August 19, 2013

We had a member of the Seventy come speak to our stake yesterday for stake conference and he focused it entirely on member missionary work and on the broadcast "Hastening the Work of Salvation." More and more, missionary work is becoming something that members and full-time missionaries need to do together. There is an increasing divide between righteous and wicked. I think that has made tracting an increasingly less-fruitful way of doing things because most people are hardened to it.

When members continue to become better representatives of Jesus Christ and bring the spirit into their home and then people into their lives and homes, that is the beginning of the best kind of missionary work! It has been eye-opening for me to go into so many very different homes and feel and see the dramatic differences between them based upon how righteously they are living their lives. When it is a house like Ravings where your temple covenants are kept and lived and where there is daily family scripture study and prayer and obedience to the commandments, it is a spiritual uplift for me. I go away reboosted. The difference is poignant not just in the way the home feels, but the way the family is. We met with two families this week that showed me a contrast.  One was the _________ family.  We had dinner at their home last night. Brother _____ is a member of the high council. They and their family are about the same age as this other family except that their children are obedient and calmer. The Spirit was in their home and being there and seeing their family was such an uplift. They are a busy couple but they seemed also more in control, worked together in taking care of their kids, and, like their kids, were calmer and happier-- because the Spirit was there and they were living the Gospel! Such a difference.

I love families. I love the Gospel. I love our family! I think about you guys every day--all that I've gained from each of you and especially from growing up in our home. I'm realizing how priceless that is.

We met an 82-year-old Greek Orthodox man named Thor who is half-black and half-Cherokee and teaches salsa dancing on Tuesday. We talked with him, he talked to us and gave us words of wisdom for a while on his doorstep. We weren't getting anywhere and we were about to leave when Sister Priday asked if we could sing him a song. We sang "Nearer My God to Thee." Thor said he sang that as a child and hummed along. When we had finished, his countenance had changed. He asked if he could come to our church! He gave us his number so that we could send him the address. He said "You two are a part of my life now. I want you to know that. If you ever need anything just let me know. I better here from you again!" Ah, the power of song.  (Ended up he couldn't come this week, but next--?)

Hill told me in an email that she hopes I'm not missing my "hammock time" too much and that they're not working me too hard.  Had to laugh about that. Probably the number one thing I have learned on my mission so far is patience. I just want to get going!! Sister Priday is the same. We have morning recitations for our mish and we like marching around and almost shouting them when we say them. Sister Priday told me on Thursday that her dream is to have the Spirit at one point tell her to boldly call someone to repentance like Abinadi would. She's funny. So, we're way fired up still and time is flying by. I love you all! The Church is true!