Hi family! Yes I am still in Atwater. Transfers are next week so we will find out next weekend what will happen. It is my companion’s prediction that we will stay together until we end our missions and then get doubled out. I don't know if I want to go or stay. A new experience would be good I know but there are also a lot of people here that are on long-term progression. Some people take a long time to warm up to and they finally are starting too and I don't want to lose that. Heavenly Father will make the right decision. Hey, I wanted to share something one of my friends wrote to me. He's a good example of being yourself on the mission. He said they are teaching an elderly man who got a computer for Christmas. They helped him set it up. While showing him how to use the Internet, they came up with the most "diabotically awesome idea ever." They set his home page to mormon.org and he doesn't know enough about computers to switch it back. His mission president thought it was hilarious. Do we all get to guess the same where James is going on his mission? I'm still going with Wisconsin and also Germany.
Mom, please don't feel bad for not sending me stuff in the mail. I totally understand, time flies especially with all you do. I am so grateful you take the time to write me an e-mail every week. It means a lot. I got a card from someone in the ward telling me how great Clark's talk was. Thought I'd let you know. :-) I love you all so much!
Hi everyone. I'm still in Atwater. Transfers are next week. Most people are voting me off the island because I've been here the longest. I've been here for 9 months of the past year. I've been able to see a lot of blessings and a lot of people progress over a long period of time. One particular man I think I've mentioned before. He's the one that I think I referred to as the most stubborn person I've ever met. He and his girlfriend invited us over for dinner! He was very cordial and made sure to tell us to keep coming back. He said "I'll do the cooking next time." He even said he's been reading the Book of Mormon. Can life get any better? I submit that it cannot! :-) We have two investigators with a baptismal date. One of those hasn't gotten baptized only because she's living with her boyfriend. They want to get married but she was not sure if she's divorced from her previous husband yet. This week's new development: she's not sure if they were even married in the first place. That would make it SO much easier. We did find a member of the ward who's a lawyer and he's been helping us out. (YAY! happy dance) This is not the same investigator as the other ones who we're trying to get the ID for. We're still working on it there.
I'm starting to understand a lot of things that I didn't really realize before. #1 what exactly is gossip #2 how much I dislike it #3 how to stay out of it #4 how to avoid it if it tries to find me #5 if you can't do anything about it, don't try and fix it. Sorry if that keeps coming up but that's something that I keep noticing that I pray not to EVER fall into after my mission.
Heavenly Father does answer prayers and questions that we have. We took a member to a teaching appointment last night. We had run into her in the store earlier and asked if she would come with us. The member shared with us a concern. We testified the best we could the gospel principle that applied to that (missionaries can't provide counsel). When we taught the lesson later, the sister we met with brought up the same concern and we were able to testify again with the Spirit even more present who gave us more words to say and more comfort to all present. It was a great experience.
quote from Brigham Young: "We are not going to suffer any more than what is for our good." Well put.
We will all have hard times. Sometimes we are simply expected to have faith and patiently endure.
2 keys to happiness are forgiveness and love. They allow the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to take effect in our lives.
Please remember how incredibly precious the scriptures are. I read the Words of Mormon this morning and I could imagine how sincerely he inscribed those words. He had not hope for those around him at the time so he poured his whole soul to exhort us in these days to repent and believe in the words of the prophets who testified of Jesus Christ and His gospel. You can always turn to the scriptures in times of chaos and they provide an assurance that can carry you through.
I hope everyone takes time to share the gospel with those around them. You can invite them to church, to listen to the missionaries, to come to an activity or family home evening or simply have them over for dinner. By just being friends you bear your testimony by LIVING it. That is something everyone can do.
Everyone have a wonderful week!
Sister Evans
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