Dear Everyone,
It is good to be back in Henderson! This is highly unusual to return to an area, but nothing about my mission has been ususal so far. We had transfers a day later due to the "ice storm" that passed by. On Wednesday I went with one of the Harker's Island Elders and a family from that ward to transfer meeting and for the first time I was officially transferred somewhere. They read my name off and everything. We were driven back to our apartment by a member of the branch and had a slight detour to South Boston, Va to drop off the Elders who will be working in that recently opened area. For the past while only senior couples have served there. I was grateful to jump right into teaching after I unpacked and got settled in. We were able to have dinner with one of our progressing investigators and answer some of the questions she had. She is so enthusiastic about being taught and is keeping all the commitments that we have given so far. She used to live in Utah with her parents and since her father is a member, she grew up going to our church, but never formally became a member of the church. Her boyfriend, whom she lives with, goes to another church, but when she went with him, it lacked the spirit that she was used to feeling. It really is a miracle that the missionaries were able to get in contact with her and it is a blessing to see her progress in the gospel. We watched "The Restoration" DVD with her and the Spirit was really strong there. It was quite a marvelous experience. Later that night we met with another of our investigators (Keith) and commited him to stop smoking and to begin to read The Book of Mormon and pray about it.
The next day we had Zone Conference and the focus was "The Role of the Holy Ghost in Conversion." We were taught portions of the Doctrine of Christ and thenwent into detail on how we can work on inspired listening, which is where we rely on the Spirit to help us discern needs from the responses to inspired questions. We were able to do a couple of role plays to practice and I had the hardest time with teaching one of our "investigators." We also had a portion dedicated to improving our planning during our daily planning sessions and we were even allowed to have our nightly planning session about 6 hours early. We were all witnesses to the blessings that flow when we followed the planning guidelines outlined in our planners. Afterwards I was able to buy my food for the week and when we walked out we realized we had parked next to one of the branch members. He graciously invited us to dinner and we were able to eat and talk with him about some of the things we had learned that day. Later that night we met with the Sullyan family and were able to set an appointment with a group of investigators.
We spent most of Friday morning in our weekly planning session and then went out to contact some referrals we had received. We then visited with Ann and Alfreda. Sadly Ann's aunt had passed away the previous week and then while we were talking with her the phone rang informing her that her son had broken an arm and a leg in an automobile accident. We were able to have a prayer with her and give her a blessing of comfort and for her health. We will be checking on them again pretty soon. We then went out pretty far and met with the Gooch family. We watched "The Restoration" DVD to clear up some questions on the first lesson and I was able to make an authority chart showing the flow of authority from God to His prophets from the Old Testament to Modern Times. Through that and the power of the Holy Ghost, they were able to come to an understanding of the need for men to have authority to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinaces thereof.
The rest of our week was spent in lessons and in searching out referrals. I look very forward to this coming week. A short side note though, my companion and I spent a couple of hours on preparation day playing mini-golf and laser- tag and we had a really enjoyable time.
Jesus is the Son of God. We are all Children of God and He is our literal Father in Heaven. He wants us to follow the example of His Son Jesus Christ and to a knowledge of His will in our lives. I know that God has one plan for all of His Children and that it is through His Son Jesus Christ and His Atonement that this plan is brought to pass. Our work is to keep the commandments by living by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. We are to be doers of the word and not simply hearers. I know that God reveals His word through Prophets and that this pattern as show in both the Old and New Testament, still continues today. Thomas S. Monson is His Prophet. We can know the truth of these things for ourselves, by the power of the Holy Ghost, through prayer as we read and ponder the message contained in the Book of Mormon. I have received an answer for myself. I know these things are true and give my testimony, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
With Love,
Elder Roberts
For more information please visit:
Mormon.org
