Hi everybody!
This past week has been fantastic! We've gotten so much work done! We actually hit Standards of Excellence (22 lessons, 2 new investigators, 3 investigators at church, and 3 on date)! Actually we surpassed that. And we did 10 hours of service! And we will have one, maybe two baptisms this Saturday! Things are just going super well.
We did have some minor trials with several appointments cancelling, and I guess there's some sort of bug going around because a lot of people have been getting sick. But nothing too crazy this week. As
much as we can learn from trials, sometimes it really is nice though to get a nice break.
But I'm sure we'll have more trials this week. It's a baptism week, so something is bound to happen, at least to the point of being an annoyance, if not a full fledged obstacle. Baptism weeks are awesome,
but are always the most exhausting and it's when Satan pretty much throws everything at us or our investigators to try to stop the baptism from happening. Satan's an annoying jerk.
So this week, Mona is scheduled for baptism, and maybe her son Elijah, but he might need to go to church one more time before that can happen. But if not this week, then we'll get him the next week, along with (at least the plan is) 6 other people! That's freaking awesome! I'm so excited for all these people, and I know that the decisions they're making will bless their lives so much!
Ok, here's one really cool experience from this past week. So we were on splits, and I was with our ward mission leader in the Snow Canyon 2nd Ward (not that really means anything to anyone reading this, but anyway), and we had a family to contact. We didn't really know much about them, except it was a less active mom, and two kids, ages 12 and 9, who hadn't been baptized. We went and knocked on the door and they let us in, and agreed to take the missionary lessons! And here's the cool thing. About a week ago, the kids asked their mom if she would teach them about Jesus Christ. Then the day before we showed up, they reminded her that she still hasn't taught them about Jesus, and asked
when she was going to teach them. And then the next day was when we showed up asking if we could teach them about Jesus Christ and his church and gospel. I love how God times things, and I love being an instrument in His hands. And that's not the first time something like that has happened since being on a mission. I've had the opportunity to have a few experiences like that.
Well, that's really about it for this week. We pretty much just taught and served, which is awesome. Like last week, I'll finish with a spiritual thought of the week.
This week I have thought a lot about the prophet Joseph Smith. He exemplified a Christian life, and he is a prime example of how the Lord uses imperfect people in a very perfect capacity. Joseph was a
farm boy with a 3rd grade education, yet he was able to translate the Book of Mormon, restore an entire church, and then lead said church (under the direction of God) with all the wisdom and eloquence of someone who had years of religious and academic experience. He was by no means perfect. He made mistakes, just like we all do. But he's an example to all of us of how we can rise above our weaknesses and do great things if we trust and follow Christ. And finally Joseph experienced a lot of hardship. Mob violence, tar and feathers, an extermination order from the government of Missouri, complacency from the national government, more mob violence, false accusations and slander, and ultimately assassination, martyrdom. And all of this because he taught repentance and faith in Christ, Christlike love and service, and because he said that God spoke to him and continues to speak. He could have denied his experiences at any time, but he didn't. He was willing to die before denying what he had experienced. He gave his life as a testimony that the Book of Mormon and the Church are true. And he invited all people to find out for themselves if he was telling the truth. And that is the Church's invitation today. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God" (James 1:5); the very scripture that started Joseph on his journey, is just as applicable to us. We can pray and ask God to confirm in our minds and hearts the truth which is already apparent: that Joseph Smith was a prophet, that the Book of Mormon is true, and that this is Christ's church once
again on the Earth. I have done this and I know that these things aretrue. And I'm so grateful for Joseph Smith's sacrifices and example, which always point back to an infinitely greater sacrifice and
example, even the Savior. I don't know where I'd be without it.
Have a great week! I miss you all!
-Elder Oswald
This past week has been fantastic! We've gotten so much work done! We actually hit Standards of Excellence (22 lessons, 2 new investigators, 3 investigators at church, and 3 on date)! Actually we surpassed that. And we did 10 hours of service! And we will have one, maybe two baptisms this Saturday! Things are just going super well.
We did have some minor trials with several appointments cancelling, and I guess there's some sort of bug going around because a lot of people have been getting sick. But nothing too crazy this week. As
much as we can learn from trials, sometimes it really is nice though to get a nice break.
But I'm sure we'll have more trials this week. It's a baptism week, so something is bound to happen, at least to the point of being an annoyance, if not a full fledged obstacle. Baptism weeks are awesome,
but are always the most exhausting and it's when Satan pretty much throws everything at us or our investigators to try to stop the baptism from happening. Satan's an annoying jerk.
So this week, Mona is scheduled for baptism, and maybe her son Elijah, but he might need to go to church one more time before that can happen. But if not this week, then we'll get him the next week, along with (at least the plan is) 6 other people! That's freaking awesome! I'm so excited for all these people, and I know that the decisions they're making will bless their lives so much!
Ok, here's one really cool experience from this past week. So we were on splits, and I was with our ward mission leader in the Snow Canyon 2nd Ward (not that really means anything to anyone reading this, but anyway), and we had a family to contact. We didn't really know much about them, except it was a less active mom, and two kids, ages 12 and 9, who hadn't been baptized. We went and knocked on the door and they let us in, and agreed to take the missionary lessons! And here's the cool thing. About a week ago, the kids asked their mom if she would teach them about Jesus Christ. Then the day before we showed up, they reminded her that she still hasn't taught them about Jesus, and asked
when she was going to teach them. And then the next day was when we showed up asking if we could teach them about Jesus Christ and his church and gospel. I love how God times things, and I love being an instrument in His hands. And that's not the first time something like that has happened since being on a mission. I've had the opportunity to have a few experiences like that.
Well, that's really about it for this week. We pretty much just taught and served, which is awesome. Like last week, I'll finish with a spiritual thought of the week.
This week I have thought a lot about the prophet Joseph Smith. He exemplified a Christian life, and he is a prime example of how the Lord uses imperfect people in a very perfect capacity. Joseph was a
farm boy with a 3rd grade education, yet he was able to translate the Book of Mormon, restore an entire church, and then lead said church (under the direction of God) with all the wisdom and eloquence of someone who had years of religious and academic experience. He was by no means perfect. He made mistakes, just like we all do. But he's an example to all of us of how we can rise above our weaknesses and do great things if we trust and follow Christ. And finally Joseph experienced a lot of hardship. Mob violence, tar and feathers, an extermination order from the government of Missouri, complacency from the national government, more mob violence, false accusations and slander, and ultimately assassination, martyrdom. And all of this because he taught repentance and faith in Christ, Christlike love and service, and because he said that God spoke to him and continues to speak. He could have denied his experiences at any time, but he didn't. He was willing to die before denying what he had experienced. He gave his life as a testimony that the Book of Mormon and the Church are true. And he invited all people to find out for themselves if he was telling the truth. And that is the Church's invitation today. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God" (James 1:5); the very scripture that started Joseph on his journey, is just as applicable to us. We can pray and ask God to confirm in our minds and hearts the truth which is already apparent: that Joseph Smith was a prophet, that the Book of Mormon is true, and that this is Christ's church once
again on the Earth. I have done this and I know that these things aretrue. And I'm so grateful for Joseph Smith's sacrifices and example, which always point back to an infinitely greater sacrifice and
example, even the Savior. I don't know where I'd be without it.
Have a great week! I miss you all!
-Elder Oswald
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