I had another great week in
the mission field. The weather has been nice, the trees are
spectacular, and hearts are warming up to the gospel despite the few
frosts. Transfer calls were yesterday, and all three of us are staying
here in this area! I am really excited for that, since there is a lot
happening in the next month or so. We have a great Halloween
neighborhood/ward party, Rake up Boise, and a ward rake up coming, all
of which bode well for future opportunities to teach....
Had two exchanges with other missionaries this week.
I like being able to work with other missionaries to be inspired and
to try to inspire. One crazy experience we had was knocking doors in
one apartment complex. It was basically the most successful tracting
experience ever. We got 2 or 3 return appointments, had a great
conversation with a guy who used to be Special Ops in the Army, and
shared a lunch with a Muslim family. It just so happened to be Ede that
day, one of their big holidays (kinda like Christmas, they said), so we
joined and had some delicious rice, lamb, meatballs, and homemade
yogurt. Yum.
It's crazy how the Lord works out miracles in many
different ways. On my other exchange, we stopped to talk to a lady
outside the house of one of our appointments. She was out walking her
dog, and we had a good conversation. I was a little disappointed when
we didn't get to tie it into the gospel, but moved on.
Imagine my surprise when a lady in our ward calls us
the next day to tell us that she has a friend at work who she invited
to come to church to hear her sing. Her friend was super excited to
come, and then told her about how she met some missionaries the day
before. She said that usually missionaries she has met try to push the
gospel on her, but these ones were different and just had a really nice
conversation with her. Upon being asked for a description, she told of
how one was really tall from Texas, and he just had a great smile.
(Pride alert....)
Soooo crazy! So this lady comes to church, I met
her again, and ... wow. Sometimes just being happy and smiling can be a
great missionary tool! I'm so glad I learned the value of being happy.
=D
I had a great time this week learning more about the
principle of grace and salvation. I looked again at one of my favorite
talks - the one by Brad Wilcox with the piano lesson analogy of grace.
LOVE that talk. Everything just made so much more sense as I tried to
explain it in our companion study. I just love those times when it
feels like revelation just keeps flowing into you! It is amazing to
understand more that Christ paid for the full measure of our salvation,
and we do not do good works to pay any part of that, but we do so to
access and use the power of His Atonement. As we use that enabling
power, we are able to improve and become more like our Father in Heaven.
I know the gospel is true! I am so grateful to be
learning that more and more every day. Thank you all for your prayers
and support. I really do feel it every day that I go out and serve.
Love,
--Elder Usevitch
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