Week 72

G-2

Patrick Thornton

To Me

Today at 9:54 AM

Family, so first off, I want to alleviate the undo pressure I have placed you, mother, under.  I forgot to mention last week.  I did get the ballot, actually 2 Mondays ago I got it after I had emailed and sent it off the next day or so.  I also received 69-71, the double letter from grams, and I received grandma's for this week, but will probably receive yours mom, today after emailing. 

Super exciting about Chris being able to go to the temple.  But weird, all at the same time.  Let's see, I really don't have much to say today.  We have been crazy busy though.  And when I say crazy busy I mean crazy busy.  Not enough time to even think.  I think I may be busting the run faster than you have strength rule sometimes, but the Lord sustains me, and I live to labor another day.  Hopefully, things will settle down some this week.  We are teaching a lot of people and finding more.  It's really exciting.  The ward is also progressing in terms of doing missionary work; it's definitely wonderful to see and experience.  We are teaching this individual named Josh.  He is absolutely fantastic.  In about 2 weeks, he is in Alma in the Book of Mormon.  His retention is amazing.  Yesterday, I told him I was fasting and then, not sure whether I just confused him, I asked if he knew what fasting was.  He said you did it to prepare for something.  I was impressed.  He then went on to reference how when Alma was unconscious for 3 days the people fasted and prayed for him!!  I think that is in like 1 verse in the Book of Mormon, but he remembered it and remembered it was with Alma.  He's come to church twice.  We found him at the Library :)  That in and of itself is a testimony that there are people everywhere prepared to hear the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  Just imagine the hastening of the work that would occur if we had hundreds and hundreds of people in every city actively seeking out those opportunities to find people in unplanned ways.  That is the Lord's vision that will be accomplished on an individual level.

Another instance this week, we were returning home from an appointment with our exchange and there was this pick up truck that had its flashers on and was sticking out in the road a little bit on a nasty curve.  We swung around and hopped out and helped her push it out of the road.  We then proceeded to ask her what the problem was and she explained that she ran out of gas.  Our exchange happily volunteered to go get her some, so we ran to his home, grabbed some gas, and then returned, and while he was filling it up, Elder Mortensen and I talked with her about the church and the message we share.  We set up an appointment with her for yesterday.  Yesterday, we went and had a really good lesson, and they are excited to come to church, her and her 13 year old son.  The Lord truly blesses us when we are willing to act out of compassion and love.  Part of the problem, I feel, in the society we live in today, even within the church, is that everyone is so "busy."  As a missionary, I can promise you that it is not difficult to be busy.  Being busy is easy, but being productive and accomplishing the Lord's will??? That's a different question.  Think about Christ when He was visiting the Americas and the people here after His resurrection as recorded in the Book of Mormon.  After ministering to them for a time, He explained to them that He had to go; the Father had other things for Him to accomplish, yet when He saw the peoples' countenances, He acted out of compassion as we witness a divine changing of mind.  He delayed his subsequent engagements in order to follow the spirit in the moment and act out of a full and pure love.  Should we not follow that example as best we can??  especially due to the fact that we would be hard pressed to submit that our engagements are of more worth or of greater consequence than the Savior's. :)

Also, this past week, we had our Halloween party...I miss not having a stake center to be my building.  There were so many people there; it was crazy packed.  There were so many tables in the gym and in many other rooms, there was hardly enough room to walk.  Trust me, there weren't any activities in the gym; that would have been impossible.  :)  and the party was over in the blink of an eye.  I barely squeezed in a couple of bowls of chili.  Our entire time consisted of tracking down people that we had invited who were there, fellowshipping with less actives and trying to catch the friends that members had brought...definitely not a party for missionaries :)  but it was fantastic in terms of missionary work, which is 100% of my focus for 2 years right??  Who needs parties as a missionary?  Holidays might as well not exist on a mission :)

I guess I ended up having more to say than I thought. ;)  (that usually happens, I talk a lot ;) )

Thanks for all your support.  I love my Lord.  I love His forgiveness.  I love His peace, the peace that only He can bring.  I love who I am becoming.  I love learning.  I love life.  And I love and am so grateful for this opportunity that I have to not only represent Him as His authorized representative, but to become more like Him.

I love y'all so much.

Love,

Elder Patty