Quick Turn Around

Last week was hard only having one lesson but we killed it this week. 

Monday- We played softball for our zone activity that was so much fun. 

Tuesday- We got a referral on Sunday so we went in the morning to go visit her. We had an awesome lesson with her. We set her with a baptism date and she is so excited to learn more. It felt so good to get a new investigator right at the beginning of the week. The rest of the day we spent contacting potentials. A lot of them have moved. 

Wednesday- We met with one of our less active members. We had a lesson with one of our investigators and 25 minutes before the lesson the member cancelled. So we decided that we would just make a little hand out for her to do. So we wrote down a Christ like attribute activity and a couple of questions. On Sunday she told us she really loved the activity. 

Thursday- We had weekly planning and then a recent convert took us out to a buffet for dinner. He is Tongan. Man could he eat. I felt bad only eating 3 1/2 plates. He ate 7 and his wife told him to stop. He told us a funny story. When his family will go to dinner his dad will just grab the whole tray of whatever and bring it back to the table for family to eat. He said they spend like 3 hours eating at a buffet. After dinner we went out with a high priest in the ward and we went and did his home teaching with him because we didn't have any lessons. We went to a less active ladies house. 

Friday- 7 MONTH MARK! We had zone meeting which went really well. We talked about Faith and Miracles. After the meeting we went to  another buffet for lunch. A bunch of missionaries we went with tried baby octopus. After lunch we had exchanges. We went with the district leader. The day went really well. We went into their area. We taught a bunch of less actives. 

Saturday- We went and did a big service project for a lady in our ward. We did a bunch of yard work. After the service we went and had lunch and then finished our exchange. After dinner we tried to meet with some potentials but they were not interested.

Sunday- We were at the church almost all day. We had ward council in the morning. Then we had church. After church we met as missionaries in the Ana Verde ward. Then we went to dinner. It was the best dinner I have had on my mission yet. The members were so funny. 

Monday- Today we are getting haircuts. I have never been so excited. I need one so bad. 

This week i had a personal study on the topic of Trials and why we go through them

Mosiah Ch. 23 v. 21 

Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people;yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.

D&C 98 v 12

 For he will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and I will try you and prove you herewith.

D&C 136 v 31 

My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom.

D&C 98 v 1, 2, and 3 

Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;

Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament—the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.

Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord.

Mosiah 24 v 13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

 14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

Helaman 12 v 3 And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him.

What I learned from all of those scriptures is that the lord gives us trials and puts us through a lot so we can prove to him our faith in him. We need to prove that we are worthy to enter into the Celestial kingdom. Now we must bear with patience our afflictions. The saviors help us on its way. The atonement is an amazing purifier, cleanser, and healing process. Have faith that all will be well and the Lord will ease your burdens. I love the verse in D&C talking about how our prayers are heard in heaven and I can testify that they are. God is our loving heavenly father and cares about us so much. We need to always remember him and stay true to the covenants we have entered into. I love you all so much. Have a great week. If there is anything I can do for you from California let me know. I would love to be of assistance.  

With Much Love,

Elder Loertscher