This week was great! Not too many
set appointments with investigators because of it being the week of the
4th and all, but still great! We had some great first lessons with
some, continuing on with others, and including a few referrals and other
things, it was a pretty good week! Again, not one out of the 10ish
people we invited to come to church ended up coming. (We have two
families we're teaching, plus others) Super disappointing, but oh well.
We keep working!
I wish I could remember some of the great
experiences we have had so far. As of yet, no one is really
progressing, but that might change soon. We had an amazing experience
teaching one investigator last night! We met with Sara, her boyfriend
Dan, and their 4 little kids. When we got in, Dan just wanted help. He
just said they were struggling with respecting each other in their
family, and they needed more love and peace at home. It's hard for him
to maintain order since he is a truck driver and is gone a lot, but he
basically asked, "Can you just share some scriptures or something to
help us out?" Super humbling. Sara was in tears at the beginning, and I
could tell there was just tension.
At first I just was trying to think of any scripture
I could share, but what we ended up emphasizing was how they needed to
have a common goal as a family. And we decided to be bold and say that
the goal they needed was to live the gospel and work towards being
baptized and confirmed. We taught Dan the Restoration since we hadn't
gone over that with him before, and then committed them all to read the
Book of Mormon every day. I think the Lord really prepared them to hear
our message today! I can't wait to see what happens! Dan has one side
of the family that is LDS, and he knows how happy and stable they are,
and he sees how his other side isn't like that. I think he is receptive
now, and having him come along will help Sara and the rest of the kids
come, too!
So much I wish I could share. So much! But one
thing I will be working on this week is trying to better find people's
needs and teach to those instead of going through lessons. This past
week or so we have a few times where we just had an agenda and just went
through that, and it has not been the best. Watching the District
videos for my training helped me realize that I need to get back on
track again.
The Lord loves each one of you! I have seen His
efforts in my life so much! He has strengthened me through His Spirit
to be bold and stand firm in my testimony, even when others are trying
to sway me! It's sad to have someone tell you you're wrong and have
been brainwashed and blinded by your parents to be a part of the Church,
but that is SO not true. I just wish they could understand the truth.
And now, the Food for Thought moment:
- How would you define success in missionary work? Make a list of what you think that means.
- Now, go through that list and see which of those are dependent on your agency, and which are dependent on that of others.
- How can you better magnify your calling as a missionary by focusing on those things that you can do and finding joy and success in that?
I
have come to love the definition of missionary success in PMG Ch.1.
Look it up! We need to jump for joy each time we even get to share our
testimony or talk about our beliefs! Redefine success! I know that as
we do our best in what we can do, we will find fulfillment and we will
be blessed by the Lord. Wish I had another hour to talk on that. :P
Love you ALL!
--Elder Usevitch
Moving 6 tons of bricks. Each brick is 61 lbs. YEAH!
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