July 2, 2012

July 2, 2012

Hey y'all,

     As temperatures climb in the Dallas area, the work is picking up! Elder Whiting and I had a very busy week with lots and lots of opportunities to teach. I'm determined to work my hardest these last couple weeks to bless and serve as many people as possible. There are so many exciting things happening in here in Allen!

     We have exciting news regarding Nicole! She spoke with her parents and we've set a baptismal date for July 14th. She is VERY excited to be moving forward and we can't wait for her baptism. Her mom even said she'd come to the baptism, which is a huge change.

     Church yesterday was absolutely phenomenal. Chet came to church on his own for the first time in over 10 years. The fast and testimony meeting we shared with him was one of the most spiritually electrifying sacrament meetings I've been a part of. I was on the verge of tears the entire meeting and somehow was able to bear my testimony. When I sat back down next to Chet, he expressed his love and appreciation for me, and thanked me for my decision to serve a mission. I believe there are reasons that the Lord places missionaries in specific areas for a definite purpose. I think Chet is one of those reasons I was placed here in Allen. We don't know how long it will take for Chet to get re-baptized yet, but I'm really happy for him. He's such a solid guy.

     As I'm typing this letter, I'm talking on the phone with a girl named Kaycee. Kaycee is a young woman in one of our wards that has been coming to church for over a year I think. She would have been baptized already but her parents won't allow her to take the lessons. She just asked her parents again and apparently they've changed their stance. We'll be going over tonight to teach her the first lesson and set up her baptismal date.

     Some of you may remember a story I related a little over a year ago, about Elder Low and I following the Spirit with some spare time between appointments. We were led to tract a street that didn't seem to yield any success until we had finished and were about to leave the neighborhood. A young girl yelled from behind us and stopped us. She explained that she had been home schooled and didn't know anyone that was Mormon. The only reason she knew about the Church is because her family had seen a Mormon ad on TV and her parents began badmouthing the church. She took the liberty of pouring over mormon.org and decided she wanted to be baptized. At the time she was only about 16 and knew her parents would not allow it, but said as soon as she turned 18 she wanted to be baptized. We gave her a Book of Mormon and all the literature we had on us to give her, and invited her to continue reading, praying, and speaking with missionaries on mormon.org.

I told this story at a meeting last week in conjunction with our interviews with President Durrant. After the meeting, one of the assistants to the President asked me if the girl in the story was named JC. I indicated that I thought that was correct. He then told me that she had just begun corresponding via e-mail with one of the office missionaries, and still has plans of being baptized when she turns 18.

     Throughout my mission, I've learned that sometimes, the Lord really does need US. Sometimes there is a specific situation which one has been prepared for where the Lord can use you. Other times, it seems that it really didn't matter who got the job done, but somehow the Lord picked you for the job. I have a hard time deciding which feels better; knowing the Lord needs you, or knowing that even though it could have been anyone, the Lord gave you the blessing of being his instrument for a specific purpose. I have had no greater joy in my life than being an instrument in the hands of the Lord. At times I know He has needed me, but I also know that I'm extremely blessed to have been, seemingly in the right place at the right time. All flesh is indeed in the Lord's hands, and He is truly mindful of us.

     I love you all very much and I look forward to sharing more of our successes in these last couple weeks! Until next time; be good, stay safe, and keep the faith!

Love,

Elder Michael P. Lyman

   Texas Dallas Mission