My heart is full of gratitude and I don't know if I can adequately talk about what ive learned or what i have appreciated these past 24 months. I know that Heavenly Father knew what I needed to help me change. I love the missionaries that I have been able to serve with here in the FTM, especially President and Sister Smith. I love the people of the south even though they have brought some of the most undesired emotions at times, I have loved serving them. I am thankful to my parents who have raised me in a gospel atmosphere, who have provided the way to serve for 2 years, and who have sacrificed anything and everything for the benefit of my siblings and myself. I have a heart full of gratitude for the trials that I have experienced. I do believe that I have had more frequent trials but through each of those trials come lessons learned. Im thankful for the man that Heavenly Father has permitted me to be. I pray that I may continue to be the tool in His hand. The three main things that I have learned on my mission that has shaped all of my decisions and outcomes are these.
GRATITUDE- Gratitude is a catalyst to all attributes of Heavenly Father. Its a motivator and faith builder. I have had better results in a day that I pray that my eyes might be opened to the tender mercies the Lord provides me with. In all things, be grateful!
FAITH- This probably seems pretty self explanatory. Nothing is or can be done without the help of the Almighty.
EFFORT- "Faith without works is dead, being alone." I have learned how to work hard on my mission. I love being in His service. Pray hard, work hard.
I love the Lord. I have loved getting to know him in this atmosphere. All is well. Love yall and will see you Thursday evening!
Elder Welch
I might say this a lot but I really do think this was the fastest week of my mission, it flew by! We had a lot of appointments set up so I think it was attributed a lot to that. On Tuesday I had my final zone training and it was really good, I feel like the zone leaders touched on everything that the zone needs, I wish they would focus more on families though. I was asked to teach about all the work we have been doing up in Troy with members and I felt that went well. Most of that day we tracted around and tried to set up appointments for the rest of the week. Wednesday was our really good day! We had a family history appointment with one of our really good potentials and we got back to the 1400's in about an hour, she was so excited about it, we have an appointment with her this week(unfortunately I will be on exchange) my companions are planning on moving into the doctrine with her this week, pray that she will be accepting!
We have also been meeting with an excommunicated member for a while and found out he had a massive heart attack this week, i think he had 5 100% blockages in his heart...I didn't even know we had that many passages! Thursday was a crazy day, we got soaked! I know that the rest of the USA is under a storm cloud as well but we were POURED on for a good hour while tracting, only 1 person even invited us to come in needless of how dangerous it was to even be outside, the guy that we talked to was a super good guy though, he is moving to Colorado this week so hopefully the concentration of members there gets him! This week was really just a good ole proselyting week. Nancy and Will postponed meeting with us until fall due to how busy they are going to be this summer so that was super sad!
It was sad to hear about Elder Perry's passing and how sudden it was. In one month it went from no pain, to cancer, to terminal, to death. That doesn't happen normally, that illness was guided, he was needed, and if any of us know Elder Perry, he is doin work on the other side! See everyone in 10! love yall. All is well
