Well, these last couple weeks have been interesting. I think I mentioned how last week was busy and crazy (not missionary work wise, just crazy)
We were down in Snowflake to go to the Temple on Tuesday, then got back to Heber. Our vehicle coordinator told us we had to take our truck in (our brakes were no bueno) to Snowflake, so we traveled back Tuesday night to stay in Snowflake and take her in the next morning. Well, yada yada our car is not ready until Thursday morning at 8:30 am. So we had to stay with the Elders in Snowflake (I was in Taylor) the whole Wednesday. We didn't even get out proselyting until Thursday late afternoon (We HAD to do laundry before we could do anything else).
But it was an ok week because:
J., this eternal investigator (her kids were baptized) set her own baptismal date! We went over on Saturday night to talk with her and asked her what she wanted out of the church/us coming over and she went off about how she really needed to come to church and be baptized. Elder Dursteler and I were like "ok....!" Then the next morning she was at church and that was the first time Elder D ever saw her at church. Then on Tuesday we went and met with her (our WML Bro Crandell came too) and she set her date herself; we said these are the open days and she picked. So September 26th (yes, this Saturday - this meeting was last week) should be her big day. It had been difficult to set the time because there is lots going on on Saturdays at the church, but with the Lord's help it will work out! She is awesome and we have seen a change in her since she decided to come to church (twice now!) and be baptized. She just seems happier and more at peace with herself.
A not too happy note - S. and J. had to move to Show Low. The forest ranger came out and said they'd have to leave - they were camping out. So they left yesterday/today. He'll most definitely get baptized over there though, so we're not worried. It really was for the best because there are no spare jobs in Heber. Not one. So for them to get anywhere they'd have to move to a bigger city. Yesterday was great - our district leader, Elder Harrison, came out on exchanges with us. It was a very good day - we only taught one recent-convert lesson, but we talked to everyone we saw and plus (tracting) and did what we could the whole day.
We were listening to a General Conference CD the other day (We got a few of them - they are great for long drives). Elder Eyring gave a talk about gratitude and remembering what the Lord had done for us. He made a commitment to himself (it was a commandment from the Lord actually) to write down in his journal what the Lord did for him and his family that day. He mentioned an interesting thing happened - over and over when trying to think of what he should write down he would realize a blessing from the Lord that in his busy frame of mind had gone unnoticed as a tender mercy. An increased sense of gratitude and love happened as he saw truly how much Heavenly Father's hand was in his every day. That is something that I think would be the same for everyone if they sincerely did the same thing. I know that in nightly prayers I have thought about how we were helped in our teaching and finding that I didn't really think about in the moment. Another amazing thing is that I have received revelation as to what we needed to do better as I asked a question and then pondered and listened. Revelation is a real thing, and all we need to is ask, seek, knock and especially: listen. Our Father in Heaven loves us soo, soo much and is constantly doing everything he can to get us to do what is right.
I just started reading the Book of Mormon again and in 1 Nephi 7:12 I was struck by something. Nephi here is chastening his hardhearted brothers, and he teaches something very tender:
"Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him."
I never caught how it is the lord's will that we are faithful - and if we follow his will and are faithful and righteous, then he is able to bless us according to his will. He just wants us to do what is right so we can be happy.
"Wherefore, let us be faithful to him..."
Elder Hoopes
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