Sister Rachel Marie Crofts: "Tell Everyone I'm on My Way, and Loving Every Step I Take!" Orem, Utah Mission, North Orem, July 10th 2017

Hello Everyone! This week was wonderful and so full of amazing things and experiences!

Last Tuesday was the Fourth of July... And it was awesome! We woke up super early and our whole mission met near Provo, and then we all rode buses together to get to the Provo Freedom Festival Parade. We were there with the Provo mission which was different but fun. And then we marched! (Well, walked.) It was... HOT. Holy Guacamole it was hot. I don't think I've sweat so much in my entire life! But it was awesome. We were seriously treated like celebrities, everyone stood up and cheered and clapped and gave us high fives as we passed. That was strange haha! I definitely don't feel like any sort of celebrity. At the parade I saw my mom's cousin Wayne and his family which was cool, and I also got to see Whitney and Jordan Jackson and their Grandma! That was awesome, it was so nice to see someone from home, definitely made my day!

After the Parade we went back to a church and our senior couples all made us hotdogs and a bunch of other yummy food. Then we listened to some people sing and dance, and then had a mini testimony meeting. Our Mission started a 90 day book of mormon reading challenge in April, and just finished last week. I was able to finish with everyone which was awesome. My testimony of the Book of Mormon and the Gospel of Jesus Christ truly grew through that experience.

Later we got to go to a fun barbecue with members of one of our wards, and then we had to be home by 7. Around 6:30 an awesome m lady we've been helping lately, Sister Lunnen, and her 2 year old daughter Maizie, came over and did some little fireworks with us! Then we got ready for bed, and since it was the perfect temperature with the sun down, we laid out in the backyard and played UNO while watching fireworks. Overall, fourth of July was amazing!

Another cool experience we had was at our lunch correlation meeting. Every week us and 4 other full time missionaries meet with our senior missionaries and discuss the things going on in our area. A Salesman came up to us and knocked on the door. We asked him about the Book of Mormon and gave him one, and then invited him to lunch! He got to sit down and take a break while all 8 missionaries taught him the Restoration! That was awesome, hopefully some day he will remember this experience when missionaries visit him again!

Another Baptism! Remember my investigators Faleshia, and her boys Zack and Aeden that I taught in my last area? Well they were all baptized this last Friday! Faleshia asked if I could play piano so I was able to go and play piano and be there for their baptism. That was incredible. It is amazing to see how much the gospel helps and changes lives.

After the baptism I got to ride home with President and Sister Killpack, since my ride could only drive me there. President insisted that they buy me dinner so we went to Zoupas! (Like a fancy Panera). And then we had a pretty long drive home so they asked about my family and how I'm doing which was great to talk about. I love them!

This upcoming Thursday we have another Baptism, Brooke! And we also scheduled a baptism date for another new Investigator, Josh! We will be teaching him for a while and he is very excited to be baptized. We are also teaching Luis, who is married to a member and has lots and lots of questions about the church. He has such a strong testimony though and I know he will be baptized soon as well. The Skinner family is one of my favorites, we are helping them try to go through the temple so they can all be sealed together, and they are just awesome. This area has been such a blessing to me, I love all the people I've been able to meet and teach.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true! This is His church! I know it with all of my heart.

Love,

Sister Crofts