Sister Amarae Huffaker: a Change of Heart...a Change of Soul (Oct 20th)

Hello my loves!

Where to even begin? I had the most amazing week! I had the opportunity for my very first Zone Conference, to share it with Elder Zwick and his wife from the Seventy. These two incredible people really had an impact on my attitude, my goals, and my outlook on life. I wish I could explain how strong you could feel the Spirit's presense there, but in times like these, words can't describe the feelings. Safe to say, it was a great day.

Today, I'd like to talk to you about Sister Zwick's talk she gave to all of us. A talk given, that hit my heart so deep, I thought it would break. A talk about the importance of having a continual process of changing one's heart...or better yet, a change of one's soul. Our desires, our commitments and our way of living, should reflect that of the Savior's, always. Especially as a missionary, God has given me a front row seat of watching the ones that I love, change for the better. Sitting three pues back and listening to this wonderful lady speak the very words my soul needed to hear and putting me on the right path, I didn't realize the amount of change that I would eventually see in the ones I teach later that week. I'll share a few examples...

This past Saturday, Jennifer Hardy...the biggest sweetheart I know, was baptized. The Hardy family has been one of the greatest examples to me of changing yourself for the better. After both parents returned home from their mission in Brazil, they were then married and after a while, became less active. The dad fell back into old bad habits, the mom felt depressed, lonely and regretful of many things and not knowing what to do anymore. This family had been through many rough patches, low points and needed hope in their lives again. After their 11 year old daughter became friends with a mormon girl in class, she came to them wanting the lessons. That's when the process truly began. Six weeks of teaching, Sister Zemp and I witnessed at first, small miracles and baby steps until one day, there was major adjustments in these wonderful people's countance that made the biggest impact on us every time we left their home. Why were major differences? Because the desire to change was there. The baptism day came, and the sweetest tender mercies came along with it. Sister and Brother Hardy sat next to each other as they watched Jennifer go into the font. At the moment Jennifer grabbed her Grandpa's arm, was the second Brother Hardy shyly reached over and put his hand on his wive's. Brother Hardy was asked by his daughter to give a talk on the Holy Ghost. For the first time in Jennifer's life, she saw her Dad cry. In that moment, the Spirit melted everyones heart. Later on, Sister Hardy mentioned to me, that while Jennifer was getting ready after being baptized, that the smile she had was biggest she had ever seen her daughter's face. To you, these examples might not mean much, but to me...I consider these some of my most treasured memories on my mission that I will never forget.

As a representative of Jesus Christ and a simple girl that loves you personally, I testify to you that the Atonement is real, change is necessary and it is all up to us if we allow the miracles and blessings that come along with it, to let it work in our lives..only IF we allow it. God has given us this time to prove ourselves worthy and grow spiritually strong. Don't make the mistake like me, of not taking FULL and complete advantage of this amazing gift. I have seen the effects that it has in my life and those I care so much about, I know that its the only way to be truly happy.

I pray, that as we use the Atonement in our lives, as we STRIVE to fix and improve our weaknesses continually, that we will have a change of soul that God will be proud of. When the day comes, I hope we all can honestly profess to our loving Heavenly Father, "I did my very best..."

In process of change,

Sister Huffaker