Ben 9/9/13

***Here is Ben's letter!  He says he had to repent in the beginning of the week. I guess because he thought he wasn't working hard enough.  It is hard to believe that when you read his letters. He sounds like he is working and serving and loving the people in Titusville.  Enjoy!***

 

Family!!!

This week was such a blessing! Possibly the best week of the mission!

Toward the beginning of the week in my prayers, I was sharply rebuked by God!  Though all phases of the work have been going off the record great, we have been shattering finding, teaching, and baptizing. I was taught a valuable lesson and given an opportunity for repentance! Things were great, but there was room for improvement.  In D&C 107, the Lord through Joseph Smith taught me about the priesthood. "Therefore let every man learn his duty and perform it with all diligence.  He that is slothful will not be counted worthy to stand."  (Not an exact quote.) Anyway, I shared with my companion my chastening and we reset our vision. So I owe the virtue of repentance one of the best weeks of my life.

 

We saw miracles.  We found more, we taught more, and we baptized.  One of the speakers for the baptism canceled and I was asked to speak on the Holy Ghost.  What an awesome opportunity to recount all our lessons on the holy ghost and to share with this young man and his brothers and family how important my brothers and family are to me and to share my testimony.  

 

A few weeks ago, we were biking past a lady mowing her lawn and I was prompted to jump off my bike and kind of push her out of the way and mow her lawn.  Her name is Donna she reminds me of Aunt Angie (without the gospel). Anyway, Elder Harman was put on the spot to teach while I mowed (this is a few weeks back) anyway we went back this week and turns out her boyfriend is a member. Long story short, we had an opportunity to have a birthday party for her 12 year old son who has epilepsy and some other issues. What a tender experience to share some love with this family.  They came to church and had a great experience. With them, we had 5 investigating family/couple/individuals at church and the chapel was the fullest I've ever seen it.  I could serve the rest of my mission in this beat up town. "Searching in darkness nations have wept."  "Dark the night of sin has settled." That is talking about this place that is now ready to hear the gospel!  What a boiling point the people have reached in this part of the field.

We found another Spanish family. Hector Hector and Alandra, the Theroux's, the Fishers, Donna and Logan! Miracles I tell ya! The baptism was awesome! Today even P day was awesome! We went to Kennedy Space Center! Talk about AWESOME! Beautiful place. Now I know why you always said, "Houston, we have a problem!"hahahha! Michelle and Sarah took us! They work there. It was super nice of them! I told them about my fam and stuff! What a Work and a Wonder that is going on NOW! The best part is that everyone can be a part of it! I love you so much! AND OH YA! BEAT PINE VIEW!!!!!!  Repenting is a blessing and BEAT PINE View!

Elder G

***Letter to his Mission President***

President Berry,

 

This week was possibly the best week of my mission!  I was chastened by the Lord a little bit at the beginning of the week, but as a result of repentance we saw huge miracles in finding, teaching, and baptizing! 

Oh man, my testimony of the restoration of the gospel..... Well that's our bread and butter isn't it?  With general conference approaching, thoughts and feelings of the restoration are kind of close to my heart.  What a blessing it is to be able to be strengthened in such a way.  The living apostles and prophet feed our spirits and it is Christmas in October coming our way! Also, when discussing Jesus Christ restoring his gospel, I can't help but think of the priesthood.  I would testify that one cannot come to appreciate this work we are a part of or have the fullest degree of happiness in this life without understanding the role of the priesthood in our lives.   It is the power of the living Son of the living God.  What a blessing this is, along with the other great treasures that make our gospel the fullness of the gospel: The temple, the plan of salvation, the commandments, the Godhead, the scriptures.  It is the understanding of these things that change our lives, and prove to us and our investigators the divinity of this work we have this honor to be a part of.  It's our prayer, like yours, that we can keep these things close to our hearts and convey the importance of the restoration to the nations.

 

Elder Gottfredson