Sister Alex Hartvigsen-- December 6, 2011

Dear Familia, I hope that everyone is doing well and that no one got blown away in the last batch of crazy weather. Things here are really good. I love my branch (congregation that I'm working with) and all the people are so loving. I hope to be able to stay here for a while. We find out transfer news this Saturday and the chances of a new comp are pretty high especially because Sis N is going home. It will be interesting.
This week has been really good. A few weeks ago we were driving in an part of our area that we normally are not in because it is far away and we have a very small miles limit on our car. We were inspired to turn on this little street and we spotted a family outside their house. We jumped out and started talking to them This family is actually about 4 families living in 2 apartments right next to each other. This sounds kinda familiar huh? We invited them to come to meet with the ward employment specialist on Tuesday night and they all ended up coming (about 12 people) We met with them several times this week and taught the restoration and also the plan of salvation. We had a noche de hogar with them last night with our former branch president in the his home. We invited them to come to church on Sunday and 12 of them came and seemed to really enjoy it. We invited them to be baptized but they feel like they still need to learn more first and we challenged them to continue to read the Book of Mormon and pray to receive an answer. We are really excited to continue to meet with this family.
This last week I studied the doctrines in the Plan of Salvation especially the Atonement. As I studied it hit me once again that even though the Savior did pay the price for our sins it did not eliminate our personal responsibility. We have to accept the Atonement into our own life by doing the things that he is asked us to do in the Doctrine of Christ 2 Nephi 31. If we don't do this we don't have claim to the Atonement. God will not force us to be happy or to accept Him. My job is to help people understand the Atonement and then its is up to those that I teach to apply it and make it a part of their lives.
I love you both so much. Have a great week.
Love Alex