Ben 6/10/13

What's up FAM?!

Man I love you guys!!! I love hearing about your lives. This week was awesome for us. One of the most spiritual weeks of my mission. Gospel is so true!

Matt!!! I'm so happy for you man! You look sharp in glasses and apparently all those ladies at the lake agree with me man!!! I'm happy you're at BYU B-Ball camp!!! Some of the best times of my youth were there drinking chocolate milk, joking with my best friends, and whuppin up on all our rivals! Love ya kid!

Nate! I'm glad you guys won the summer games!  For football, try and recruit for the O line! A team can only go as far as O line and you gotta set that edge on the D line. Sack city!!! Captains need to work hard first and get in people's faces when they need it! You gotta push the teammates you're the best of friends with the hardest. Try to be friends with the ones you're not. Leadership is shown in wisdom, work, example and fight. For your inactive brothers, Bare a sure testimony of the savior and serve them.

Dad you should have a package in the mail!!!!! Happy fathers day! I'm just out here trying to be more like you!!! I love you and good luck on your Achilles surgery! I'm sorry to say but it won't help you when I get home! I hope you're enjoying your well-earned summer! I love the country lyrics!!!

Mom I love you tons!!! Remember that fun night in Pine Valley? That was some awesome family bonding. Fun night with you guys. I love you a ton! You are always emphasized in my prayers! Every week I follow the little laminated "Missionary how to clean a bathroom" PSYCH!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA But in true sincerity I'm eternally grateful for everything you've taught me. You're the best mom EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Truly the strongest woman in the world.

As far as your missionary work goes, I see now all the times you tried to encourage me to do mine and made efforts to do yours. It all goes back to what I didn't have. I didn't have that Vision. I didn't understand the doctrine!!! I wish I could have another crack at all those opportunities now! Honestly. In your efforts, pray to know which route to take, study Preach My Gospel and be first and foremost a friend who they can feel the spirit around. You may not convert everyone you meet, but you can do your best to give them that portion that shall be meted unto every man. If we paid attention in conference, we learned that we are blessed for our efforts regardless of whether or not our friends accept.

Transfers are a week from today. Gonna be nuts. Pretty sure I will be departing Clermont. You never know what's behind the next door. We have a Zone Conference tomorrow where President Hall is expected to give his departing testimony. I have no idea what to expect with President Barry, you guys could do better research than I can. All I know is he will have a huge impact on my life. The mission is in good hands with President Hall so it's not easy, but we have great faith in this mission, and I am certain that things are only going up from here.

This week we had some tremendous experiences. We have had a small street 'richmont st' That we have been praying about for weeks now, it's been in our backup plans we just haven't knocked it. So last Monday, we went out and blessed it. I kid you not we got in every house on the street. It was nothing but a miracle. If you could have some statistics and just see how many slams we get you would know how crazy it is. We go for 4-6 hourtracting blitzes and sometimes get 0 people, so when you have success like this, it's a miracle. I know it's because of my companions righteousness than we have seen such an outpouring this week.

We also have been working with this guy who was inactive, way cool guy, kind of guy I'd be friends with. Super buff football player guy. He's lived in Texas, Alaska, Alabama, Utah, and Florida so you could say I'm pretty jealous. It's crazy to see the miracle that's come with him. He served an honorable mish in Mexico and fell away. I know I was meant to meet him. It's amazing to see how I have been a tool in the Lords hands to bring my friend back to the Gospel. I'm telling you when we pray about what to teach we just know. The spirit is felt so strong and he has missed the gospel in his life. That's not even the best part though, his girlfriend is being taught now and she has seen a change in him since he's come back to the gospel. Amazing story. Humbling to know God trusts me with these people.

Another one that has been put in my lap is just amazing!  An Apostles granddaughter. wow!!!! so we're teaching a daughter of God who has been implored several times by her Apostle Grandfather to come back to church, and she won't listen to him, and yet she's listening to me? I mean it still hasn't sunk in yet. What a miracle! The ward has been awesome with fellowshipping her and we're taking her and her nonmember boyfriend on a temple tourWednesday! Surreal and Humbling.

We also started teaching a lady and her family.  Anyways, we prayed about what we could teach and we just felt faith. We taught faith and her nonmember boyfriend said "This is exactly what I needed" and her five kids felt the spirit and paid attention. We are going to teach this family, because we followed promptings of the spirit. 

 

Besides my amazing experiences this week, among the most powerful to me was probably the most simple. I was asked to give a priesthood blessing to a sister in the ward, and I know that I did not give the blessing myself. Priesthood power does not come with priesthood authority. Priesthood authority is given by the laying on of hands, Priesthood Power is accessed through humility, sweat, faith, and an eye single to the glory of God.

 

I encourage you to read Elder Hollands address "safety for the soul" Or even better, watch it on LDS.org  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMWK20vZFwQ

Cheer the HEAT on for me!!!!!

Love ya tons

Elder G