Sister Michelle Shurtz

HEYYY! 
ALright first off, I have to say that this week has been amazing! People are so kind and so wonderful- including my amazing family! So many have been kind and thoughtful to reach out to me at this time, here on the mission ( those who know) and also from friends and ward members back home! I feel so loved and comforted! Please pass the word along. 
Guess WHAT??? Beth Barela is getting baptized on Saturday May 26th! Wow! I can't believe it. I am finally SO excited for this to happen. Before I was worried sick about baptizing her in to inactivity because she still doesn't where a dress to church and won't take all her earrings out yet and some other small things. I was just freaking out because Beth has been so set on being baptized and she bears a strong testimony of the gospel and the things we teach. She loves and reads the Book of Mormon daily and reads lots! She loves to do indexing and wants to help out at the cannery and humanitarian aid center etc. Anyway I was still worried though. But I got the feeling to call the bishop and that he would be able to help us make the decision as to whether or not we should let her be baptized or not yet. When we called him and told him our concerns he said that he agreed with us and that he had been worried about those things too but then after praying realized that the gospel of Jesus Christ requires Faith Repentance Baptism and Enduring to the end after baptism- the rest is just mormon culture and if the ward members do their job- the rest will come with time. Wow, when he said that I felt a wave of calm and peace wash over me. I felt that he was right. I felt that Beth was ready and that she would be okay. Yesterday Beth had her baptismal interview. She passed and then we had the most amazing lesson with her that just wiped away any previous concerns that i still might have had. Beth is so strong is so ready. This is going to be a blessing for her and her families life and she is going to be the perfect example for them! It's interesting that the day after her baptismal interview she started facing tons of opposition. We warned her she would. She got home and her husband said he wasn't going to her baptism anymore and that the girls couldn't go either. Then her mom who has been supportive this whole time emailed her and said she changed her mind. It's really being hard on her. It never ceases to amaze me- the opposition that comes to people right before a baptism. When Beth told us that we dropped right down on our knees and told her we were going to say a prayer for her and that she should say a prayer at her home at the same time too. She is being so strong through this and she knows its just satan not wanting this to happen. She'll make it!- These are her words: "The devil is angry.. He is trying to make my choice as hard as possible, but I will win."Wahoo she'll be okay. I just feel sad for her that she has to go through this. I firmly believe that things will start looking up again soon after she is baptized and confirmed though.
Well Another woman I taught is getting baptized on the 26th of may as welll!!! It's Awesome! i am not sure if i told you about her. Her name is Rachel Palacio. She was GOLDEN! She worked for Jay Mackinlay at a law office in our area. She said that she couldn't be taught at home at the time, so Jay arranged for Sister Lewis and I to teach her at their work place in the conference room right when she got off work. Rachel lives in the Tempe mission in Chandler so it was a miracle that we were able to teach her. I know that she needed us first though. So amazing how God works. He puts certain people in certain places just exactly for those who need them at that time. God works miracles! Anyway Sis Lewis and I taught Rachel and we immediately felt an amazing connection with her. She opened up to us an told her all about her past and her worries and concerns. She has had an awful and miserable childhood and past life. Poor woman- yet Rachel is probably one of the most charitable women I have ever met besides Mom. She is amazing. Anyway. She said she didn't know if she believed in Christ or not. She said she wanted to but just wasn't sure if she should. Then she laughed and said "I don't know if I believe in Him- yet I have a picture of Him on my nightstand.." haha she was so prepared. We taught her several lessons and then we needed to transfer her to her Elders in Tempe :( Elder nix and milne. They are great and we knew from the moment that we met them that they would take good care of Rachel, but it was still hard to hand her over. We were going to invite Rachel to baptism but felt that we should let the Elders do that. They did the next week! I am so happy for her! I am so sad I can't be at her baptism, but she told sis Lewis and i that she loves us and is so thankful for us and that she doesn't know if she would have opened up and listened had we not been the ones to teach her! We gave her a journal filled with pictures of Christ and quotes going along with the pictures to strengthen her testimony of him. We then wrote her our testimonies of Chirst in it. She carries it in her bag with her every where and said she treasures it. She wants to stay in contact! i love her!
I'm tellin you what there is more!..
The miracles have been just pouring out over us this week!
I'll have to tell you about my phone call miracles and about our 6 new investigators that we found this week later! But I have to tell you that the Lord is merciful and faithful. When we push through the trial and show our faith even when it gets so hard! That is when the Lord pours out blessings upon us even so much that we cannot number them! I am now aware more than ever that angels are bearing me up and lifting me before I fall. Angels guard and ARE here often. I am so grateful for the miracles the Lord is pouring out upon me at this time. 
I know that what I am teaching everyone out here is so true. God is great. This work is truly miraculous and inspiring. It changes lives eternally. There is no greater thing I could be doing right now, The Lord has told me that. Wow. I just love being a missionary! 
Thanks to you all for your loves and computer hugs and prayers!!!!
Loves Always!
Sister Shurtz