Dear Family,
This
week has been great! Going to a new area is like starting another year
in school, except this year all the kids are new! Its a great time to
start anew and see how you have grown from the past area. I can see
aspects concerning myself that have changed and other aspects that I
still need to work on.
After the visit of Brother Donaldson from SLC, I have put a
greater effort forward to excising real faith in what the scriptures,
Preach my Gospel, and other materials say concerning missionary work. I
have found that I have the faith to say 'oh ya that sounds like that
could happen if it needed to' or 'ya I believe in that'. But I have
discovered that it doesn't just happen. I need play an active role in
what I am putting my trust in. For example: if i believe that there is
someone that I'm supposed to talk to, or that someone is prepared, I
cant just hope that I will meet them and let God do it. I need to talk
to as many people as I can to be able to have the experiences that I
want on my mission and to fulfill the Lords promises to me!
This past week I have been trying to learn the area. And it is so
great! The members are fantastic and some of the investigators we are
working with seem really promising.
I love my new companion!
(I still love you Elder Manning/previous companions) It is great to
have someone that you get along with and someone who you can feel open
with. It allows the spirit to direct not only our companionship as a
whole but it also allows the spirit to direct my in all aspects of the
work!
My first night in the area, Monday, we had dinner at the Jensen's
and a lesson with the Doxies. The husband was baptized a few months ago
and we started the new member lessons with them! The Doxies are great
people and I look forward to them going to the temple! Their goal is
November 8th of next year! (their anniversary)
This week we had the opportunity to teach Elder Quorum. We formed the
lesson around the first presidency message in last months Ensign. I'm
pretty sure it was 'To the Rescue'. There was great participation from
the Elders and it allowed learning to occur. (also it was great not to
have to talk that much haha)
We have started using the survey in this area and guess what! We
found someone the first time we went out! His name is David and his room
mate is a member of the church who hasn't been active since he was 13.
His roommate, Andrew, said that he has been thinking of coming back to
church and that he may come in the next few weeks. We have an
appointment with David tonight so hopefully all goes well!
oh I almost forgot! This past Thursday we, Elder Herlin and I, we
asked to usher at the Gladys Knight performance. She puts on a great
performance to share her testimony and to allow non members to feel the
spirit. It was a great experience and we have already had one referral
from it! (they pass out card that people that fill out to receive a free
gift; a Gladys Knight cd, Book of Mormon, and a Restoration DVD). The
only down side to Thursday night was that we did not get to sleep until
12:30. then we got to wake up at 6:30 the next day!
Also this week we will be going to the temple and I can't wait!
Well that's pretty much my first week in my new area!
Love you all!
Elder John
"True
as the scripture says, "wickedness never was happiness" (alma41:10) but
neither is lukewarmness full happiness. Failing to be valiant in
Christlike discipleship will leave us without significant happiness.
therefore, our active avoidance of wickedness must be followed by our
active engagement in righteousness. Then we can come to know true joy-
after all, man in that 'he might have joy' (2 Nephi 2:25)
- Neal A. Maxwell
No comments:
Post a Comment