Hard Work To The End!

March 14, 2011

Well, this week was a little exciting.  This is the first week that I haven't had to wear my jacket while biking during the day.  Also the first week of allergies.  bleck.  allergies are always fun, though a bit better here because the allergy season is only a couple weeks long because then it gets too hot and kills all the pollen producing plants.  :)  So I'm sniffling all day and have a ton of snot.

 

No word from the birthmom of our investigator.  Sis. Foster Mom talked to the caseworker and the caseworker was saying no that she probably couldn't get baptized but she hadn't even talked to the Mom yet!!!  Thanks for nothing!  We have been praying for a long time now that the Mom would soften her heart and give Anna permission to get baptized, and the caseworker hasn't even talked to her about it, but has assumed the answer is no.  Hello?!  This is only one of the most important events that will happen in Anna's life and you are acting like it isn't even worth your time!!!

 

But, about Anna's friend Nick.  He has been reading and praying.  Anna went with him to church over in his ward yesterday and his Dad agreed with the missionary lessons and the Dad is going to take the lessons too!!!  Anna is an awesome little missionary!  The other day, they were doing some Foster care stuff with the state and they were waiting for their turn or whatever and were sitting next to this 20 year-old girl who has a baby and had definitely been on drugs before (she couldn't even remember how old her baby was...) and Anna was talking to her about the gospel.  The girl actually had a Book of Mormon in her purse and Anna was asking her, "Well have you read?!  Have you prayed?!  You need to do that!!!"  Who knows what will happen with that girl, but Anna has so much faith in the gospel that she didn't even see the obstacles of sharing the gospel with this girl.  I am really humbled to have been able to teach this amazing daughter of God.

 

This week we went over to a family that hasn't been to church in years.  We have visited them several times and invited them to church several times.  This time was different.  The dad invited us in and talked to us.  The 2 kids were there and we talked to them a little about how they were doing.  We weren't talking about anything gospel related but I had a really anxious feeling that we needed to talk about something about the gospel, but I didn't know how to bring it up and I didn't know what we needed to talk about.  I just kept on getting more and more anxious and this went on for about 10 minutes!  It was probably the most uncomfortable prompting from the spirit that I have had.  I didn't know what I was going to say!!  All of a sudden there was a break in conversation and the question that I needed to ask suddenly hit me and my mouth opened and I said what was in my mind.  The atmosphere changed and all of a sudden we were talking about how they had never been sealed in the temple but they wanted to and their daughter needed to be taught and baptized.  I was able to testify about the importance of Church especially the sacrament and invited them to come to church.  They said that they would even though he was on call that day.  He said that he would turn his phone off for at least the hour during sacrament meeting.  We have an appt. to teach their 11 year-old daughter so that she can be baptized.  They came to church on Sunday and they had a great time.  They mentioned that we could expect them again next sunday.  It was an awesome experience.

 

We had 4 investigators at church and 3 less-active families yesterday.  It was definitely a great day to be a missionary.  Sundays like those make you feel like you are actually making a difference in people's lives and what's even better was that the members were really excited about it and I think they are getting excited for missionary work.  I have found the desire to work like I had when I was a greenie.  This is what I have been praying for for a couple months now as home gets closer and closer.  I have really been hoping to be blessed with this so that I can finish strong and be proud of the offering that I have given to my Heavenly Father.  It is a wonderful feeling!

 

I love your guts!  I'm excited to see you in a few weeks, but not any sooner than that!!!!!!!!!!!  I love it here!

-Elder Blakemore