February already!

Dear all,
It's already February!!! Next month I already hit my 6 month
mark..that's a crazy thought. So first, just a fun little story. Last
Monday night after pday was over, we got home and sister Stevens
really wanted her hair cut. A lot of the sisters have been cutting
their hair short, but sister Stevens has veryyy long hair she has said
she will never cut it. But all of Monday she had made up her mind she
wanted short hair. She asked me if I knew how to cut hair and I
said...."well yeah a little, I think I could do it". (I have never cut
hair in my life). We found some really good sharp scissors and within
an hour we had cut probably 6 inches off! It was one of the scariest
things I've done haha! She loves her hair now, which is a relief
because I didn't want to be responsible if she didn't like it!:) She's
gorgeous though and so I think she would look good no matter what I
did with her hair. On Tuesday we had zone conference and it was
combined with the Rockville and Seneca zone. Usually I get really
nervous for zone conference because they pick companions to go in
front of everyone and role play teaching the lessons. But I wasn't
nervous this time and learned so much. We talked about studying more
effectively and using our moral agency/moral discipline wisely. On
Wednesday we went to Tara's house to teach her and continue reading
the Book of Mormon with her. She hasn't been able to come to church
for a while, but since her son is coming home from his mission
tomorrow, we know for sure they will all be there next week! When we
got to the visitors center, we were able to have a chat with the VC
director and his wife, the Ferrins. They are amazing people and I am
excited to know them better each day. They have been making a couple
changes here and there in the VC, but the changes are only going to
make us better! On Friday we had exchanges which is when we have a
day/night with one of the sister training leaders. It was super fun
because I got to be with sister Freeman!!! We went to downtown DC
which was a little crazy to contact...there were so many people out
since it was a Friday night. We got to go to game night for the YSA
since sister Freeman serves in that ward. On Sunday night we got to
have dinner at a member in our wards house, April. She is from the
Philippines and made amazing food. Then we went and taught a family
that came into Festival of Lights during December. They were amazing
and we taught them about how their family can be together forever.
They have three little girls and one of them has leukemia. They had
little understanding of who Jesus Christ is or even God and so we were
able to explain everything simply. He asked us, "is it really possible
for my family to live forever?". The little girls sat right beneath us
on the ground and every time I looked at them I just felt so much love
for them. I could see them truly as children of God and it was such a
spiritual experience. We are going back on Thursday to teach them
more! I was reading a talk this week and there was a quote I loved by
Elder D. Todd Christofferson. He explained what he learned from a
personal trial: “Though I suffered then, as I look back now, I am
grateful that there was not a quick solution to my problem. The fact
that I was forced to turn to God for help almost daily over an
extended period of years taught me truly how to pray and get answers
to prayer and taught me in a very practical way to have faith in God.
I came to know my Savior and my Heavenly Father in a way and to a
degree that might not have happened otherwise or that might have taken
me much longer to achieve. … I learned to trust in the Lord with all
my heart. I learned to walk with Him day by day.” I am so grateful for
the strength that our savior gives us each and every day. All we have
to do is ask. I love you all!!
Love, sister Haertling