Port St. Lucie, Florida

Stuart is not only the name of a talking mouse, it is an Area!

Hello and Happy Holidays from the city of Port St. Lucie, Florida!

That's right, I've moved from the southern-most (sisters) area in the mission to the Northernmost! And let me tell you, It couldn't be more different! But still good. Always good.

The area is very chill compared to Miami and the ward reminds me a lot of home (both Utah and Boynton Beach). Except there are a few more Spanish speakers. Officially, we are Stuart North, but we live and proselyte in Port St. Lucie. Just in case you are wondering, I am once again driving a Chevy Malibu (silver this time) and our apartment is probably the nicest in the entire mission! Actually, we're guessing there will be 4 sisters living here soon because it is big enough and there are a lot more sisters coming in. (most after I leave).

My companion is Sister Dougal. She just finished her training. She is incredible! She is from Washington State but she graduated from BYU, so she knows Utah. She plays the piano better than anyone and sings very well. She also is a pro at teaching and harvesting and missionary work in general. She took over the area like a champ! I am going to learn a lot from her! She was called English speaking, but has already learned how to pray and testify simply in Spanish!

This week we had some great miracles. We work together really well and it showed! We got 6 new investigators and set 5 dates! Only 3 of them are still set now, but still, it was awesome! Two are investigators that have been around for a while and the other is a 10 yr-old girl whose sister was baptized last week. She can't read, but she really wants to be baptized! Random cool miracles.

There are a lot of new people I met that I could tell you about, but I don't know where to start and no one really cares anyway.

I will, however, share some tidbits for those of you who are still reading this after so many months.

My favorite harvesting experience this week was our first night here in Port St. Lucie. We went harvesting and we didn't have a lot of time (after the long drive up here and me being sick) but we went out and knocked on several doors. We met a woman who was nice but not interested in baptism. Then we went upstairs. We knocked on the door and Jesus answered. He let us pray with him and when we invited him to be baptized he said Yes, I need to do that. He had gone to church growing up but hadn't been for a while and knew he needed to be baptized. We came back later in the week and had a member present lesson with him. He told us all about his life and the job he has now, which brought him to this part of Florida. He also told us that his mother had been talking to him the day we came by and told him that he needed to go back to church, and then we showed up! He knew we were sent by God. When we asked him what blessings he wanted from Christ, he said he wanted more faith and strength to go to church and change his ways! He is incredible! Unfortunately, he is going to be out of town the next couple of weeks, but I know we were all there together at that moment so he can get baptized. Soon, very soon.

My favorite experience this week was eating at the Rivero family's home. They are from Mexico and the Mom and kids don't speak English. Lucky for me, I understand Spanish! Hna. Rivero basically took that opportunity to explain everything I should know for the rest of my life (mission). I learned so many incredible that day; my life was changed. She has such an incredible testimony of missionaries! I felt honored to be called a representative of Jesus Christ. She also told me to not tell people how long I have left in my mission because then they can't wrongly judge me!

So with that in mind, I will now go out and work because I have been out long enough to know how to work and I have plenty of time left to be successful and work hard.

I love you all! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas Season and that you share something about Christ with someone who needs it.


Love, Hermana Sheffield