Hey Fam,

Well, this may sound crazy but it really was my best week I have had in Tallahassee thus far that is to say missionary work wise. I made the commitment to work my very hardest this week. We had the car this week so it was time to feel like a missionary. We did just that. We worked and we worked. It was a really solid week because of that.
I know that zone conference was exactly what I needed this week. We had a super powerful conference. They told everyone to bring a rock. The rock is now the symbol of our mission. The rock represent the savior. Then, they gave every one a chisel as the tool to do so. The whole time they had a statue of Christ (the one in the visitor's center) just a small one, it was like a foot and a half. They talked about how each day we make choices. It is our decision to be great, each day we should be chipping away at the rock and smoothing out the edges to be more like our savior. They had us write down all the things that are holding us back from doing this and being great. Then, we all put the paper in the shredder. We all committed to live up to a standard of greatness, the standard of greatness is this long spill that is now the Florida Tallahassee mission standard. I don't have it in front of me or I would tell you more , But I do remember the first line. it says "today is your defining moment.." It is really powerful, but each day truly is our defining moment. Zone conference was just what I needed. I need to step up and be great. I needed to commit to being greater then I was the day before.
We had an awesome week finding less actives, nothing really promising, but it was good. We had a really powerful lesson with our investigator, J. She reads the Book of Mormon faithfully every week. Her walls are coming down and her heart is softening. We taught her about scripture marking and read Moroni's promise with her, she committed to begin to pray and know of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. I know she felt the spirit. She is coming along. We also picked up a few investigators this week which was huge. We had gotten some referrals from a member in the ward, the A's. the A's are a older couple like late 60 early 70s, and are super solid. They took us around with them on Friday to meet their neighbors. One of the people we met with was S. She is straight up COUNTRY folk. She was pretty interesting to visit with. We didn't talk to long, but she seemed pretty interested in having us over. we are going over tonight so we'll see. We also met with the lady across the street from the A's, her name was M. We were able to met up with her on Sunday evening. She expressed a deep desire to come to church and to sit and learn more about our faith. She seemed really interested. We have an appointment with her on Wednesday night, so we'll see how it goes. It was a lot of really sweet teaching experiences this week. It was really good.
We got a senior couple in our ward. I am super grateful to have the Willoughby's in our ward. They are from the same town as the the Jensens and just solid people. They will be working in the office and our ward. They lived just down the street from the Jensons. cool huh? Any way the Willoughby's are a huge answer to a lot of prayers. When they announced that they would be in the ward a huge feeling came over me that I knew they were the answer to my prayers. When they announced that they would be in our ward, I went to my scriptures. I didn't know what I wanted to read, but know I needed to. I flipped open my Book of Mormon to 2 Nephi 33. I read the chapter, but verses 3 and 4 hit me. They said " But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great a worth, and especially unto my people. For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry. And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people. And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it persuadeth them to do good; it maketh known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which is life eternal."
I have been praying with all my heart in what I should do. The highlighted phrase really touched my heart. The lord heard my prayers and answered them in a very powerful way. I know that the Willoughby's are an answer to many prayers. The lord is ever so mindful of me and the people here in the Tallahassee first ward.

We have been challenge to visit 80 families in the ward by the end of the year. I am excited about the challenge. We have like 9 or 10 weeks left of the year so that means 8 to 9 families a week. It is totally do able, but not so much when you only have a car every other week. I will have to get creative and come up with a awesome lesson.

LOVE YOU!!!

Sister Whipple