1. I met so so many people that I know or kind of know or have known this week! It always throws me off a little because usually everyone just uses my first name and for a moment I have to remember that that's actually me haha. I love seeing all of the friendly faces, and that's definitely a special thing that we get here on Temple Square a lot more than most other missions. But someone we met this week that knew my name was actually someone I've never met before - his name is Ryan! We were on teaching center online, and I got a direct call. That means that someone called my number specifically, not just the mormon.org number where anyone can pick it up. Someone was calling me! So I answered, and this man says "Is this Courtney Black?" Actually, it really freaked me out. I had no idea who this person was, and it wasn't a voice I recognized... I said yes... and he said, I'm Ryan! We just talked a few minutes ago on chat, I just wanted to let you know that I accidentally clicked the one star rating but I didn't mean to! I meant to give you 5 and wanted to make sure that wouldn't affect you so I'm calling you to let you know that! Could I talk to your superior? You really helped me and I feel so much closer to God now. Thank you so much! -- ??????? I had never talked to this person before!! We had literally just sat down - I was looking at my companion while he told us this just asking if she knew him - we really don't! But he knew my full name, and my phone number. Which is strange. Anyways, we started talking to him and realized he's so unbelievably prepared for the gospel - we started teaching him, and he just soaks it all up like a sponge. We sent him to local and the Elders are meeting with him now and they can't believe how prepared he is. I have no idea what happened or who he talked to actually, but I'm grateful he somehow was given to me. Talk about a tender mercy! He's so sweet, and he's excited about his baptism on April 14. :)
2. I announced in Spanish yesterday! It was really fun, and I really enjoy doing it. We ended up taking a tour with a group of people from Venezuela, and we come to find out half way through the tour that this guy is apparently totally famous. People were stopping us during the tour to take pictures with him and everything.. I never really caught exactly what it is that he did since we didn't want that to be the focus of our tour, but from what I gathered he's a comedian and he does shows - he was here in Salt Lake to do a show of some kind. So that was cool! He was super nice, and it was really cool to get to take him to see the Christus statue. He's a very strong Catholic and it was really special to see how even though our faiths are different, the belief is the same. He took a Book of Mormon and promised us he would read it, I know that the truths in the Book of Mormon change lives, and I know they've changed mine. I'm grateful that I get to share that message with the world - be it the homeless man I met on Wednesday named Dwayne, or this famous guy from Venezuela whose name I actually don't remember.. started with an L. I'd never heard his name before, it was exotic. But it was really a great tour.
3. We broke out of our 40 acre mission and took a field trip to Lehi and to other parts of the Salt Lake area this week for different projects and adventures. Nothing super related to that, but it was fun :) It's been snowing a lot this week, but we've also had some sunny days and nothing is really sticking, at least here in the valley. I'm grateful for that because I'm ready for spring!! Spring is so beautiful here, the flowers are all starting to come in and I love them. I feel like I'm walking around in a garden in Europe next to these old gothic architectural style buildings with all the flowers. The Assembly Hall is my favorite, and I'm just really excited for spring. Our Lord certainly did create a beautiful Earth for all of us. I think that's a great expression of His love for us. He didn't have to make the Earth beautiful, but He did!
Well, I love you all and I hope you have a great week! As we get ready for general conference we invite you think about the things that you can do to make it more meaningful. Maybe for you that means rereading the talks from last conference, making a list of questions, or even praying to know if President Nelson and the incoming apostles have really been called of God. We're all able to receive that witness for ourselves. I love you all!
--Sister Black
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