New Year's Greetings from the Great OCM!
First
off the highlight of the week was of course, calling home on Christmas
day. I love you and can't wait to hear from you again on Mother's day.
A week of many miracles and improvement. We
accomplished much even over the Christmas holiday. A part member family
just moved into the ward and we started working with the husband and
they (family of 3) came to Church on Sunday (the husband is the only
non-member and is a way chill black guy). They literally have nothing
except a roof over their heads, so the day after Christmas, elder Hatch
and I took down our Christmas tree (20$ at Wal-mart, a scrawny 6ft tree)
and our few strands of lights and we went and gave them to this family
which made their day. After all, it is not like we will ever use them
again.
One of the evenings this last week when we got in to
the apartment that night and sat down to plan, I fell asleep in my
chair. Then after a while I wandered over to my bed (still in all my proselyting clothes) and slept until about 3am where I woke up confused,
got dressed, said my prayers, and then went back to bed. Our car is out
of miles for the month so we have been biking, which really wore me out
that day.
Another great thing this last week is we did better at
getting members out teaching with us then ever before in this area. And
to put the cherry on top we were able to get both of our recent converts
out teaching with us. They are kingdom builders! Their new found
testimonies are unstoppable. It is very important to help the recent
converts feel needed and a part of building the Kingdom of God.
Church was awesome! We had the part member family show
up, another investigator, and a less active who has not been to church
for 16 years! We have really been working with her and she finally came,
was surrounded by fellowship, and committed to come back this next Sunday!
So something interesting about my area is there are
lots, and lots of Jewish people. Recently, as I have been reading the
Book of Mormon, I have read a lot about the promises of the Jews and how
the Book of Mormon will be what convinces them of the truth in the
Latter-days. I really want to be a part of the conversion of a Jewish
person, or even better a family. So I have really been trying to figure
out how to reach these people but I feel very strongly that it can be
done, as long as we get them to read that awesome book, the Book of
Mormon!
Oh, by the way a member gave me a good tip about
messenger bags, or shoulder bags, or whatever you want to call them. He
recently got one on a website and it looks pretty nifty.
He had a messenger bag made by "token" called the Astor shoulder
bag (size medium). So there is one option. It has a few pockets that
could fit a Book of Mormon perfectly.
I love you all very very much and hope you have a fantastic week!
Love, Elder Beutler
