Hey y'all
So this is my last P-day and e-mail home. I can't believe this is my last week... It doesn't quite seem real. I'm sure it will probably still seem that way for a little while even after I'm home. It's been fun to reflect on all the amazing experiences I've had on my mission, and all the people who've touched my life in such a profound way. I've seen a great deal of success, and I've learned so much. I hope I've been able to influence at least one person as positively as the change I've experienced in my own heart and mind. Miracles truly are happening all around us, whether we choose to acknowledge them or not. What a blessing it is, that I've been allowed to spend 2 years serving in the Texas Dallas Mission. This place and these people will forever be a part of me.
Elder Whiting and I have been working hard, and have had a great week, and this one looks like it will be just as successful. Here's to making this the best week of my mission.
There's so much to say about this week! The 4th of July was pretty fun. We spend the morning at a big breakfast put on by one of our wards. Afterward we visited some members and did a little contacting. The rest of the week we had tons of opportunities to teach. We met with each of our top investigators a couple times each throughout the week. We met with Chet 4 times throughout the week with a couple lessons, and a couple shorter visits. We had 6 investigators at church yesterday and 3 of those 6 are very strong baptismal candidates.
Nicole is scheduled to be baptized this Saturday, and she's asked me to perform the baptism! I can't think of a better way to spend my last Saturday in the mission field. Both of Nicole's parents have agreed to come to her baptism. This is absolutely a miracle. We're so happy for her. She's such a great girl, and she really deserves for her baptism day to go perfectly.
Chet is still going strong! He's 100% committed to being re-baptized. He even paid his tithing this week. Chet had a really great meeting with the Bishop this week and is just waiting on word from the stake president to get the ball rolling. Once we hear from him, we should have an idea of the timetable. He's making huge strides and it's so cool to be a part of! Chet really wants me to perform his baptism when the Stake President and Bishop think he's ready. It would be pretty incredible if I could come back in a little while to make that happen. His return story is pretty miraculous.
Ashley is doing great as well! She's reading about 5 chapters a day in the Book of Mormon and is ready to set a date to be baptized. We'll be setting that up this week. Her family is so excited for her! They can't wait to finally have her sealed to them.
Casey is ready to set a baptismal date as well. We finished up her lessons this week and she's fired up and ready to go. I have never taught an investigator who's so prepared. I guess she'd have to be after coming to church for 3 years though... She's talking about setting a date for the 21st of July.
Heather has started coming back to church and is talking about baptism again. She has expressed to us how she's missed coming, and having us in her home. It would be so great to have her family together in the Church. Hopefully the momentum continues to grow with her. She'll be at dinner tonight at another members home.
This being my last letter from the mission field, I do not want to leave anyone who reads this with any doubt as to my testimony of the Savior and His Gospel. I know He lives. I know He is the way, the truth, and the light. I have seen lives change in miraculous and drastic ways simply because individuals exercised enough faith to live the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The work we are engaged in is not so much a work of creating something new, or planting foreign ideas within others, as it is one of restoring our brothers and sisters to a knowledge of their true identities. Our Heavenly Father loves us. He has never abandoned one of His children and he never will. His arms are outstretched to any who would follow the invitation to learn of Him and live in His way. That is the only way which will bring us the peace, happiness, and joy we so desire now and into the eternities. I know that our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ desire our ultimate well-being. It is their work and their glory. When any of us take part in that work, regardless of how small our ability to contribute, we may share in His glorious joy. As the Apostle John so simply taught, "...God is love" (1 John 4:8). Of this I testify in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
--
Elder Michael P. Lyman
Texas Dallas Mission
No comments:
Post a Comment