Weekly Letter 95
I'm so happy to be able to speak to you this week.
It was a very interesting week, and was very fun at the same time. We worked in two areas this time, Juana de Arco and Lomas del Norte. They are both areas which are struggling, and because of this these two elders are assigned to them both. Well we went there as an experiment to see if they are good for having a companionship each assigned there. The main challenge in both, particularly Lomas, has been the support from the members in the work. But as we strived to get more of their support, we were able to teach more people, and encourage the leaders a little more to work with us.
Here are some special experiences.
1. First day, Elder Schandin (4 months in the mission, 20 years old, from Argentina) and I attended a ward correlation meeting. Unfortunately not everyone came, and it ended up being an informal meeting. However, while we were there, we began to come up with ideas for a "plan of action" but only as a joke. I was writing on that board, PLAN OF ACTION LOMAS DEL NORTE 2019-2020, which goals such as STRONGER TESTIMONIES, MORE CONVERTED MINISTERS, MORE READING OF THE BOOK OF MORMON. After that, we thought of some ideas to put them into practice, and we included how to use the ministration program and change the pairs to help less actives become ministers in a process, and how to involve the Book of Mormon in our appointments with members. The ward leaders that were there were impressed, took photos and shared ideas. We added a section for training, as to how to improve the quality of the carrying out of the tasks. One of them told us, "Elders, whatever you need us to do, we will do it. This looks like it can work. We will discuss this." In that moment, they saw what desires we had to bring the ward up and inspire them to make specific plans to become again more involved in the mission work.
2. Second day, Elder Earl (6 months in the mission, 18 years old, from Hawaii) finished an appointment with the Tobar family, which is a family that has received the missionaries for a year, but without much progress. Alan Tobar, the father of the family, is the only member of the Church, but he doesn't want to identify with it. He never let his family to learn about the Gospel in the past, and yet he has liberally allowed them to watch movies with him, eat dinner, sit around and do nothing, or chat with them about whatever. He has been the great stumblingblock. Notwithstanding, he really is a nice guy. And he has a very loving wife and a cheerful, youthful son who plays the guitar. In that moment, I strived to gain their confidence myself so that we could talk with them. I took a moment to play the guitar for the family (I played Classical Gas by I cannot remember the artist), and they enjoyed it. We took a moment to talk with them a lot, with a constant prayer to God to do what He needs me to do. We eventually asked how their experience has been receiving the missionaries in the past. The father told me, "Well, alright, what have you heard?" I told him that though I hadn't been in the area for too long, I was able to tell him that I understood that it has been difficult for the missionaries to teach them. He admitted so. Moments later we found ourselves talking about faith. Now the mother was raised Catholic but doesn't attend mass. The son doesn't have a church to go to but he believes in God. We shared with them as much as they would understand about faith, including that if the faith is not placed in the right thing, it cannot grow nor be nourished, and that to grow ones faith, one must have 1) belief that God exists, 2) a correct understanding of His true nature, and 3) a knowledge that one is doing His will. At the end no one had questions. But Elder Earl did. He was wondering why covenants were so important for salvation, and why the gift of the Holy Ghost is necessary to be purified. He asked me things about the resurrection and about the Spirit that had been bothering him and brought him to assume that eternal life could be gained by whoever desires to follow Christ and serve others, and nothing more, nothing with covenants. I helped him understand these things, and he was thankful for my explanation. Some things were hard to accept at first, but in the end he was able to understand. He was the most converted in that moment.
3. I wish I could give account of what happened after that, the second appointment. But in summary, by way of using the very knowledge Alan had about the Gospel, we showed his family that He has knowledge and a testimony of the things we were talking about with them, and by way of quoting his own commentaries we helped them understand what the Book of Mormon was, what its important is along with the Bible, and pulled up the Book of Mormon childrens animated videos on their TV screen (the comment "Let's watch a movie!" was used strategically here). In a way, Alan felt defeated, because he knew that his knowledge of the Gospel comes out naturally even without wanting to, and was able to see that the very testimony he needs to revive can help his own family become converted to the Gospel. His wife and son are both more than willing to come to know the Book of Mormon more. The first time in a year or more, this family has finally learned more about the Gospel.
I am thankful for the power of the Spirit in our lessons. I am thankful for the power of prayer. I know and recognize that I am not a perfect servant, but as I have come to accept my imperfections and understand the Atonement more, I have felt more peace and happiness in life, and more satisfaction in my work, and I have been able to feel the Spirit more. I know that the Gospel is true. I know that the Savior reigns. I know that Heavenly Father loves His children, and works through His faithful servants and disciples to bless His children and help them come unto Him. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Have a beautiful week, my dear brothers and sisters!
Your friend,
Elder Dredge
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