Week 46 - Littlerock

Hey everyone, how is everything doing? This week was pretty good. The Lord was able to provide a miracle for us. It was really cool. We found a less-active member whose records are in Idaho, and she's the only member in her immediate family. It was really cool. She's a sweet lady with 2 or 3 kids and one on the way in like 2 weeks. For a district activity on Monday we played volleyball, which was a ton of fun, and some board games!

This week, I have had a few thoughts to share. First, in this area, I've been feeling a little down, so in my email to president Layton two weeks ago, I promised him that we would get a miracle to report in the next week. In the last two weeks we've found three part-member families that nobody has known about before. Thus, this week I will promise that we will get a baptismal date, along with one other miracle.

My intentions are not selfish, and it's not pride by any means either, from what I understand: I just do not want to waste time here, and we need the extra motivation, so we make the commitment beforehand; it worked before, why not now.    

Also this week, we went on exchanges with the zone leaders. I went with Elder Olson. We were walking down a street after a few investigators said not right now, and we decided to knock a certain door. A hispanic man answered, and as we talked to him, he said, "I've always wondered, if there is one God who loves us, why are there so many churches and religions that teach so many different things?" He then said, I decided this morning that I was done dealing with all of these churches, and I was going to just stay with God by myself, and you guys knock on my door." We asked him what he supposed that meant, and he said "I think it's a sign from God."

Since he wasn't in our area, we sent him off as a referral for the hermanas in that area. 

   
In district meeting, we discussed being bold in everything we do, and we shared a few scriptures to get that done. It was pretty good.

We went to stake conference, and that was really good. I learned a few things I'll share here. When we receive a calling, we receive all of the rights, powers, privileges and authorities necessary to accomplish the work called to get done. I was reading in Abraham, and I think the first few verses of chapter one explain how he was so awesome: he was searching greater happiness, peace, and rest. He sought the "blessings of the fathers", the right thereunto to administer in the same, he had been a follower of righteousness, and DESIRING to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, possess greater knowledge, father of many nations, a prince of peace, receive instruction and commandments, and become a rightful heir. I thought his desires were very interesting. 

  
This district is getting better and better, but truly, we need to learn to follow by the spirit, to teach by the spirit, and know where to go and what to do, by that spirit. The Lord has been providing for us. I love you all, and thank you for everything you do! Thanks for keeping us in your prayers, and please continue doing so.

Week 45 - Littlerock

Hey everyone, how have things been doing?

   On Sunday in church, after sacrament meeting, the first councilor in the branch presidency called us over, and it turns out that there was a less-active member who wanted to come to church, and his non-member daughter brought him. She said we could come over, and we will do that! And that was at the end of the week, too! During the week, we decided to go by an old investigator we had basically dropped, because we hadn't seen her in a long time, and it turns out that she had surgery recently and has been unable to have us over. It was great to know that she wasn't avoiding us and is in a situation that is life-changing that we can help her with! nd that your efforts will not be in vain but your works will continue after you leave."

   I realized recently how short comparatively this mission is to the rest of your life, and I wish it were longer. 

   During district meeting I had planned talking about working with the ward and how to do it, and we were able to get to that, but as we reviewed key indicators, we did our own small training, where we talked about how to receive and expect miracles. We got a list of the following:

   Miracles

Attitude, and we found that this affects all the other attributes in the list; when you're happy and excited to get out of the car, you want the other attributes.

Pray, and expect it to happen

Faith- increase it

Hope

Repentance

Obedience

Dilligence

Charity

Patience, esp. with alma 17

Humility

All other Christ-like attributes in preach my gospel. 

As we try to follow Christ, He gives miracles. 

I've been really trying to let the goals motivate me this week. It has slipped my mind before, and I have forgotten about them at times when they would have helped, but hopefully I get better.

We went to McDonalds and there was a 69 cent burger deal.  Together we bought and ate 79 burgers!

Week 44 - Littlerock

Week 43 - Littlerock

Hey everyone. This week was a pretty good week.    This week was a pretty good week. The Lord blessed us to be able to find some people who I hope were prepared. So far I have been waiting for a miracle, not waiting passively, but better said, expecting one. This week I was thinking about the story in Daniel where they were to be put into the furnace for not worshiping the idol, and they said the Lord will save us, but if not, we still won't worship that idol. I know the Lord will provide a miracle for us, but if not, I will still be faithful to the Lord. I am truly very grateful for this chance I have to serve. This week I have seen faith grow in my companion and I.  The Lord will provide. I was reading in Jacob 5:21-23, and I learned the following: It's a poor spot of ground- it's a desert- but the Lord nourished it and it brought forth fruit, because the branches (Little Rock 2...) had to trust in His nourishment!