away the branches which bring forth bitter fruit, according to the strength of the good and the size thereof; and ye shall not clear away the bad thereof all at once, lest the roots thereof should be too strong for the graft, and the graft thereof shall perish, and I lose the trees of my vineyard.

 66 For it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard; wherefore ye shall clear away the bad according as the good shall grow, that the root and the top may be equal in strength, until the good shall overcome the bad, and the bad be hewn down and cast into the fire, that they cumber not the ground of my vineyard; and thus will I sweep away the bad out of my vineyard.

 67 And the branches of the natural tree will I graft in again into the natural tree;

 68 And the branches of the natural tree will I graft into the natural branches of the tree; and thus will I bring them together again, that they shall bring forth the natural ^afruit, and they shall be one.

 69 And the bad shall be ^acast away, yea, even out of all the land of my vineyard; for behold, only this once will I prune my vineyard.

 70 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard sent his^aservant; and the servant went and did as the Lord had commanded him, and brought other ^bservants; and they were^cfew.

 71 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and ^alaborin the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the ^blast time that I shall ^cnourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come.

 72 And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things.

 73 And there began to be the natural fruit again in the vineyard; and the natural branches began to grow and thrive exceedingly; and the wild branches began to be plucked off and to be cast away; and they did keep the root and the top thereof equal, according to the strength thereof.

 74 And thus they labored, with all diligence, according to the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard, even until the bad had been cast away out of the vineyard, and the Lord had preserved unto himself that the trees had become again the natural fruit; and they became like unto ^aone body; and the fruits were equal; and the Lord of the vineyard had preserved unto himself the natural fruit, which was most precious unto him from the beginning.

 75 And it came to pass that when the ^aLord of the vineyard saw that his fruit was good, and that his vineyard was no more corrupt, he called up his servants, and said unto them: Behold, for this last time have we nourished my vineyard; and thou beholdest that I have done according to my will; and I have preserved the natural fruit, that it is good, even like as it was in the beginning. And^bblessed art thou; for because ye have been diligent in laboring with me in my vineyard, and have kept my commandments, and have brought unto me again the ^cnatural fruit, that my vineyard is no more corrupted, and the bad is cast away, behold ye shall have^djoy with me because of the fruit of my vineyard.

 76 For behold, for a ^along time will I lay up of the fruit of my vineyard unto mine own self against the season, which speedily cometh; and for the last time have I nourished my vineyard, and pruned it, and dug about it, and dunged it; wherefore I will lay up unto mine own self of the fruit, for a long time, according to that which I have spoken.

 77 And when the time cometh that evil fruit shall again come into my vineyard, then will I cause the ^agood and the bad to be gathered; and the good will I preserve unto myself, and the bad will I cast away into its own place. And then cometh the ^bseasonand the end; and my vineyard will I cause to be ^cburned with ^dfire.