Lake Placid, NY

My dear Family and Friends,

So much has happened and I haven't had any time to write.  I am in Lake Placid!  We have a big area, but due to miles we can only cover Lake Placid, Saranac lake, and Tupper lake, yeah lots of lakes haha.  It is beautiful here!  So many trees, lakes, and ponds and so green!

The branch we are in is very small, only 30 members (on a good day), but most of them are very devoted, many of them drive an hour and half to get to church every Sunday.  When I first got here I thought the people here were just completely crazy and I was going to go insane myself, but I'm growing to love them and they do keep life interesting.  We visit a lot of elderly people and it makes me so sad because they are so lonely and so they just talk to us for hours.  Kids go visit your grandparents or someone in a seniors home! 

I started out here really struggling to be myself, and struggled with talking to people.  I prayed my heart out and I was reminded of a video they showed us in the MTC of a talk by Elder Bednar called "The Character of Christ."  Elder Bednar talks about how Christ always turned outward, and He never turned inward.  He always was thinking of others, even after He suffered in Gethsemane, was betrayed, and crucified He was still thinking about those around Him.  I thought about how I need to be more like Christ, and stop worrying about my insecurities, and my weaknesses and just focus on others.  As I've tried to do that, I have become closer to the members and Investigators and it's just been awesome!  I encourage you all to think and serve others when you are going through a rough time or feeling bad about yourself, it really is the best thing to do!

We had some pretty awesome miracles this week.  We were discussing dropping an investigator and literally right as we were talking about her, she texted us and asked to see us!   After a rough day we received 3 referrals from a member, and taught an awesome lesson that we thought was going to go badly!  We were also contacted by a former investigator who really really wants to be baptized, and if all goes well she will be on august 24th :)  We have an investigator who wants to be baptized but she is waiting for her husbands approval, and when she told him that she needed his approval to be baptized he was really surprised and I think his heart was softened towards the church. 

Finding here is really difficult, but we are trying our best and we are planning a family history night to invite people to, so hopefully that will go well.  We have a lot of challenges and trials, but the miracles make it all worth it!

I am so thankful for this gospel and I know that it is true.  I know that with faith in the Savior anything is possible. Keep pressing forward!  I love you all!

love, sister Hunting