Sixes and Sevens

Hello!! 

It's January 8th and we still have like 0 snow. So that's sad, but I don't mind it being a little warmer than it should be. This week was really great.

1. President Monson passed away. We have had a lot of people on square this week asking about his death and how the new prophet is picked. We've especially had a lot of people from Latin America asking about it. It's definitely been an interesting week. Our mission president told us about the prophets passing right before our zone conference started, and of course right after he told us I had to get up and give a short message on our purpose as missionaries - man, it was hard. But I know that even though our dear prophet has gone, that we are never really without a prophet. Our mission president explained to us how succession works in the church, and how beautifully Jesus Christ really is at the head of everything. He told us that the moment the prophet exhales his final breath, the next breath into the lungs of the senior apostles transfers the prophetic mantle. We have been promised that we will never again have a time on earth without a prophet, and Jesus Christ really is at the head of this work. With His authority to control life, He is perfectly in control of who the prophet is in every moment. President Monson had finished his work here, and was ready to be brought home. But I am confident that President Nelson, who now presides over the church, is exactly who Jesus Christ wants to be at the head. President Monson's funeral will be this Friday, and the public viewing will be Thursday. We aren't yet sure if we'll be able to go, we all really hope so though. 

2. Mario had his baptismal interview and will be baptized this Sunday! We're really excited, we're going to Skype in and watch. We have it all planned out with his Elders, it's going to be great!

3. Sometimes, our mission receives mail meant for church headquarters. This week one of those things happened, we got a letter addressed to the Church from someone in prison in the US. We gave it to the mission secretary who read it, and then she let us read it. This person had really made some bad choices and won't be out of prison anytime soon, but it was one of the most touching letters of repentance and redemption I've ever read. This person mentioned their shame and desire to come back to the Church, how their choices were not in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ and how they wished they could undo them. This person was so penitent, and was just really expressing their desire to change. They had asked for some materials from the church to read during their incarceration, so Sister Jachens and I decided to adopt this person and we went and got them what they'd asked for. We wrote little notes in everything, and we'll be sending it to the local mission president for him to deliver the prison. The letter was really a reminder for me of how the gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives and can really heal us. I really loved it, and since I adopted this person, I get to keep the letter!

4. There's a mission statistic that says a person needs 7 different interactions with members or missionaries before they'll refer, or decide to learn more. So that's one of the reasons we talk to everyone we see on Square, even if they already have a Book of Mormon in hand - maybe taking the Book of Mormon was from interaction number 6 and they still need interaction number 7. Well, we've been experiencing a lot of "6th" interactions. My companion has been feeling frustrated recently because it seems like everyone she calls doesn't want to learn more, while everyone I seem to call does. So this week we talked about sixes and sevens. I told her my first transfer I went through a lot of sixes.. no one wanted to refer, or they were interested but not interested enough to stay in contact, or whatever. I didn't see any success there. But this transfer, I've been seeing a lot of 7's. I've been the 7th interaction for a lot of people, and people refer to me a lot. We just have to work through our 6's to find the 7's. To find the one. So I want to invite all of you to reach out to those around you that aren't familiar with the church, or that are and haven't shown interest. Be the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th interaction. Maybe you'll find someone who is just waiting for the 7th. But share the gospel. This message we have changes lives. Mario texts us about every day telling us thank you, he's a different person than he was. We were his 7th interaction. But before 7, you have to have 1-6. So please reach out to those around you. Every time we reach out to someone, we bring them closer to Jesus Christ. Even if they aren't yet at number 7, they're one interaction closer. 

I know our Savior lives and He loves us. I know we're children of God, and that we are of great importance. I love you all, and I hope you have an amazing week.

Love, Sister Black