Week 20

Wow, 20 weeks! Not much, but it's something. In our mission we aren't allowed to tract, for our mission, it's pretty ineffective. What's most effective is member referrals and ward council referrals. Technology work is also pretty effective in getting the message out there about the Gospel. The picture of my facebook reels tells it all. I spent two minutes making both of those reels and on of them got 894 and the other got 955 views. No doors, just the Facebook algorithim :). So yeah, no tracting, but we still try to talk to every person we see outside and talk with them and meet them and see if they're interested or not. Right now in our area we have Theresa who we've been teaching and another family we want to start teaching, but other than that, we visit members and set up messages, visit in-active members, and serve community members. And sometimes we basically tract with bunch of inspired doors. We're technically not susposed to plan a time for inspired doors, but Elder Gordon wants too, so I'm just rolling with it. 

Our past lesson with Theresa went great! She's been reading the Book of Mormon and we've taught the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ lesson. Now we're planning on teaching the Restoration. We've asked her to pray about the Book of Mormon and hopefully by our next lesson (this week), she will have a testimony of the Book of Mormon. If she has that testimony then the Restoration will make sense and with that testimony of the Book of Mormon, questions regarding Joseph Smith and the translating of the Book of Mormon and other questions can be pointed back to her testimony that she's found. With her testimony of the Book of Mormon, we can help her understand and she will be open to accept more of the restored Gospel. Because she's Catholic we'll have to teach some classic points that differ, but again she's super willing to learn more.

Yeah during our last district council the fire alarm went off and we all had to leave and go to a building up the road. There wasn't a fire, but something in the vents got clogged up and the kitchen and other rooms got over 100 degrees. 

We also had a fun p-day activity this morning with our district. We went to this family's house. They have 3 pickle ball courts, a half basketball court, a pool, a trampoline, ping-pong, foosball, exercise room, and a lot of green space. Wow! Elder's Bartell, Leonard, Nowatske, Taylor, Adams, Sundwall, Gordon, and Sisters Heaton and Turnbow also came. Super fun!

Spiritual Thought:

I've been focusing on becoming more charitiable and I've run into a problem everyone has ran into. When you try to become more charitiable and humble, it's so much easier to then start having thoughts that you're better and that why can't others do the same? I haven't really struggled with that, but I'm trying to be more Christ-like and when you focus that charitable love towards everyone, then you don't really have that issue. So when you have those thoughts towards a particular person, then focus your love towards them! If you're working on being more Christ-like and then you make progress and you notice something about someone else, then just love them more. I think a big issue that happens is that a lot of missionaries like to joke around about other missionaries and can be very negative towards other Elders and past companions which is sad. Loving the people will bring joy to your life and loving your companion will increase the enjoyment and the unity will go up! So it's all about loving everyone and truly trying to love someone even if they bother you. 

Oh yeah and we're getting a new mission President! He'll come in July and his name is Brian Hansbrow. It was anounced this past week and he's much younger than President Wright! He's about 60 something and Brian is about 45 and still has 6 kids at home! So that's crazy and they have a 2 year-old! But yeah, I love President Wright, but I'm excited to have 2 mission Presidents! 

Anyway, we're working hard, talking to everyone. Sometimes it's hard here in Gilbert. Yeah we have washing machines, nice beds, plently of nice food, plently of members, and many wordly blessings. But the people are stuck in their ways here. They're where I call, "Stuck in Bountiful". But we do find people like Theresa. So hopefully you all have a great week and I challenge you to set a goal and work on something! Love you all! まてね！

ロバートソン長老