Hey
Fam!
This
week was incredible! It was definitely winter for 2 days but then it
changed it's mind and it's now 45 and sunny . Can't really complain
because it is absolutely gorgeous here.
This
week was full of miracles from Heavenly Father. An investigator that I
have been able to teach for the last 5 months will be getting baptized this
weekend! He had an incredible thing happen to him this week. He has
been investigating the Church for 10 years and was hard to work with at first
but he has now allowed himself to progress to a point where he allows God to
answer his prayers. As a logical thinker, I still think it is kinda funny
how we sometimes think God will answer us if we have not qualified ourselves
for that answer. He has worked very hard and has been diligent in keeping
the commandments of the Lord these past few weeks and the Lord rewarded him
with a miracle. His entire issue with the Church is knowing if the
Priesthood is Restored and if we truly do have a Prophet today. We had
invited him to fast last week to be given an answer to this prayer during
General Conference. He decided to fast on Sunday. Unfortunately, on
Monday he found out that one of his relatives had passed away and there would
be a funeral service held this last weekend, in Salt Lake City. That very
same day a Bishop from another ward, Bishop Larney, felt impressed to call and
invite him to conference. Somehow he had 2 extra tickets to the Sunday
sessions and Priesthood session. Because he qualified himself for an
answer, the Lord was able to work a miracle and allow him to see and hear the
Apostles and Prophet live. We have not had a chance to see him yet but I
know that he received his answer and will be baptized this weekend. I am
so grateful for this formula that we have to allow God to work miracles in our
lives. I have seen it work in many of these amazing people's lives here
and know that if we will only qualify ourselves to receive the blessings the
Lord has in store for us that the windows of Heaven will literally be opened
and we will feel the Joy he sent us here to earth to feel.
Heather
will also be baptized this weekend, we are super excited for her.
One
other miracle happened to this guy named Dave we have been teaching. Dave
was very less-active for most of his life. In the passed 5 months we have
been able to read the entire Book of Mormon and about a third of Doctrine and
Covenants with him. His faith has truly increased and he just recently
began to qualify himself for all the blessings God has prepared for him.
He is very blessed as it is but I have been able to see even more
blessings appear in his life. He has had a terrible addiction to
cigarettes for most of his life. He has recently decided to quit and it
has been very hard for him. We got to go visit him yesterday and he told us how
he had gone the entire day without smoking a single cigarette. He said
he woke up and made it till about 10:00 a.m. until he just had to go buy
a pack. As he stood up to leave his home there was a knock at his door.
His neighbor was at the door and said, "Hey Dave! I know we do not
usually hang out but the Firemen are having a free breakfast until 11 this
morning and I feel like I should invite you, wanna come?" Dave said
yes. He had a great time and somehow completely forgot about the urge to
smoke his cigarette.
I
know that the Lord uses people to accomplish his great and eternal purposes.
This story only adds to the testimony I already have that Angels truly
are helping and inspiring men to do good. I know that the work I am
engaged in is of God. The Church I belong to is truly the Church of Jesus
Christ. I can not express fully how grateful I am for the Prophet, Thomas
S. Monson, and the quorum of the twelve Apostles. They are inspired men.
I pray that we may all qualify ourselves to constantly receive the
revelation and blessings that our great and eternal Father has in store for us.
Thank
you all so very much for your Birthday e-mails, cards, and packages! I am
so loved and truly do appreciate your love and support.
Love,
Elder
Holland
