Hey Fam!
Holy smokes it is snowing like crazy here! I'm sure it
snowed this much last winter but it is pretty crazy here right now! We
are supposed to get like 2 more feet of snow in the next 48 hours too.. This
place is nuts.
So I realized this week that I have not been doing a very great job at keeping y'all (yup I just said y'all) updated on the people I get to visit with each week. As of Saturday, we have 6 people we are working with that are preparing for baptism! 5 of them are all from one family. The dad is a member but his wife and children are not. So there are 4 teenage girls and his wife that are working towards being baptized. I have learned so many different things as a missionary but I feel some of the most valuable things I have learned are the different tactics Satan uses to lead us away from Christ. One that is extremely prevalent in the Church is people leaving because a person has offended them. This is the case for the father of this family we are working with. He was "offended" by what a person in the Church did and as a result he did not come to Church for 10+ years. It was so beautiful on saturday night to watch him testify to his wife and kids that the Church is true. He said he always knew the Church was true it was just pride and this individual that offended him that kept him from living up to what he knew to be true. He told his family that the Church is true but the people are far from it. At one point he looked at me and said, "You know, I didn't realize the Church was a perfect organization run by imperfect people until you guys started coming by a few weeks ago." One of the first lessons we had with them was on forgiveness and how forgiving others allows God to forgive you and brings greater light into your life. God is sooo good!
It has been an absolute pleasure this past week to visit people and talk about their goals for the new year. We have been specifically focusing on how their goals will lead them to strengthen their relationship with Christ. If I had the wish of my heart it would be that everyone would let go of the grudges that are held on their shoulders. Christ taught that in order to be forgiven we must forgive so my invitation for all of you is to think of those who have offended you at some point and chose to let it go. Do whatever it takes to resolve the situation! I promise you a weight will be lifted and you will feel Peace. Some of the greatest blessings that come to us while here in this life are feelings and I know this will bring the feeling of peace we all desire.
I am grateful for a new year and a fresh start. I have made some great goals and have consulted with Heavenly Father and know they are goals I can achieve. Thank you to all of you for your great love and support!
So I realized this week that I have not been doing a very great job at keeping y'all (yup I just said y'all) updated on the people I get to visit with each week. As of Saturday, we have 6 people we are working with that are preparing for baptism! 5 of them are all from one family. The dad is a member but his wife and children are not. So there are 4 teenage girls and his wife that are working towards being baptized. I have learned so many different things as a missionary but I feel some of the most valuable things I have learned are the different tactics Satan uses to lead us away from Christ. One that is extremely prevalent in the Church is people leaving because a person has offended them. This is the case for the father of this family we are working with. He was "offended" by what a person in the Church did and as a result he did not come to Church for 10+ years. It was so beautiful on saturday night to watch him testify to his wife and kids that the Church is true. He said he always knew the Church was true it was just pride and this individual that offended him that kept him from living up to what he knew to be true. He told his family that the Church is true but the people are far from it. At one point he looked at me and said, "You know, I didn't realize the Church was a perfect organization run by imperfect people until you guys started coming by a few weeks ago." One of the first lessons we had with them was on forgiveness and how forgiving others allows God to forgive you and brings greater light into your life. God is sooo good!
It has been an absolute pleasure this past week to visit people and talk about their goals for the new year. We have been specifically focusing on how their goals will lead them to strengthen their relationship with Christ. If I had the wish of my heart it would be that everyone would let go of the grudges that are held on their shoulders. Christ taught that in order to be forgiven we must forgive so my invitation for all of you is to think of those who have offended you at some point and chose to let it go. Do whatever it takes to resolve the situation! I promise you a weight will be lifted and you will feel Peace. Some of the greatest blessings that come to us while here in this life are feelings and I know this will bring the feeling of peace we all desire.
I am grateful for a new year and a fresh start. I have made some great goals and have consulted with Heavenly Father and know they are goals I can achieve. Thank you to all of you for your great love and support!
Love,
Elder Holland
Elder Holland
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