Dear Family and Friends,

This last week was great. Sister Chadwick and I were hoping for snow and imagining that the fog we were engulfed in the past couple of days was snow, but it is about 65 degrees today. It looks like there will be no snow. Thanksgiving was so good. People are so good to the missionaries! We ate two dinners and then had dessert later that evening. Of course, I ate way too much! The thing that was the most unique was that they eat cornbread dressing here and don't really do pies for dessert. However, there are some people from New York that live here so we got our fill of pie. I am in the process of collecting some good recipes to share with y'all.

This past week we truly saw the blessings that come from fasting and paying fast offerings. Last week we drained our funds for the month of December and we had two weeks left to go before we got more money. We were worried about what we would do especially with food and with toilet paper. All throughout last week, people kept giving us food-leftovers, dinner in their homes and dinners for us to take and cook for ourselves, etc. However, our need for toilet paper still hadn't been fulfilled. We didn't know what we would do! We kept devising ways to get toilet paper so we would last through this next week, but nothing was happening for us. The blessings of heaven were opened yesterday as a family who spends part of the year in Destin and the other part of the year in Ohio came though Andalusia and gave us the rest of their supplies that they wouldn't need anymore. What happened to be the majority of the stuff they gave us? Yes, toilet paper. The Lord really does keep his promises for paying tithing and fast offerings. This Church really is true!

The high school football team lost its playoff game. And Alabama lost to Auburn. However, the most glorious news came when we found out that BYU beat Utah again. We had a moment of rejoicing and then sang the fight song. Then we got back to work.

Thank you to everyone who sent letters this week. They always help motivate and pick up my spirits. I love you all! Love, Joanna

Dear Family and Friends,
Things in Andalusia are still going very well. Our new companion, Sister Mickelson is great. I don't understand why people dread trios. We love it! We can get so much more work done while we are in a trio.

The Lord really does bless His missionaries while they are doing His work. Even though we don't do a lot of tracting and contacting, we got four, possibly five, new investigators this week. And, they are sincere people. I feel great about all of them. And, the best part is they all came when we were visiting members or from member referrals. This work isn't just for the full-time missionaries. We get our best results from the members who invite their friends to learn more. I hope you are all taking the advice from General Conference. It was great to have those inspired messages about sharing the gospel. This work is true!

Well, a little more worldly news. Andalusia is in the third round of the football playoffs. Apparently they have a really good team. Next week is the big Alabama Auburn game. We'll see if we have any success next Saturday. We have two dinner appointments from Thanksgiving. I am excited. Oh, we also had Thanksgiving last week at the place where we do service on Fridays. They love us there and we love them. We are going to be going there on Wednesday this week since they will be closed on Friday. People have picked up on the fact that I am a yankee and apparently it is quite endearing. Two people this past week have called me something along the lines of their little yankee.

Well, I hope all is well with everyone. Thanks to everyone for their support and letters and emails. It makes the hard times easier to handle. I love you all!
Love, Joanna

Dear Family,
We don't have much time this week, so this will just be to tell you that things are good here. I'm excited for Sarah's call to the Peru Lima East mission. She goes in on my 6-month mark!

We had a pretty good week, even though it didn't feel like it during the week. We were able to get two of our investigators to set a baptism date! And, two of our three progressing investigators were at Sacrament meeting! It was great. I'm pretty sure I'm staying here in Andalusia. We can't get the transfer information yet, but I think we are getting a third sister. President told us that last week at Stake Conference.

I don't know if there is anything new. I've been learning how to work through disappointment as the non-member YW president told us she didn't want us to teach her the lessons. It was hard to hear that and to know what she is missing out on having the gospel in her life. We love her to pieces, but she just doesn't want to overcome her concerns.

Do you think you could send some piano music from the music binder. Each week we sing at a nursing home, so we need more music to sing.

I love you all and appreciate your prayers!
Love, Joanna

Dear Family,
Things are still good here in Andalusia. We had lots of meetings this past week so we were not in our area and couldn't get nearly as much as we wanted done. But, things are still going well. I love having meetings with other missionaries! There is such strength that can be gained from being around one another. I also love Pres. and Sis. Summerhays. They are great and I wish I could spend all my time working with them.

We are still working with our family of investigators. We got a little scared last night when the mom didn't greet us at the door like she had the past couple of times. Luckily, we were able to bring the Spirit and get her to hear the lesson. She really could tell that what we were teaching about the Plan of Salvation was true. Hopefully, she will keep praying to know that the Book of Mormon is true as well. We still aren't sure what to do with the part member family, but we are working on that. It is hard to know.

The work keeps on going. Nothing really exciting is happening. Oh, there is a new couple in our district and she is related to Scoresbys. It sure is a small world.

This Church is true! You can see it change people's lives. Even as we have been working with members, there is a change in them. We are gaining great inspiration as to help our branch grow. Keep praying for me because I am going to need it as we start working out our plan to find and invite others to this gospel. I love this work! Love, Joanna

Okay, I know I haven't been answering questions lately, but I keep forgetting. The weather switches between cool and warm about every three or four days. It is nice when the weather is cool, because I keep thinking that fall might be coming. We have seen some of the leaves change color, but things are still mostly green. They are in the middle of a drought. It doesn't really look like it, though.

Transfers are coming in a week and a half. There will be some changes, but I should be staying here. I'll tell you more about it next week when I learn more about what is happening.
I think Sarah will go to the Philippines or Taiwan. I will try and send more pictures next week. And, Melissa has a different email address since she got home from her mission, but I think you might have noticed that. Oh, because it does get a little cool, I might need some tights. I will let you know what I decide about that. I need to go email my mission president. I love you! Oh, I got the chocolate covered cinnamon bears and the the pictures from the wedding. They were both great!

I love you, again! Love, Joanna