The Last Two Weeks

Monday, May 27th

We had a lesson with the Olson Family. It ended up we just talked with Sister Olson. She was having a really hard time with enduring to the end. She said Satan has been working on her and has tested every standard she has. She said she is just about ready to throw her hands in the air and say "Fine!! You win!! Just leave me alone!!!" But we talked with her about her first steps of faith she took. She must look back and see the blessings God has given her. We likend it to Peter walking on the water. He took who knows how many steps out on the water before he started to fall. Those steps of faith are valuable! We must never forget how far we have come or how blessed we really are. She was crying, we were crying... all in all it was amazing

 

Tue May 28

Had a GREAT lesson with Sloan and Karli. Plan of Salvation! By the end of it we were all crying as we all bore our testimony of the Great Plan and how it affects our lives. Knowing that I will see Madeline again makes it possible to get out of bed every morning. I did something I hadn’t done before. I challenged Karli to prepare to be baptized and she accepted!!! I asked her to pray to know when she should be baptized and she said she would!!! I’m so excited for her to grow in the gospel the way her brother has!!!

 

Wed May 29

Elder Don C. Clarke of the 70 toured our mission. He spoke in zone conference. I loved listening to his words of advice and it’s helping me become a better missionary. "Don’t just go through your mission, let the mission go through you." 

 

Thur May 30

Elder Stephen’s oldest brother came and took us out to lunch. We went to Olive Garden and ran into some other missionaries and their ward mission leaders. Elder Dalton, an elder that came out with me, was there. He and I got to sit and talk. He had just gone to the temple and we got to talk about how amazing it is and all the blessing that it brings.

 

Fri May 31

Ok, so crazy story. We burned a satanic bible. There is this kid, Alan, age 21, who we have been working with to come back to church. He up and left town and we hadn’t seen him in a long time. We ran into him walking down Sunnyside. We stopped and talked with him and it ended up he was running from his father who lives in the next city over. He had walked 12 miles to get to his mother’s home for some help. He needed to go back to his father’s house and get his stuff before his father came back from work. So Sister Newman gave us all a ride down there to get it. He started packing up when he grabbed an object wrapped in white linen. We asked him what it was and he showed us. Right there, plain as day, was a satanic bible.  He said he had already thrown away 3 other books but they keep showing up. We told him he needed to get rid of it today but he had no way of burning it so we took it and burned it in the wood burning stove at Sister Newman’s. so ya... it was crazy!

 

Sat June 1

Ashton and Tristen are baptised!!! Everybody was crying and it was awesome!!! People days later commented on how great it was!! I’m so happy for these kids and hope they appreciate all that their father has done to be able to baptize them!!!

 

Sun June 2

I got to stand in the circle and confirm Ashton and Tristen. What an awesome experience to be a part of someone’s conversion!! I love these boys and hope the best for them.

 

Mon June 3

We had an amazing lesson with Sloan and Karli. Their parents were not able to make it but we talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ: Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End. We only made it half way through the lesson because the conversation and discussions were so great!!! I learned something while teaching. It’s amazing the things I learn while I’m talking!!!

There is a huge difference between worldly sorrow and Godly sorrow. Worldly sorry makes you beat up yourself and makes you hate and belittle your self-worth. Godly sorrow is feeling bad enough to change and never do it again. It’s a fine line between the two, but we must always remember we are Children of the Most High God. He loves us and never wants us to think we are any less!! We must stay in this mindset and hold on to it!!

 

Karli is so close to being baptized!! I’m so excited for her to take part in these wonderful blessings!!

 

Wed June 5

We have another companion!! Elder McClain, age 21, from Arizona!!! He’s a stellar Elder and full of the greenie fire!!! I love this guy! Today we took him around town and had him meet members and investigators. We stopped by the Olson’s to tell them that the confirmation was going to have to be on Sunday rather than on Friday when Sister Olson is scheduled to be baptized. Brother Olson didn’t like that at all and by the end of the half hour conversation he called it off. The three of us went home and cried... We did all we could to try to help him see why it was the way it was... but he wouldn’t listen.

 

Thu June 6

We fixed it! We went up the chain and got a lot of people to agree that the confirmation should be on Friday. President agreed and we called Brother Olson. The baptism was back on!!! Thank you, Heavenly Father, for all you do for us and answering our prayers!!!

 

Fri June 7

Lisa Olson was baptized by her husband Trent Olson. Then she was confirmed by her Uncle. It was a great baptismal service! I’m so excited for her to live her life with the Holy Ghost and for her and her husband to go to the temple in a year!!! I’ll still be out here so maybe I’ll go with them!!!

 

We got a call from Sister Strebble. (She has been working with Shaila, a little 8 year old, and bringing her to church and helping her build her testimony and helping her ask her mom if she could be baptized.) She said that Shaila's mom said yes!!! and that they want to move it up a week!! Shaila will be baptized on the 15th!!! We have had a baptism every weekend for the Month of June!!! We are so blessed to be out here and helping God’s work move forward!!!

 

Sun June 8

We had a lesson with Shaila today and all we did was get the program ready for her baptism!! She asked Elder Stephens to baptize her, Elder McCain to give the closing prayer, and I will be giving the talk on baptism :) I’m so excited and honored to have been able to teach this little child of God and to help her come closer to her Heavenly Father. I can’t wait!!!

 

Some things I learned this week:

2 Corinthians 7:10 - "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world worketh death."  A great family home evening discussion!

"Today is always a better day to repent than any tomorrow." - President Eyring

 

Thank you so much for all you do for me and my family. I know God is watching over me and helping me through my mission. 

 

Elder Eldredge