Hi Family and Friends! Wow! I have had such a great week!!! I have been so blessed and there have been so many miracles.
Ashley, our investigator is doing amazingly! We taught her about temples this week and I was hecka nervous, I'm always a little scared people are gonna think temple ordinances are weird (oh ye of little faith). :/ However, after we taught the lesson on temples she seemed excited. When we met with her again she let us know that she had read the pamphlet again by herself and she had prayed about it. She said to us, "whatever I have to do to prepare to get to the temple, I'll do! Pack my bags! I wanna go there right now!" It was so tender. (: She is so prepared. Ashley is truly elect and I love her. She has cute down from 6 cigarettes a day to only 1 and a half!!!!! She is amazing!!!!
I got to spend part of my Saturday in Chillicothe at the baptism of Thomas!!! It was a miracle! The new mission president, President Stratford gave me permission to go! Then a member of the ward in Chillicothe, Sister Francis somehow got our phone number and called Sister Flora and I and said she was coming to get us early Saturday so we could get to the baptism early. The ward in Chillicothe worked really hard to make certain that I was able to attend the baptism because they knew how much it meant to Thomas. President and Sister Stratford even came to the baptism, it was their "first" baptism as mission presidents and they said, "they wouldn't have missed it for anything." Thomas didn't know I was coming and he CRIED when I showed up. He was so happy when he saw me at the church. In fact, there was a smile on his face the entire baptism service. I, too, cried. I cried a lot. Before I was transferred, Thomas had asked Sister McClellan and I to sing his favorite hymn, "How Great Thou Art." When I was transferred he was a little sad that I could not attend his baptism and that we could not sing. Well, not only was I at the baptism, but Sister McClellan and I sang. It was such a spiritual moment for me. I had a steady stream of tears running down my face as I sang. In fact everyone at the baptism was crying. It was just one big "cry fest." Watching Thomas be baptized was so powerful. He was so confident as he entered the waters of baptism and he came out with a big smile on his face. He also shared a beautiful testimony about the hope and peace of the Atonement and about the happiness that the gospel has brought into his life I've never felt so inspired to strengthen my testimony in my life. He really did inspire everyone. Thomas is #testimonygoals. For real. The ward was so supportive and there were so many in attendance. I was so grateful that Thomas had so much support. He truly is an elect Son of God. Seriously, the love I have been able to feel for that man is unreal. I feel that love every I see him and every time I pray for him. I know God was crying along with all of us throughout Thomas's baptism service. It was such a spiritual and happy day for me. I can't even begin to explain it. Best moment of my life for sure. Thomas is going to help bring so many souls unto Christ. The gospel is true! It changes lives and it makes people smile. My heart is so full of gratitude for this miracle. I am so grateful that I was able to met Thomas and share my testimony with him and watch him grow in the gospel. I am even more grateful that I was able to attend his baptism and see the smile on his face.
I had a lot of cool experiences with members in Mount Vernon this week. We had dinner with the Weaver family this week. They are the cutest family and so stalwart. The Weaver family used to be AMISH until someone left a Book of Mormon in Brother Weaver's furniture store. He read it and showed his family and they met with the missionaries and they were eventually baptized. His testimony of the gospel is so sweet and so strong. However, their conversion wasn't without drama! Satan LOVES drama 
. When the Amish community found out that the Weavers had accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ and were going to be baptized they were shunned completely. It was so hard for them. They have a lot of family and friends who do not speak to them anymore. They had to leave their home and the community they loved. After their baptism they started to stugggle financially. Their furniture store wasn't as profitable as it has once been. But God is good and they were blessed through their trials and so everything worked out. They are strong members of the church. They have since shared the gospel with two other families from their Amish community and both families were baptized! This is so amazing to me. There are some pretty cool families in this ward and I am learning so much from them. Brother Weaver shared that cool conversion story with Sister Flora and I this week. It was awesome and I could feel the love that Heavenly Father has for him and his family. Also, the family let me play with their baby goats and their puppies. They were cute and it was a great dinner and lesson. They definitely taught me more than I taught them.
. When the Amish community found out that the Weavers had accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ and were going to be baptized they were shunned completely. It was so hard for them. They have a lot of family and friends who do not speak to them anymore. They had to leave their home and the community they loved. After their baptism they started to stugggle financially. Their furniture store wasn't as profitable as it has once been. But God is good and they were blessed through their trials and so everything worked out. They are strong members of the church. They have since shared the gospel with two other families from their Amish community and both families were baptized! This is so amazing to me. There are some pretty cool families in this ward and I am learning so much from them. Brother Weaver shared that cool conversion story with Sister Flora and I this week. It was awesome and I could feel the love that Heavenly Father has for him and his family. Also, the family let me play with their baby goats and their puppies. They were cute and it was a great dinner and lesson. They definitely taught me more than I taught them.
I adore my companion. Sister Flora is so kind and so cute. We get along really well. She is a hard working missionary.
It has been an amazing week. I love this gospel a lot. I am so blessed to be a missionary. My heart is full. That's all. Be good! Or don't! Whatever!!!
I love you.
- Sister Hannah Thomas
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