Hello folks!
This week has been crazy. We've had some unfortunate things happen with a few of our investigators. As a result, we
weren't able to meet with a lot of them this week or get them progressing in
ways that they are needing to. It's been a little bit stressful, but not super
bad because I feel we have been doing what we should be doing. Still, we'll be
looking at the many things we can do better, and I hope we can see a bit more
success in the coming weeks.
Speaking of coming weeks, we got our TRANSFER
CALLS. I'm staying in Oberhausen (pretty much as expected). My companion,
Elder Warner, on the other hand, just got called to the KAISERSLAUTERN AREA.
I've heard lots of good things about it. He'll be going to an
American/International ward there. Kaiserslautern is where the U.S. military
base is located. He's pretty excited about it. I'll be "taking over" the
Oberhausen area and getting a new companion, Elder Louis, tomorrow. I am also
officially done being trained. I'm pretty excited about this upcoming
transfer. I'm getting passed the baton, and I'm hoping that we can really see
these baptismal dates work out, as well as set new ones.
Speaking of baptismal dates, we unfortunately
had one fall throug for the 26th of November this past week. We had a lesson with
Kingsley and tried to post-pone it to December, but for now, it seems he is
completely off on the idea--until he gains a testimony of the Book of Mormon.
We'll be teaching him for a while longer and doing our best to regain him. I'm
not sure what the outcome will be in the meantime.
We weren't able to meet with Louis this week, or
get him to church. Things keep coming up and he hasn't been able to attend. We
met with his sister, Mauricia, though and taught her The Commandments, which
went really well. We pushed for her to come to church, but she couldn't come
either. They're really ready to be baptized, other than that. They've been so
willing to accept the message and have been really working at this for a long
time! I'm praying that we can see success with them.
We tried meeting with Sina on Tuesday, and told
him to meet us in downtown Mülheim. He said he'd be there, but he hadn't been
answering our calls after that, all evening. We couldn't find him anywhere, and
we weren't able to meet in the end. That was a bummer. We haven't been able to
get a hold of him since. The plan is to visit his house as soon as this
transfer hullabaloo concludes. He's been an awesome investigator and has spoken
to us about getting his family interested, too, when they move here. I'd love
to see things work out with him.
Anyways, as I wrote earlier, I'm hoping things
can pick up. I'm really excited to see things work out with our investigators.
I think we've taught some really amazing people. In spite of these things it's been a pretty good week. I've been noticing more and more tender
mercies as time goes on and I hope that my eyes continue to open to the
blessings our loving Heavenly Father gives us. I hope we all can.
We've discussed the commandments with a bit of
people this week. I've been really amazed so far at the investigators we've
taught the commandments to. While some, in fact most, have had initial
questions about at least a few, I've found it really amazing how willing so many
of them have been to follow them after we do our best to answer their concerns.
Mauricia told us Saturday, when we committed her to follow the Law of Chastity
and Word of Wisdom, that "if the Book of Mormon is true, then it is all true"
and that she would commit. That is an essential realization. Any concern
about the "validity" of any commandment we receive now can be answered and
resolved when we appeal to our own faith. Even if something we are commanded to
do seems harmless initially, those who choose to be obedient because of their
faith in Christ, as well as their belief in Joseph Smith to be a prophet of God
and the Book of Mormon to be the Word of God, will always find blessings come to
them as a result of their obedience--often in ways and measures they may not
expect. These blessings then serve to continue to strengthen our faith, and
help us to increase in obedience and faith as time goes on. The Commandments of
God are given to His children so that they can be blessed in this life and in
the life to come. Though the world views them as restrictions, we can realize
through faith and obedience that they are great blessings, given to us by God
for our own happiness and eternal life. That is God's work and glory.
Anyways, yeah. THIS WEEK IS GOING TO BE A
GOOD WEEK.
I love you guys! Thanks for the prayers and
support!
Love,
Elder Wallentine
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