Hey everyone,
It's been another eventful week!
Sorry we weren't able to email the other day since all libraries near us were closed.
Some good things happened this week. We've been trying extra hard to work with the active members in obtaining referrals. We are getting return appointments with them too to follow up on their efforts. We met with the Large family. They have the most ironic last name since they live in a small town with all of the biggest objects in the world. Like the world's largest chair, wind chime, golf tee, mailbox, etc. We taught a pretty good lesson about the book of Mormon and they all promised to read their scriptures better as a foundation for sharing the gospel. You can't share it if you don't study it. They are an awesome family. Brother Large gave the best priesthood lesson I've heard in a long while. It actually impacted me. It was about not being compelled and acting as an agent (not being commanded in all things). Because of that I decided we would skip lunch unlike normal. I almost decided against it, but I felt impressed that that was what we needed to do and so we did it and I felt a lot happier. As a result, we talked to a couple of really cool people, one of which was a Mr. Whitaker. He wouldn't accept a book of Mormon but he knew someone in the branch very well. so you never know. Another man seemed like he wanted to argue with us, but it turned out he actually had questions and accepted a book of Mormon after I insisted that he take one. I felt like we had only been doing the bear minimum lately, but I decided to try going the extra mile yesterday and like I said I felt a lot better.
Dusty has been sick all week and so we weren't able to meet with her much. She couldn't come to church either. That's two weeks in a row now. Her baptism date is pushed to the 15th now. We gave her a priesthood blessing and stuff still.
Julie made some good progress. She and her husband Brian read the first 5 chapters of the book of Mormon together, which is a great way to start off the new year. Brian came to church, but Julie had to fill in for work since she was the only one from her company that wasn't hung over from new years!
Brent has fallen of the face of the earth.
We had a cool church tour with Chanh while we were on exchanges. He enjoyed it. He didn't accept a baptism invite yet though.
we also met with the Large's grandparents, The Griggs. Had a really great lesson with them and I was very impressed with C.W. the Large's 10 year old son. We talked about Neil L. Andersen's talk which had to do how we are all pieces of the puzzle. C.W. said that like a puzzle, the world is puzzled or confused and we need to help them "fit in." While the world may be trying to fit in to certain clubs or cliques, we are to be trying to help each other be "fitly framed together" (ephesians 2:10) by helping our brothers and sisters who are puzzled about their purpose in life. Each puzzle has a purpose, some are turned over and have no clue where they fit. We are all pieces of that puzzle, and like certain pieces that don't quite fit, we have thousands of our brothers and sisters who are looking to fit in to the truth but need our help to make a few adjustments (like turning a puzzle piece so it does fit). Also, in a puzzle their are 4 corners, and the gospel needs to "gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth." (2 Nephi 21:12).
I invite all who read this email to sort through the people you know in your life and help those who are puzzled to fit in. look for someone who looks lonely at school or just anywhere and help them know what their purpose is.
"Those who surround you are open to spiritual inquiry. Remember the puzzle? You do not come to the table with empty hands but with technology and social media at your command. We need you; the Lord needs you to be even more engaged in this great cause."
- Neil L. Andersen
have a great week!
Love you all!
Elder Soutas
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