December 1 - We cannot say the smallest part which we feel.

Hello everyone! Big news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

November is officially over, and we have had a month full of miracles. I told you at the beginning of the month about our high goal of 70 baptisms in the month of November. I told you about how 59 was our all-time record, and how we wanted to do everything in our power to ensure these people would follow-through with their wonderful decision to be baptized and come closer to Christ. I even told you about the sacrifices we were making and the plans we had to do our part before letting the Lord take over. We worked hard. . . prayed hard. . . and miracles happened.

I am overjoyed to tell you the results of the month. Last night, all of us missionaries called in to one big conference phone call. Through a series of miracles, we reached a number that we only dreamed we would reach. We hit 100.

100!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's a hundred people in New England who know the church is true and have taken a step towards their own salvation. 100 people. I cannot say the smallest part which I feel. :) :) :) :) :)

President Packard sent out an email to all of us about it. I thought I'd share a clip of his inspired words.

“ 'Has the day of miracles ceased? Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved? Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought…' (Moroni 7: 35-37). If the month of November proved anything, it is that God keeps His promises, that He is a God of miracles, and that the missionaries in the MBM have great faith! Now that we have seen 100 baptisms in a single month, where do we go from here? Elder Holland has already provided his input. After receiving our report last night, he immediately responded as follows: “Tell the mission I could not be more proud of them. Tell them to keep opening their mouths, talking to everybody, keeping this kind of depth in their teaching pool and 70 will be the new base line every month. What was never done before will now be standard; it will be where the new goals start, not where they end.” We are going to set new goals in our next mission leadership conference, but Elder Holland believes that this is just the beginning. We feel the same way."

Sister Fernando and I were able to witness one of these amazing baptisms yesterday. <3 Anna is an amazing 20-year-old. She truly inspires me. She referred herself on Mormon.org, met with the Elders in Arlington, became our friend, and stood up at her own baptism to tell everyone that she knows the church is true. She told everyone she had to get her answer through prayer and Book of Mormon study, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet--an inspired man of God who brought back Jesus Christ's church. She sang "I Stand All Amazed" after her testimony. It was beautiful.

Also, I have other big news. . . TRANSFERS. We were supposed to get Transfer texts on Friday, but President Packard officially was running faster than he had strength, and he told us we'd get them when he was finished. So we were waiting in agony until late Saturday night. And then the texts came flooding in. That's right--my curse still stands. I STILL AM GETTING A NEW COMPANION EVERY TRANSFER. Ahhhhh!!!!!!!!! Sister Fernando is being transferred to the singles wards in the zone! I will be showing around Belmont to a sweet, cute Sister who just finished her training in Amherst. Oh my goodness!!!!!!!

Oh yeah, and Thanksgiving happened!!!!!!!!! It was wonderful! And crazy! I swore I'd never eat again. . . We had 2 Thanksgiving dinners the night before Thanksgiving, then a Thanksgiving breakfast and 2 MORE Thanksgiving dinners. We were practically rolled home. It was gross. But besides stuffing ourselves to the point of nausea so we would appease the sweet members who fed us, we were able to spend some quality time with amazing people and really take the time to vocalize what means the most to us. :) I hope your Thanksgivings were amazing, too. :)

And now it's CHRISTMAS TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Enjoy the season! Cut out snowflakes and hang tinsel and sing songs and spread the love of Christ!!!!!! Also, go look up the new church video He Is The Gift. It's amazing!!!!!!!

Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!

Love,
Sister Merkley
MBM Missionary