A Week of Powerful Prayer 2/4/13

Hello everyone from a very happy and excited missionary! 
I just love the mission and the work. We have been working hard, especially to work through part-member families and less active members to help and strengthen them, as well as receiving referrals through them. Just last night we were going through the ward roster trying to get to know everyone ( and find out those who have moved, etc, etc) and stopped by this family whom we'd never heard of. The husband is a member but works every Sunday so is unable to come, but his wife and little girl aren't members. We are going back later this week : ) We have the opportunity this past week to attend xone leader council- where all the zone leaders and assistants as well as a couple companionships of sisters get training from President- the plans and everything for zone and district meetings. They rotate the sisters that go, and we got to go. It was perfect because I think both Hna Rife and I both needed a little extra boost. President taught beautifully about powerful prayer using examples from the scriptures including the prayer of the brother of Jared (Ether 3:1-6), the prayer of Nephi to see the vision of his father (1Nephi 10-11), and the people of Alma when in bondage which is one of my favorites (Mosiah 24). Using those examples we discussed the elements of a powerful prayer such as- humility, selflessness, diligence, real intent and action on our part, and others. In discussing the importance of prayer for both us as missionaries and for our investigators, Hna Rife and I thought of several investigators who needed to go back to the basics of prayer, Book of Mormon, and church as they are seeking for their answers. We had some incredible experiences and lessons as we strove to implement what he taught us- I will share some of those in my written letters this week : ) I enjoyed studying examples of prayer throughout the scriptures during my studies this week. Also finished studying Abinidi and loved looking at how he affected the rest of the Book of Mormon, but I'll write more in my letters this week.
We had lunch after the ZLC and Hermana Rife and I playing a silly joke on the elders. When we all went into the mission home for lunch, the elders took off all their shoes. And then us sisters got food first and we were sitting at the table in the other room, next to the entry. We switched around all the pairs of shoes ( since they look a lot alike) and laughed so hard when the elders were all perplexed about what happened to their shoes. 
We are trying hard to be healthy and buy all the healthy stuff, but it's hard when it's so much more expensive. But I'm not complaining, because we have been blessed so much as we work hard and strive to be exactly obedient and teach with the Spirit.
Love you all so much,
Hna Kristi Koerner