Monday, August 22, 2016

Staying in St. Charles



Hey everyone!

   This week was pretty good. Once again we didn't see a whole lot in numbers success but we did find a few potentials that we are going to follow up with this week. We helped a member move out of his house and now Jennifer, the other Elders investigator, is moving in. Which means she'll be in our area soonish. We had a lesson with our friends from Nepal and it actually went really well! We taught them about The Saviors Earthly Ministry and they understood that there needed to be 12 Apostles and that Christ was baptized and that it was by the proper power. We talked a lot about baptism with them and a miracle happened while we were reading in 3 Nephi 11. We read verses 21, 33, and 34 and they both tried really hard to read and as we explained what it was saying all of the sudden they understood everything we said, we didn't have to reword anything or try to say it again we stated what we wanted and they said we understand. It was the coolest thing. I don't know if it was that they understood us or that the Spirit told us how to say it in such a way that they would understand, either way it was because we read the Book of Mormon with them. It was definitely a testimony builder to me of the power the Book of Mormon has.
   We also met a lady in the park who was walking around with all of her grandkids playing Pokemon Go. She knew about the church and when we told her that the church was growing she said "that's not good." We asked why and she said that God showed her a vision of our God and it wasn't good. That upset me a little bit so we talked some more and tied everything to Jesus Christ and by the time we were done talking we're pretty sure she understood.
   Transfers are happening because they always happen to me. I can't seem to keep a companion for very long. Elder Atkinson is moving down to Normal, the sister city to Bloomington, and he's excited. I am staying and will be companions with Elder Kloosterboer. He's only been out for a couple months and I'm excited to be with him.
   I know that I just talked about how amazing Joseph Smith is in my last few emails but I have to do it again. There are just so many amazing experiences with him that keeps building my testimony. The cool experience was when someone who was giving a talk read Joseph Smiths first vision and I started to cry a little bit right in the middle of Sacrament Meeting. Not so much that anyone noticed but I did nevertheless. I never feel the spirit as strongly than when it has to do with Joseph Smith. 
   That should be just about it for this week, I see bright things in the future! Pay attention to the miracles in your life and the you'll see the Lords hand daily.

   Have a great week!
      Elder Eddenfield 




 

Monday, August 15, 2016

Super Gung-ho



Hey everyone!
   This last week was great! We had Zone Conference and that was fantastic as always, I always learn so much from my leaders and learn of new things to do so it was greatly needed when President mentioned taking things one step at a time. We talked a lot about Joseph Smith because that is our focus for the month. Man oh man do I love Joseph Smith, there is no way he isn't a prophet. Our big invitation was to strengthen our faith in him and so I have been doing just that and my testimony has grown so much. We were also invited to write our testimony in a Book of Mormon and give it out within 24 hours.
   We did a majority of personal contacting this week and did a decent amount of tracting and had some cool experiences. One of the times was when we were trying to give out our Book of Mormon's. Elder Atkinson was able to give his to the lady we found tracting and some Elders in Aurora have a lesson with her on Tuesday. My Book of Mormon was handed out in a park. He would only give us his number but at least I was able to give it out. The other time we went we only got to three doors but it took an hour because every house someone answered and the last guy knew how to talk. Luckily he accepted a Book of Mormon and said he would give it to his wife who loves to read religious books. Hopefully she realizes she has the best one now. We'll see where it goes. We also met a young man while walking and he accepted a Plan of Salvation pamphlet and set a return appointment. Turns out he is the son of a potential we have been trying to get a hold of, were pretty sure at least because it's the same address. We just so happened to set up that appointment at the same time we are having a priest out with us, they go to the same school so we lucked out. 
   We were able to meet with our family from Nepal this week. The lesson went a little bit better then I thought it was going to go, we were able to at least help them understand that God is our loving Heavenly Father and what prophets are. It took us 45 minutes to explain those two points so this is definitely going to take some work and time to figure out. We had a lesson planned with them on Sunday but they forgot about it. They rescheduled though so we'll see how it goes. 
   We had some pretty good success with less-actives this week. Made contact with some who we have been working with but haven't seen in a bit and with some we haven't been able to contact in a loooong time. So, it was good.
   We had an awesome experience with a less active where he turned super gung-ho. We had a lesson planned with him but he canceled because his back was hurting him, for him that's a good excuse, he was in a car accident. Elder Atkinson felt like going anyways so we did and had a great lesson with him. The member just started reading randomly out of the Book of Mormon and after a few verses told us how he feels like he needs to share the word and do missionary work. He gave us a name of one of his friends and has made a plan for how to introduce him to the Gospel. It was pretty cool.
   I think that's it for now. Elder Atkinson is awesome as always, he's a great hardworking missionary who loves the Lord and the work. I hope that all goes well for everyone during this time of changes. Have fun preparing for school and the end of summer!

Love, 
  • Elder Eddenfield
   



   

Monday, August 8, 2016

Two Young Mormon Gentlemen



Hey Everyone! 
   Sorry last week's email was short, it was a really busy day. I'll cover some of the cool stuff that happened last week that I didn't have a chance to talk about and some stuff that happened this week. 
   Last Sunday we got a call from the Zone Leaders saying that we had a lesson with someone in 15 minutes, they're Spanish missionaries so they cover our area as well. We immediately called a member and got them to come out and somehow we showed up in time! The family had someone come for a visit out of the blue so they were unable to meet at the time but it was very difficult to understand why they couldn't meet at first because they are from Nepal and speak very little English. We ended up moving the appointment to the next day (Monday.) It was a very interesting lesson because we have never really taught anyone that doesn't understand English. I taught that guy in Rockford for a bit but we at least had a translator with us. We sort of went over the Book of Mormon with them as best as we could but turns out the Book of Mormon hasn't been translated into their language yet....awkward. We are definitely a little stressed out with them but the Lord is helping us out. We keep thinking of different ideas for how to teach them in simple ways and of how to help them gain a testimony. This months mission focus is Joseph Smith and how important it is to gain a testimony that he is a prophet. That has led us to believe that if we can help this family at least gain a testimony of him then the rest will follow. Keep them in your prayers!
   We had new missionary training on Tuesday and that was great. They are some of the best meetings and you have to be with a new missionary or a trainer to go. Everyone gets a little jealous when they can't go. We learned a lot about the importance of talking to everyone and of using music more with teaching and inviting the spirit. President Griffin has us turn to our companion and sing I Am a Child of God while staring into their eyes. It was really awkward but it invited the spirit into everyone's hearts and helped me to feel a greater love for my companion. It was pretty cool. 
   It was cool that he spoke about talking to everyone because Elder Atkinson and I are trying to work on that and we have had lots of different opportunities but there is one that turned out to be bigger than we thought. We were walking home at the end of the day and right in front of our apartment we saw a car driving slowly next to a lady and so we waved at the guy and he drove off and then we had a normal contact with the lady. It seemed normal at the time but it blew up into something way bigger. She posted something about it on a Facebook page for Saint Charles that has over 11,000 members and tons of the members in the area are seeing it. The post is one of the pictures that are attached. Right after the meeting a member texted us that she had to show us something and Facebook messaged me this picture. It was super cool! The Lord works wonders!
   We also had a great dinner with a part-member less-active family and the non-member was asking tons of questions and the less-active member said they are looking for a church and so we now have plans to start working with them more. Hopefully we'll get in with them in the next few weeks. 
   There's probably way more that happened but I can't remember much else plus I'm running out of time. I just want to say that as I've been studying the restoration and have been striving to strengthen my testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith I have gained a newfound respect and love for the great man that ushered in the long promised dispensation of the fullness of times. The restoration all started because a young boy had a question and had enough faith in God to know that he would give him the answer. Brothers and Sisters, the Lord answers prayers. Proof is in Joseph's experience. I invite you all to read the first vision and in prayer ask God if he truly was a prophet. If you truly want an answer I can promise you that God will give it to you. And if you already received an answer...ask again! We can never strengthen our testimony too much! Have a great week everyone! Make the most of it and constantly strive to better yourselves each and every day!

-Elder Eddenfield