January 13, 2014
Hey all!
It's only been a little while, but it's been pretty full
already! I love it here in Springfield! It's a ward on the verge of Hastening
the work, and I am grateful to be able to see that begin to progress here! I
also have an awesome companion, Elder Mosley from Mesa, Arizona! He's an
incredibly dedicated missionary, and is a great teacher, especially for only
being 4 months out! It is a little strange though, since he's younger than
Nathan is! I'm definitely becoming one of the old guys in the mission. -_-
Elder Jardine and I were awake unto a little after 1am packing
and cleaning for the Sisters, and we had a late night last Wednesday. We got up
and went to the car wash to finish cleaning out the car, but it was a little
weird because it was only around 20 degrees out. The car was clean, but it had
a layer of ice over it! We then drove to transfers, and I met my new companion
Elder Mosley! We had a member Tom Young take us to lunch on the way home, where
we had a nice chat with a Pentecostal minister with our Mexican food. We then
visited with many different less actives and families, as well as the most
progressing investigators, Terrance and Ciera. They are an awesome couple, who
have had to overcome a lot to get to where they are now. But they can feel that
the gospel is true, and want to be baptized! The only thing stopping that at
this point is a minor Word of Wisdom issue, and that they still need to be
married!
Friday morning we shoveled semi-random people's
driveways in our suits to try to find new investigators, and then went to work
with weekly planning and helping me to get to know the area. There is
a lot here to know! Since this is my first time not being doubled into
somewhere, it is a very different experience for me. It's nice to have someone
who pretty much knows the area and the people here. There are three sets of
missionaries in the ward, two sets of Elders and a set of Sisters. There are so
many less actives though, we all have many names in each of our areas, and we
all have lots of work to do!
I have really discovered the NEED of having the Spirit when
planning and when we are out and about. Especially when I have no idea where
anything and anyone are, and my companion is pretty stressed out about leading
the area. In the matter of a few days, we have had many spiritual highs and
lows. It can be easy to get discouraged, but we have prayed a lot this weekend,
and we have felt the Grace of our Lord in seeing some minor, but significant,
miracles. We will truly be relying on prayer these next few weeks, and I feel
the prayers that you all ask in my behalf!!
Sunday we had a very special experience with Terrance
and Ciera, and Bishop Jensen. After church, we met Bishop at Terrance and
Ciera's home, in preparation of Ciera receiving a blessing to help overcome a
few of her trials. It was a very enlightening and spiritual experience for
everyone there, and the Spirit was so incredibly powerful. I know that my
testimony has grown so much about the importance of families, and instead of
just knowing it intellectually, I have FELT that importance. Families ARE the
most important unit in the plan of happiness.
I know that this Church is the Church of our Savior Jesus
Christ. I know that he loves us, more than we can comprehend, and that he has
done everything to bring us unto him. Because of Him, we can have real, lasting
happiness that goes far beyond the reasoning of this world. I know that I am
called of God to share that message with those here in the Springfield ward,
and I know that because of my Faith, and Elder Mosley's Faith, and the Faith of
all who support us here in Ohio and back home, we will see many come unto
Christ.
I love and Miss you all!!
Elder Aaron Toombs
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