From Josh:
WOW this week was full of craziness, we had a zone
conference with Elder Ardern of the first quorum of the seventy He told us
about how a missionary needs to fit the message that he preaches, so think
about how great the message of the gospel is, being a missionary we need to be
a constant example of it and life it in our lives so we can be the deliverers
of such a beautiful message.
Also! The missionary schedule was changed worldwide, instead
of planning the night before we plan in the morning and study as companions at
a time of the day that we decide, its basically changed to increase our agency
so that we can be better emissaries of the Lord, also we used to track a lot of
key indicators but now there is only 4, Baptized and confirmed, baptismal
dates, sacrement meeting attendance and new investigators, its an adjustment
but its a good thing.
There are a lot of ups and downs in our lives especially as
a missionary, at one moment you may be on a spiritual high and the next in the
deepest despair, but I take comfort in Gods admonition to Joseph Smith that
"all these things are for your good."
This week has been full of adventures as I have said, we go
door to door talking with people and some doors I feel so in tune with the
spirit and I seem to say everything right and others I am completely bereaved
of thought, I can hardly stutter out that we are missionaries. and its such a
learning process to learn how to adapt to those different feelings and
situations, because everyone is so different and each needs something different
as well. I find that it is a combinations of the spirit and our own personal
agency.
Confidence when founded on Jesus Christ is perfect, when we
put our trust in the Lord he directs and guides us to places and people in
which we need to touch and inspire, When Jesus stated that he is the light of
the world he was inviting us to look to him for guidance, so whenever you are
at a point in your life that you are confused you can find that Jesus Christ
and the Gospel can be that guide and comfort.
Elder Ardern when he came had us practice teaching with
descriptions, when we present The Book of Mormon we can simply teach by saying
" here is The Book of Mormon it is a_______ (Guiding light, a message of
peace, a vessel for greater knowledge)" and it literally is all those
things, when you are confused or lost in life then turn to The Book of Mormon,
it answers questions of the soul, fills an empty part of ourselves when there
is something missing. and I know that it is true.
The other day we were able to come in contact with this lady
who stated that she was a Jew and we would not be able to convert to our
religion, she had a book of mormon and she had no questions, but she was open
to answering questions about jewdaism, and had the unique opportunity of
learning about someone elses religion, I asked about why there wasn't a temple
in Jerusalem (because they can't have sacrifices until there is one because
they are still living the law of moses) she couldn't answer... but from things
I had heard and learned I was able to answer for her, it was interesting to
meet someone where I knew more about their religion then them... but that isn't
the point, because we took an interest in her, she thought of a ton of
questions for us about what we believed, we were then able to testify and teach
a lot from just questions she asked and spent over 20 minutes sharing with her
about what we believed, it was a great experience. it is important to take an
interest in others because that is when they open up and trust you more.
I love you all so much, that was my week and I hope your
week has been good and this next week will be even better.
Josh
Some pictures this week!
The second ones hair style is
courtesy of the wind that day
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