Yet another great week! We got to spend a lot of time this week just working, so that was pretty great. We have been working in some huge apartment building, and we have found quite a bit of success. We had several good lessons with return appointments, so we are finally going to be able to see some people progress, which is super nice since when we started this transfer we had no solid investigators. Now we have 5 or 6 who are progressing, one of them being our Jewish investigator I have mentioned a couple times. She is still doing great, and even though she has been sick we have good contact with her.
We had zone conference this week which was pretty fun, if not a slight bit stressful with the couple trainings that we had to do. Thankfully the Assistants did most of the work, so it wasn't too bad. Just super spiritually uplifting.
We also had Stake Conference this week, and it was really good. I was really impressed with the talks, especially one from a recent convert. The member of the Seventy had some really good stories in the Saturday night session. I got so into it that when he annouced that he would like to hear from some of the missionaries in the congregation, I just got a little confused, and thought,"I wonder who. There aren't very many missionaries here." We were actually the only two missionaries there because we had to bring an investigator in order to come, and it was in our city so it was a bit easier for us. I was then very suprised when called Elder Thornton and Elder White to come up. He asked us to tell why we came on a mission. I went first so I had no preparation time, but thankfully I was guided on what to say.
And now that I say that, I'm not sure if very many of you know why I came on a mission. So I guess I will share a little about that.
To be perfectly honest, I came out on my mission because of Duty. Also because it was something that my parents wanted and something I had been planning on for my entire life. I knew logically that the church was true. But when I got to the MTC something changed. I have never really struggled very much in my life. School was always easy, my social life was never too tough, and I was blessed with a wonderful family. But in the MTC I found out that I was not capable. For the first time I couldn't do it on my own. So it came to the point where I had to figure something out. I prayed hard for help, and for a general confirmation of God's presence.
And I recieved it. And that help and affirmation has continued to grow as I have been out here.
I understand now that I truly am nothing. Just a tool in God's hands. And through the many blessing I have been given I can help him in his work. This church is true. We are led by a modern day prophet. God loves us and wants to help us, we just need to let him do that.
My reason why I am here has definitely changed. I am here because I love it. I love the growth it has brought in me. I love to see the people around me come closer to Christ. And I am super grateful for it.
I hope this email wasn't to long and that people are still reading at this point ! :) I love you all! Good luck with all of the craziness in life, and don't forget to rely on God!
Love,
Elder Thornton
Photos:
Our zone after we won the mission wide competition :)
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