Shook Hands w/ Elder Holland, NBD

Happy day after Memorial Day! I get just a little time to say "hi" and let you know I'm alive since the library was shut down yesterday.

 

This week was just insane. On Tuesday we went to Lansing to hear Elder Holland (Q of the 12) and Elder Hallstrom of the 70. They took the time to shake all 400+ missionary's hands before speaking to us. Elder Holland talked to us for an hour and a half on our missionary purpose.

 

For those of you who don't recite it on a daily basis...

 

"Our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored Gopel through faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end." (PMG, pg. 1)

 

There you have it. Elder Holland broke down and expounded this single sentence for the whole training. He focused on the fact that in order to invite others to come unto Christ, we need to be there ourselves. Basically we can't teach what we don't live, especially the principles of repentance and enduring to the end. He said lots of other incredible things that I'll have to share when I have more time.

 

Right after Tuesday, we had zone conference. That was awesome. Our fresh new A.P.'s, Elders Faust (Like 14 months out) and Derricott (my district leader not even three months ago, barely a year out) gave inspired training on finding with purpose and teaching by the Spirit. President Hess was inspiring as always, especially since it's our last training with him just about. Needless to say, we had two back-to-back powerhouse trainings.

 

Elder Jackson and I applied what we learned. On Thursday alone we found two new investigators and set three baptismal dates. The area has made a 180-degree turn in the past few days. Miracles. We set another date on Sunday night and another on Monday. Miracles.

 

So I'll tell you about one of our new investigators then I gotta go. A member's girlfriend, Angel, has been coming to church and right after gospel principles last week I invited her to learn and she accepted. We taught her the for the first time Thursday with Daylin, her boyfriend. We used the "How to Begin Teaching" principles like I never had before (just like we learned at training) and helped her recognize and understand the Spirit right away. She has felt the Spirit strongly as she's attended church. We taught her the Plan of Salvation and committed her to baptism.

 

So that's about it. Love you all, gotta go!

 

-EKS

 

P.S. Can someone get me Niels and Lydia's emails? Thanks.