Bro Barfield

Carlyle District doing the President Morgan pose
Elders Keller, Serage, Soutas, Lovik, Sisters Schow, and Oldroyd.

This week went by so so fast! The highlight of the week was this:

We've been teaching a 60 year old man who lost his wife 3 months ago. His named is Brother Barfield. On Tuesday, he invited himself to church for Sunday!! We were taken aback when he said he wanted to go. We didn't even have to ask! He hadn't set foot in the church for 20 years! He also hadn't gone much before then since he doesn't even have the aaronic priesthood! But he came Sunday, and the ward welcomed him back with open arms. It was really cool to see! He came in a slick looking silver suit as well. His face just lit up like a jack-o-lantern (he is missing a few teeth) while everyone was saying hi to him. He felt the spirit really strongly. There were a couple of really good talks by our bishop, Bishop Kretschmer (who is probably the most entertaining bishop out there), and one of the Sister Missionaries, Sister Schow, who is such a great missionary here but is leaving and becoming an STL in O'Fallon. The sisters get work done in Centralia and now we Elders need to step up our game since she is gone. But I was so glad that church was a great experience for Brother Barfield! We had a lesson on family history work/temples in Sunday school which was exactly what he needed to hear since the passing of his wife. He was pretty emotional the whole time, but it was really amazing to see how welcomed he was. Many people have stopped attending church because they don't feel welcomed.

Bro Barfield:

Well other than Brother Barfield, not a whole lot happened. We didn't meet with Jose this week, or one of the Mikes. But the other Mike didn't come to church which was disappointing. He could have been baptized next week if he came this week, but now it's looking like he isn't ready to be baptized here in Illinois. He still wants to be baptized, but it probably won't happen until he moves to Clarksville, Tennessee. Luckily there are 3 wards in Clarksville so he'll be taken care of.

Well I am all emailed out for today, but I will just close with my testimony.

My first 6 weeks in the field has been quite an experience so far! I have come to enjoy getting to know so many wonderful saints and future saints in the area. I have learned thus far that best way to get through hard things is to call down the powers of heaven through prayer, and to lose yourself in selfless service. Also, I am learning that it can be hard to be kind to certain people sometimes, but it is possible if you ask the Lord to help. I know that Heavenly Father is helping me and I'm sure that he answers prayers that are heartfelt. I'm still learning to become better at prayer, but I at least know that it helps. I know Jesus Christ went through a lot of pain but he did it out of supreme love. He loves us all unfathomably, and even when you are not sure if he is really there you've just got to believe he is or else things only get worse. He is the light of the world which can never be dimmed. He showed us the way to eternal life. The Book of Mormon is true. It completes the bible, and I have seen in people's lives how without the Book of Mormon and the restored gospel life is incomplete. And of course Joseph Smith is a prophet and helped bring about this great and marvelous work. He saw the Son standing on the right hand of The Father. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true.

My scripture for this week is:

3 Nephi 18:24
" Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do."

Love you all,

Elder Soutas