December 5, 2011

Hey everybody!

This week was pretty good. It looks like we're going to have some investigators on date this week! it is snowing outside so it looks like we wont see cement or asphalt till I go home.

Elder Whiting gave us a referral for someone who was moving from Brooks. We stopped by the place and found out it was the wrong address. We talked to the person there and ended up teaching her instead! Her name is Vivian and she has 2 kids who are 11 and 12. She's native and she's very humble. She left Lloydminster in search of a better life. She knows that God has led her here and she has a very strong testimony of prayer. The Book of Mormon is also really getting her attention. In our 2nd lesson with her, she didn't read much, so we started reading with her. It was very helpful to her because afterwards, she said, "oh, now I know how to read this book!" It literally is a second language to people so it was a neat experience to be able to read with her and help her out. She prayed at the end of the lesson and asked if she and the family should be baptized on the 24th!

Our other investigator who is making progress is Sean. He's living common law and has a strong desire to learn more. Unfortunately, his partner makes it so that he can't be as open with us because of her negativity towards the church. He told us at the end of the lesson that they're no longer dating and that he will change his answer about baptism once we can be alone. He's looking for a new place and has a lot of real intent. He's having a tough time because his grandparents died. When we went over the spirit world, the Holy Ghost touched his heart and he knows without a shadow of a doubt that his grandparents sent us to him so that he could have a better life. Pretty neat eh?

We talked with Danielle (rather, she talked to us). She is Presdent's friend and we set up a return appointment with her. She seems to enjoy the people in the church but isn't interested in converting. We know there is something more deeper than that (smoking, family issues).

I liked this past ZLC. The Lord has given us one thing: Time and the agency in which we use it. I picked up on a lot of things that have been on my mind lately. I realize the biggest regret I now have are the things that I looked as a task. I was always focused on the end. Because of that, there was less charity and less effectiveness. It's also hard to gain any knowledge when you look at challenges as tasks. I'm now dedicated to living in the moment and not looking to the end of my trials. The phrase, "6 months left" is leaving my head.

Love,

Elder Madsen