Hey everyone!
We did a lesson in Primary this week. Mom, you'll be proud to hear
that I was caught being reverent. I got to be the singing time helper
and while we sang, I got to pick someone else who was being reverent
too. And yes, Elder Nield was very jealous!
Quick follow up on Cesar and Paul. The dinner with Cesar last week
was great. We brought Shane from the ward too. Two days later Cesar went
to mutual with the other priests and seemed to enjoy it. Cesar didn't
come to church yesterday, and wasn't home when we went by to check up on
him. Paul wasn't home the day after we met him. We went by a few days
later and someone said he doesn't live there? Huh? A day or two after
that we went back, and he was there. He said he's been waiting for us
to come back. We said another prayer with him because we didn't have
time to have a sit-down lesson. He asked us to come by the next morning
at 9. Since we had something else going on, we asked if 10 would work.
The next morning rolls around, and he wasn't home. That's what's going
on there.
Three weeks to go and I'm working hard. I wish I could say that we
are finding people left and right who are ready and prepared, but that
truth is we're not. In fact, this week may have been one of the slowest
weeks of my mission. Not to mention the freak-humidity we've been having
too. We spend so much time biking and trying to contact people we've
met, but nobody is interested or home.
We have had great experiences praying with people. About two weeks
ago we met a man named Carlos. He asked us to pray for his family, and
that his girlfriend would find work. We saw him again a few days ago and
this is what he said: "Can you explain to me how after months of
looking for work, my girlfriend happens to find a job the day after you
guys prayed with me?" He continued, "I want to come to your guys' church
this Sunday." We prayed with another man named Anthony a few days ago
for his brother, who has been addicted to hard drugs and needs help. The
next day his brother went into rehab, and Anthony thanked us by saying,
"I feel like that prayer helped." On Saturday night, we were walking
through an apartment complex when a door opened and a woman poked her
head outside. Elder Nield quickly asked if there was anything we could
do for her, such as a prayer. She said yes, and asked to come over right
then for a prayer. After a brief prayer for this woman Connie, Elder
Nield asked what the both of us were thinking, "Why did you open the
door?" Her response was that she doesn't feel safe. She's a single mom
of two kids and feels like she needs to get all of them out of there. We
asked if we could come by to share more about families and about how to
find peace. She said she would appreciate that.
These prayers have been helping me get through the rough days. It's
been very hard. It's tempting to think to yourself, "Wow, 23 and a half
months into my mission, and we're not teaching anyone. Am I rusty?
Under-utilized? Wasted and worn out? Put out to pasture?" You don't need
to worry mom. We've been busy praying and serving so those thoughts
don't linger. Lots of service, just little to no teaching
appointments. Then again, perhaps our service is the best teaching
appointment. We helped an older German woman clean her yard and she was
beyond thankful. She asked for President Taylor's contact info so she
could thank him personally for our service. Another woman was very
distraught over her teenage son's poor choices. She wept on the doorstep
as she explained how she just wants him to think like she thinks,
and feel how hard it is for a parent to see her child making these
choices. She thanked me and Elder Nield for listening to our parents.
She asked us to tell you thank you, mom and dad, for what you've taught
me about faith.
Elder Nield and I did a serious evaluation of our obedience and set
some goals. The past two weeks we've shown a great amount of discipline
with smallest things. We've been happier and worked longer days. We're
exhausted, but the service is easier because of the added strength that
comes from obedience to little details. This Thursday we have zone
interviews with President Taylor. I feel confident that I can look him
in the eyes and say that I may not have taught more than three or four
lessons in a week, but I am an obedient missionary.
The work moves forward. Until next week, take care and be good.
Much love,
Elder Eric James Turner
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| Guess who got caught being reverent? |
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