Dear everybody,

This week has been pretty great. We've made some great strides with Robyn. We were unable to meet with her until yesterday morning, but that was okay because it worked out great. We brought brother Bennett with us who is like my favorite member I've met on my mission. A little about Brother Bennett. He loves to share the gospel, and is very very intelligent. He is also a raw foodist and puts raw chocolate on his salads. He is a goofy guy but isn't afraid of anything and makes friends with everyone he meets. I look up to him a lot. 

Anyway, we thought it would be a good idea to show a video called "Between Heaven and Earth" to her since she requested that she wants temple work done for her father who passed in 2015, as well as her grandfather. She feels her father close by to her and yesterday told us that he has been trying to communicate to her through the music player on her phone. There was a song that turned on by itself (she says that her dad did it) that was by Billy Joel that conveyed the message to her from him that he was okay. I believe her. It sounds like her dad is wanting is work done and so now she is contemplating and doing a lot of searching. For The video we planned to watch the 10 minute version but there was no remote to switch it to that so we had no choice but to watch the full-length version. The full length version goes way into depth about the ancient temple in comparison to the modern temples. Brother Bennett basically took over the entire lesson, but it was okay I guess and it worked out because the questions Robyn asked and the responses brother Bennett gave were exactly what she needed to know. We gave her a preisthood blessing afterward because she has a condition where the inside of her eardrum had burst and so she is sensitive to sound. She was a music chorister at the Catholic church for years and so being so sensitive to sound has been a huge trial for her. But we gave her a blessing and so hopefully she will get better soon.

So I had the idea to do a musical fireside for the ward since there are quite a few musically talented people in the ward. Both of our investigators really like to sing, and sing really really well. Nalani took college classes for singing (I am yet to hear her sing though), and Robyn says that she can sing as good as Cylene Dion or Adelle. So I thought it would be a great idea to put on this musical fireside and we got the ward on board. The bishop loves to sing as well and his wife is the music coordinator and can sing. Nalani's husband Jacob who got baptized a few months ago is an amazing pianist who took classes in college. He and I are doing a duet in church this coming Sunday. I let him borrow some of my Paul Cardall books too to see if he would like them. He and I are hopefully going to be lifetime friends. He is only 24 or 25 or so. 

I really hope that Nalani gets baptized soon. Jacob told us that she has a few hangups, especially about women's roles in the church and tithing. She just isn't sure of all of it especially because of the time commitment. She comes to church every week though. 

Robyn also has a concern about women's roles in the church but Brother Bennett is on top of it. Also, I had planned beforehand to print out the church essays about women's roles in the priesthood and other controversial topics beforehand and so I gave that to Robyn to study over. She asked us if women in the church could be prophets. Brother Bennett responded: well, yes and no...and then gave his shpeel. I think we will have Sister Bennet or Sister Voelkel come give her a good explanation next lesson. Sister Voelkel and many other sisters in the ward like Sister Wilson each had really good chats with Robyn during and after classes. She is getting great support and compassionate care from the ward. 

I also truly believe that Heavenly Father has placed me here to help Robyn, too. She is probably going to be baptized here soon if things keep going the way they are. 

Other than that, we are making slow progress with Cora and her Dad. Her Dad, Wayne, is still holding her back a little bit. We had a great lesson at The Hunter's house, and the husband whose name is Cotton, is very blunt and very funny and they are excellent fellowshipping family for Cora and Wayne. We taught her the word of wisdom lesson which was really powerful. I was reading in Ether about how the brother of Jared and his family fleeing from Babylon (the world) and how God wants us to live the words of wisdom so we are separated from the world. He wants us to stand out in a good way and be "a city on a hill that can't be hid," rather than the city of babylon that just wants to be seen for the wrong reasons, like pride. The Holy Ghost actually taught me that while I was teaching which was really cool. 

This week we also made some family history flyers to give to Sister Bennet so we can get lots of people to want help with family history. There was this one lady named Sis Bartnett  that we were able to connect with her by using family history. It is a really great tool for missionary work. I really love doing it. 

Well I have said enough. I have felt a lot of joy this week sharing the gospel. I have been trying not to treat the restored truths of the gospel as commonplace in a world that is always changing. The spirit taught me this week that we have to be careful not to be past feeling. This can easily happen the more familiar we become with something. President Uchtdorf said in his last talk: "It seems to be human nature: as we become more familiar with something, even something miraculous and awe-inspiring, we lose our sense of awe and treat it as commonplace....how could it ever be possible that we of all people would not be excited about attending our Church worship services? Or get tired of reading the holy scriptures? I suppose this could be possible only if our hearts were past feeling to experience gratitude and awe for the sacred and sublime gifts God has granted us. Life-changing truths are before our eyes and at our fingertips, but sometimes we sleepwalk on the path of discipleship. Too often we let ourselves be distracted by the imperfections of our fellow members instead of following the example of our Master. We tread a path covered with diamonds, but we can scarcely distinguish them from ordinary pebbles." 

So how then can we keep ourselves from becoming past feeling? I believe that we need to do what Pres. Ucthdorf challenged all of us to do:

My beloved brothers and sisters, my dear friends, does it not fill our hearts and minds with wonder and awe to contemplate the great plan of happiness our Heavenly Father has prepared for us? Does it not fill us with unspeakable joy to know of the glorious future that is prepared for all who wait upon the Lord?

If you have never felt such wonder and joy, I invite you to seek, study, and ponder the simple yet profound truths of the restored gospel. “Let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds.”5 Let them bear testimony unto you of the divine plan of salvation.

If you have felt these things before, I ask you today, “Can [you] feel so now?”6

I invite each of us to consider this question. What shall we give in return for the flood of light and truth God has poured out upon us?

Our beloved Father simply asks that we live by the truth we have received and that we follow the path He has provided. Therefore, let us take courage and trust in the guidance of the Spirit. Let us in word and in deed share with our fellowmen the amazing and awe-inspiring message of God’s plan of happiness. May our motive be our love for God and for His children, for they are our brothers and sisters. This is the beginning of what we can do in return for so much."

As I have tried to ponder these truths of the gospel I have felt within my heart a stirring to be better. We taught a recent convert this week named Bryan who recently had a heart transplant. I shared that same verse "If you have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, can you feel so now?" i think we all need to ask our selves that question and monitor our own spiritual heart rates. If we don't keep tabs on whether or not the desires of our heart are in the right place, then we are in jeopardy of experiencing spiritual death. Alma 5 is a good chapter to monitor our spiritual heart rate. Serving with a heart that is right and rejoicing in God's plan of happiness is what will allow us to experience a mighty change of heart. 

This week I also gained greater appreciation for the prophet Joseph Smith. As I listened to some music that portrayed his life history, the spirit bore witness to me as before that he is a prophet. He had such great love and devotion to God and for the saints that he laid down his life for his friends so they could escpae persecution, just as the Savior did for us as his friends. 

Hope y'alls have a good week,

Elder Soutas