Patriotic Pride

Hey Y'all!

This picture is of us in Atlanta. 
Sister Dean and I had unexpected service, so we are still in our P-day cloths. :) 

Sister Tracy and Sister Ducharm look amazing, though! :D

This past week has been pretty crazy but awesome! :D Last time I emailed, I told y'all I was going on exchanges in Atlanta. Well, I did! And it was a blast! :D The Sisters there are so much fun, and the area is progressing so well. I hope to get transferred there once in my mission. :) It would be such an honor!

President and Sister Foot with their huge baked potatoes
and a photo bombing Elder at our MLC.

Becca and other STL's eating their huge baked potatoes at MLC.

After our two-day exchange, we had Mission Leadership Council at our mission president's home. They gave us HUGE potatoes for lunch! I swear those things were as big as my forearm! No joke! Besides the big potatoes, we had a great time, spending the day with our mission president and his wife, learning so much from them. These meetings are one of the biggest reasons why I love being an STL.  

Later this week, we went out on exchanges with the Peachtree City ward sisters. We had a blast! Not to mention we had an amazing lesson with Michelle as we were out. In the morning, me and my new companion for the day went out and knocked on Michelle's door, leaving her a note. A few hours later she called us! NO ONE EVER CALLS US! :D She told us she needed to run a few errands but that she would call us back because she wanted to meet with us that day. We waited a few more hours until an hour before our dinner appointment when she finally called back. We raced to her house and had the best lesson with her! She had so many questions that we went all over answering them. The spirit was felt so strongly in the room, and to top it all off we invited her to be baptized. She accepted! :D I have never seen a person more prepared for the gospel than Michelle on my mission. We are meeting her again tomorrow for lunch and another lesson. Pray for us that she continues progressing as she is! :D 

On Sunday, we had the opportunity to start our 4th of July celebrations off with an amazing stake Choir Concert. They wen't through the whole history of the United States up through the civil war, then ended with the anthems of each section of the military. It was beautiful, and they centered it all on how the Lord had His hand in preparing this country for freedom from the beginning. :)

At the parade with the member family we found to sit with.

Yesterday was the 4th as you all know, and to celebrate, we went out to the Peachtree City Parade. My companion was sick, so I had the opportunity to head out with the Peachtree City Sisters again. :) We started off the Parade-which is probably the only parade that I will ever see which entailed more golf carts than anything else :P-with a big stack of pass-along cards that we taped to pieces of candy. We headed out almost an hour before it started and had almost NO LUCK! But then we found a member family to sit with. At about half way through the parade we gave the cards to their son and his friend who then proceeded to throw them into the parade floats where they would then be thrown out into the crowds. Best way to hand out cards EVER! :D They had so much fun doing it and we had so much fun watching them! After the parade as we were walking back to the sisters apartment, we looked to see if any of the cards were on the ground. NONE of them were. :) 

The two sister Welch's at MLC.

This past week was crazy, but amazing. I look forward to what the next week brings. One thing that really stuck out to me recently, though, is the Lord's promise of never leaving us alone. He will be with us always. He was there when this country was formed, there when the church was restored back to the earth, and he is with us now. President Foote shared with us a scripture at MLC that I think fit's this perfectly. It's in John 8:29. Christ is speaking of himself, but president related it to us.

"And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him."

I love this scripture and the statement of truth it holds. The Father will not leave us alone. As long as we do His will, he will be with us at all times. He will help us on our way, and prepare the way for us to accomplish all the things he has asked us to do. I know that the Lord is with me now, and when I go out to preach His gospel. He will be with me when I return home, as long as I continue doing the things that please Him. That is an amazing promise he has given, and a comfort that he offers all of us. :)

Y'all's Southern Bell,

Sister Welch

Here are some more pictures from Mission Leadership Council.