Week 5

Hello all!

This week was a lot of fun! We had a thing last night called a Why I Believe fireside where some of the recent converts came and shared their testimonies about the gospel and how they know that it is true. It was really powerful to hear and see how firm their foundations are, especially those who had only known about the church for a few weeks. It definitely helped motivate me and makes me want to work harder.

This week me and my companion also knocked into a man who has apparently been working with the missionaries for about 8 years. He is the pastor at a local Pentecostal church and used to drive the missionaries around when they didn't have a car here in Yelm. He invited us to his bible study class and said he used to do deep bible study with the missionaries before they stopped showing up. Me and my companion are going to start meeting with him soon and are super excited to learn more and discuss the different viewpoints.

We also got to talk to Brandon (the boy afraid of water) and taught him some of the lessons again. He was absorbing everything super well and hopefully it will motivate him to overcome his fear. He is a super cool kid. He cooked us ramen and set up the appointment and everything. It blows my mind that he is only 9.

I also found an amazing talk about missionary work this week by Holland. In it he says "Anyone who does any kind of missionary work will have occasion to ask, Why is this so hard? Why doesn't it go better? Why can't our success be more rapid? Why aren't there more people joining the Church? It is the truth. We believe in angles. We trust in miracles. Why don't people just flock to the font? Why isn't the only risk in missionary work that of pneumonia from being soaking well all day and night in the baptismal font? Why isn't the only risk in missionary work that of pneumonia from being soaking wet all day and night in the baptismal font? You will have occasion to ask those questions. I have thought about this a great deal. I offer this as my personal feeling. I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never easy for him?"

This talk has motived me so much these last few days. I had been feeling under the weather, going to the doctor a few days ago, but this shows that Christ suffered so much more than any of us ever will, and if he can suffer all of what he did, a little sickness should not stop me. As we press forward through our trials and our hardships we will be blessed. No matter how hard things get, God is always on our side helping us. If we turn to Him, our burdens will be lightened and we will find hope in times of despair, happiness in times of sadness and joy in times of darkness.

Love

Elder Parker

Ps, this is probably the best door sign I have seen yet.