"GET OUT!!!"

Exactly 2 months from today I was on a plane heading from Utah to Maryland. That time has changed my life! I have learned and grown so much. 

The experiences I had this past week have strengthened my testimony in countless ways!! Some things that happened on Thursday will blow your mind!! (Sorry this email is so long...I just couldn't leave any of the stories out!) 

As Sister Cordner and I arrived at the library on Thursday afternoon to do some online proselyting, we found that it was closed, so we decided to walk over to the Panera Bread restaurant where they have wifi. When we walked in, I noticed a man sitting near the door with his head resting between his fists looking down. I told Sister Cordner that he looked sad and that we should talk to him. So she tells me to invite him to come sit with us. Well....saying and doing are two completely different things! I'll admit, I was nervous ;) So after she finally convinced me to do it, the man started noticing us giggling and whispering at the table near him. He looked over at us as I started to speak. All I said was, "Hey! Do you,"  before he stood up and sat at our table! He read our name tags and asked about what church it was and where it is! We got his information and then he had to go because he worked there at Panera but he was just on break. A few minutes later, he comes to our table with two large cups for us to fill with soda! After we got our drinks, we pulled out the iPad to take a picture, and he ran over to get in the picture! What a fun memory :) 

After church yesterday we went over to his apartment to teach him and his brother and sister-in-law who live with him! It was a difficult lesson because we don't know how to speak Arabic ;) But they were very kind and listened very well. We are trying to figure out what to do exactly because they can't understand us very well. We'll see what happens.. 

The most surprising and CRAZY thing happened on Thursday night. We went to go visit some former investigators to see how they were doing. No one answered the first door we knocked, but the second person we went to see let us right in..... 

The man who answered the door must have been her son, but the woman we went to go see lived in the basement of the home. He let us right in and the woman (probably in her late 70's) was at the bottom of the stairs asking who we were. When she saw that we were missionaries she brought us into her room downstairs. We asked how she met previous missionaries and told us that they had knocked on her door, and that the last time she saw missionaries was about ten months ago. She was very nice and said that she respected Mormons and our religion. She even told us that she would love to have us over for lunch sometime. When Sis. Cordner asked her if she had read the Book of Mormon, all of a sudden she started yelling at us about how the Book of Mormon wasn't true and to stop asking her stupid questions. She went on saying harsh things about the church. Being very bold and polite, Sis. Cordner said, "well I don't agree with," and suddenly this older woman got up and screamed "GET OUT!" repeatedly. Sister Cordner and I hurried and ran up the stairs as fast as we could! (That lady was quick!!) As we ran out the door, the lady grabbed Sister C by the arm and threw us out. We quickly ran to our car and heard "You've met the devil tonight!"  All we could do was cry. Tears flowed down our faces. I had never felt that kind of terrible feeling in my entire life! How traumatic and sad! I could only think about how Joseph Smith and the early saints must have felt when they were persecuted. I also thought how sad it was that that woman has no idea what she turned away. We were able to end the night well by visiting a nonmember with a member in our ward. I will never forget that night! 

So now you're wondering what I think about that experience 4 days later.... It was heaven-sent!! I am eternally grateful and feel so blessed to have gone through that!! Sister Cordner and I have been able to relate our experience to many topics and questions people bring up. Also, I would admit that it's just a cool story ;) After we told of of our Zone leaders what happened on the phone, the first thing he said was, "Sisters!! That is so rad!!!" Ha! And then he shared Ether 12:6 with us. What a coincidence! Our District Leader texted us that scripture after he found out about us having a rough night! Little did they know that that scripture would become our slogan! :) "And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." ....we had just gone through a trial of faith! 

Yes it was terrifying, but what happened on Thursday night, and throughout the rest of the week, changed my personal understanding of faith. FAITH is POWER. I testify to each of you that if you have faith, Heavenly Father will provide!! Doubt and fear are the opposite of faith. 

On Saturday morning, we had the privilege of having a whole-mission conference!! (They require permission from the First Presidency). President Holstrom, one of the Seven Presidents of the Seventy, spoke to us! Along with Elder Perkins of the Seventy! As they put it, both of them had the privilege of shaking hands with each of us missionaries. :) They gave very powerful talks. One of the main points that Pres. Holstrom gave was that they do look at how we are doing as missionaries, but more importantly at how we are doing as sons and daughters of God. He talked about how missions are not just for bringing nonmembers closer to Christ, but to help us missionaries gain an eternal conversion. I know that my mission is doing just that. 

**on a side note.. On the way to the conference a deer jumped across our windshield!!!!! It was the craziest thing! No damage was done luckily, just a few screams! :) **

On Saturday night, Sister Cordner saw a wonderful miracle take place!! After we went to check on a potential investigator who ended up not being home, Sis. C asked me if I wanted to practice doing some door approaches. Of course I say yes.. ;) After waiting a few minutes after knocking the first door, a lady answered the door. As soon as she understood who we were and what we were doing, she let us right in! She is Muslim, but told us she knows it's not correct. She has recently been reading from the Bible and studying Christianity. She had sooo many questions and we talked with her for almost two hours. The best part of it all.... She told us, "don't think I'm strange for saying this, but before you came here, I was trying to connect with God and figure things out. And then you two knocked on my door!" Heavenly Father sent us right to her at the right time! It was amazing!

I have definitely received a witness after the trial of my faith!! (Ether 12:6!!) 

This past week is one I will never forget!! :) I am so thankful for all the things I learn each day!! 

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Think about your faith as you endure certain things in your life right now. How can you put more trust in Heavenly Father? I know that as you pray and talk with Him, He will give you strength!! 

I love you all,

❤️Sister Winterton 

P.s. Do you recognize those two girls that are in the pictures? Yep. They are recent converts (baptized a few months ago) in my ward! They were featured on General Conference in October! :) They are wonderful!! They inspire me so much!