Week 92

A late letter is better than no letter..

Thursday March 27, 2014 at 6:44 PM

Hey Family,

So, yeah, about the voice class...forget that for fall.  I just pray the Lord, because of my diligence and obedience, brings back to remembrance all the many things I have forgotten so that I don't drive the fall semester into the ground.  Sheesh, but enough about that.  

Life is good.  I got a letter from Grams, number 91 from mom with the ton of stuff in it.  Yeah, I'll have to get back to you on that stuff soon.  I just haven't had time.  We really didn't get a preparation day this week...

I'm glad that Velvet is doing well.  I love that girl and miss her.  

I had a question...have y'all done any missionary work with our new neighbors yet? Just curious :)

I hope y'all have fun at the vernal temple too!  That should be a great experience.  In a couple of weeks, we'll get to go to the temple again :)  

So, last week, we went on two exchanges.  1 we went to Wilmington which is about 2 hours away.  That was good, and then we also went on exchange with the Durham elders and I got to be with my first boy again!  Elder Moses.  It was like the good ol' days.  He's a really good missionary.  

Funny story time, we went over to teach a lesson to a family in the ward on Sunday whose son is preparing to serve a mission and it turns out that I have completed the circuit.  Allow me to explain.  In my first area, I met this lady.  She was nice but less active.  In my 2nd area, I met another nice, but less active lady who turns out to be the 1st area's lady's sister.  Crazy coincidence right?? It gets better.  This lady who is active that we went to on Sunday is the 3 and final sister that lives in North Carolina.  I have now successfully served in all 3 wards of that North Carolina family.  Morehead, Southport, and Falls Lake.  Who would have thought? :)  

Another good story.  Last Thursday, we had the incredible opportunity, through invitation, to go into one of the local high schools hear and teach 2 periods of a world religions course.  The class was an elective class for seniors, and we basically taught a brief restoration/background of our church, and then opened it up for questions.  It was really great experience.  And the teacher, who’s not even Christian, said that he learned a lot.  One thing in particular that I was pretty bold about was when we were explaining our views on the trinity.  I told the class that my belief that they were 3 separate personages, but one in every other aspect helped me to understand whom I was truly worshiping.  Additionally, and here was the pretty bold part, I told them that that belief also enabled the New Testament to make a ton more sense.  Without that belief, we learn that Jesus Christ sure liked to talk to himself a lot (and I said that), but I was serious, and I brought up the experience in the garden when he pleads with his Father to take the cup from Him.  It means so much because it's His Father, and He's begging Him, but is completely willing to do the Father's will.  It was powerful.  And this made a large impact on the teacher who mentioned to me afterwards that that explanation made a ton of sense to him.  Why would Jesus need to be asking himself for permission?  If He was also His own Father, then He could have done whatever he wanted to; He could grant Himself His own permission.  Overall, an awesome experience.  And the students took about 35 copies of the Book of Mormon and 20 some pamphlets (mostly Plan of Salvation) and some cards.  I would say a good morning indeed.  That was all before Lunch :)  

We have some really good members in this ward, and hopefully, we will begin seeing some more fruit come from their efforts to share the gospel.  Many of them are really looking for opportunities and praying for them.  One thing I've realized is that when I go and have dinner with a member that sincerely wants to do missionary work, but obviously doesn't fully understand how or exactly what missionary work is, all I really want to do is help them understand.  It makes me realize that I have truly been so blessed by Father and have learned so much about the Hastening of the Work of Salvation.  I hope that I can help others to grow in their understanding as well.  This mission (these 6 stakes) has such potential to take off in the Lord's work.  If we all can all just truly come to understand and then internalize the doctrine, miracles will occur.  I know they will.

Well, I don't have much time before we turn into pumpkins, but know that I love y'all so much.  I love our Savior.  I absolutely cherish His Atonement.  I have truly come to understand in such a greater degree the reality of that gift made free and available to all who are willing to accept the conditions of repentance.  And I know He enables.  We are nothing on our own.  Nothing, but with God, all things are possible.  The Atonement has definitely become one of my closest friends.

Love,

Elder Patty