Hello, hello, goodbye, and hello again!
Sorry if this email is super late but as I write, we are driving down to Point Lookout for P-day to celebrate Elder Archibald's birthday (it was yesterday, he's now 22) so I don't know when I'll have wifi to send this out. The awesome thing about having a car is that we get to drive anywhere in the mission we want, as long as we don't leave the mission or go over our mile allotment for the month. So fun pictures of that are included.
My weeks seem to either be super productive or not really productive at all. It really depends on the number of meetings we have and whether or not people answer their phones. The good news though is that the area has picked up a lot over the past few weeks. We have a few investigators and consistent times we can meet with them now, which is awesome! I've been in the area a month and I've probable taught a grand total of five or six lessons to nonmembers, two or three of them have been in this past week. According to other elders who have served here, that's just kinda the nature of Laurel west, but I believe that with the Spirit as our guide and companion, things here will continue to pick up as they have been thus far
So the moment I'd been waiting for finally arrived on Thursday and I now have my iPad! It's such a nice thing to have for teaching and studying! Plus, I can now take pictures!
Speaking of pictures, I'm sending some this week! The explanation for each will be somewhere in this email.
In an attempt to build stronger relationships with the members, Elder Hill and I have been visiting some families in our area and teaching them the Restoration and challenging them to share the Book of Mormon with someone they know. The reception so far has been very positive and it has been a cool experience getting to teach them and see how they react to our challenge (also it's good because it allows me to practice my teaching in a more safe and stress-free environment).
Some advice to all of you future missionaries: memorize Joseph Smith's account of the first vision. From the experiences I've had even thus far and from the experience of pretty much every elder I've talked to, there is a special power in those words that can invite the Spirit into the room so prominently! Especially if you have it memorized!
Saturday, I had exchanges with Elder Archibald and while we were out, we got to teach this guy named Edmund, whom the previous elders had found but we were unable to meet with until now. The lesson went very well and when we shared the account of the First Vision, the Spirit was so strong and confirmed to me again that Joseph Smith did see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in the Sacred Grove that morning and that he was a prophet of God and restored Christ's church on the earth today
Yesterday, Elder Hill and I had the privilege of being witnesses for the baptism of Curtis, one of Elder Hill's investigators back in Capitol Hill where he served prior to us going to Laurel, and his ex-wife Renika (he helped her find the gospel and they decided to get baptized together to set a good example for their 8 year-old daughter (who now wants to be baptized so it worked!). It was an amazing experience! The Spirit was so strong and seeing how happy Curtis and Renika were after being baptized served as a reminder for me why I'm here.
Spiritual thought:
“The first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith means trust--trust in God’s will, trust in His way of doing things, and trust in His timetable. We should not try to impose our timetable on His. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell has said:
“‘The issue for us is trusting God enough to trust also His timing. If we can truly believe He has our welfare at heart, may we not let His plans unfold as He thinks best? …’ [Even As I Am, 93]
“Indeed, we cannot have true faith in the Lord without also having complete trust in the Lord’s will and in the Lord’s timing”
-Dallin H. Oakes
I know that this is true in every aspect of our lives and especially in regards to the Gospel. The answer to our prayers, comfort in times of trouble, confirmation of the truth of the gospel, and all other things we ask Heavenly Father for with righteous or sincere intent WILL come. But He will do so on His timing. And I know that will be at the time that will be best for our growth in the long run, though it may not be convenient for us in the here and now sense. Heavenly Father has an eternal perspective far beyond our understanding and will therefore allow us to endure trials and hardships that he knows will help us grow, although we will likely have no idea why we are to endure them. I promise though that if we endure our trials faithfully, that He will bless us and help us grow in ways we can hardly comprehend at the present time. I know this church is true and that our Heavenly Father loves all of his children and will bless us if we will just turn to him, endure our trials, and are patient. Remember that we are all children of our Heavenly Father and that through Him, we can do all things. I've experienced this for myself and know that as I am faithful, I will continue to be able to do so.
I love you all! Have an amazing week and I hope to hear from y'all soon!
Sincerely,
Elder Samuel Williams
Washington DC North Mission
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