June 20, 2016

Silly Broncos...

Cool knot for his tie!

I love hearing about the things that you guys are doing to come closer to the Savior. What I think is funny is that I am also currently reading Jesus the Christ and the Infinite Atonement. I'm on chapter 15 of JTC and chapter 9 of the IA. pretty cool that we are both reading some of the same things! 

What a great Father's Day! And some pretty funny experiences there too with mark and Stephanie. That sounds like an awesome vacation planned- and a busy week with girls camp and stuff going on. Wow. You guys are having a busy summer! 

Service really is one of the ways that I've grown closer to the Savior. It is cool for me because at first I would offer service to people because it was a habit, but now when I offer service, I genuinely care about people and I want to help them. It helps me notice even more service opportunities. I think we learn a lot about our Savior when we give Christlike service without complaining.

This week has been a rough one for us. Father's Day was actually really brutal.

We were having a good week until Thursday I think. Wednesday night we actually had an awesome lesson with Amanda and Spencer, we taught the law of chastity and the word of wisdom. Amanda has MS and she uses a substance that is against the WOW to help control the symptoms, so we told them we would check with our mission president about it. 

Thursday night was also difficult because we met a less active man and his wife who are staunchly atheist. They just threw anti Mormon material at us all night. It was rough. It raised some questions for me, but in the words of Tad R Callister: 

"Suffice it to say, I can live with some human imperfections, even among prophets of God--that is to be expected in mortal beings. I can live with some alleged scientific findings contrary to the Book of Mormon; time will correct those. And I can live with some seeming historical anomalies; they are minor in the total landscape of truth. But I cannot live without the doctrinal truths and ordinances restored by Joseph Smith, I cannot live without the priesthood of God to bless my family, and I cannot live without knowing my wife and children are sealed to me for eternity. That is the choice we face--a few unanswered questions on one hand versus a host of doctrinal certainties and the power of God on the other."

So although we struggled as a companionship on Friday because of that, we overcame it quickly. 

Then came Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, we met with Amanda and Spencer again and broke the news to them that the current substance she was using was against the WOW. and she would have to take it in capsule form. But she struggles with that because the dosage is too powerful for her and knocks her out completely for 8 hours at a time. We called PKB right there (president kelly brown) and he comforted them and gave them some strength. He gave them some hope that maybe there was something they hadn't tried yet. We gave them blessings and the Spirit was so strong! 

Then. Yesterday. They came to church and we immediately knew something was wrong. They were sitting at the back of the church and when we came up and said hi they said they felt like they wouldn't be accepted because she was still using. We assured her that she would always be accepted but she still seemed hesitant. To make a long story short, they came up and sat with us and enjoyed sacrament meeting. They then met with the bishop who counseled with them twice. In between he also called PKB to confirm. After having their worst fears confirmed, Amanda and Spencer then realized that they would not be getting baptized on Saturday, which really upset them. They were so excited about it! The bishop reassured them that they would always be welcome and that the Lord would provide a way for them to accomplish these things. About an hour after church, they called us. They don't want to meet for the next two weeks. They said they needed some time to think and pray. Please keep them in your prayers! I am very worried about them and their faith.

Other than that, everything is going great. Elder domnikov and I are getting along very well.  The smiths are super awesome, and I am learning so much and growing every day. I seriously can't recognize who I was before the mission. 

Cool scripture time: 2 Nephi 33:3

But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great worth, and especially unto my people. For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry.

As I read this scripture, I had a super awesome experience. I saw the tears on the plates.  I saw them fall and splash on the plates and that verse became suddenly very real to me. It is how it is with missionary work, especially when people decide they don't want a part in it. We come to love these people and it makes it so difficult when they turn away from truth. But the people who choose the good and come unto Christ make it all worthwhile.  

Love you so much! 

Elder Bush