Only Through His Atonement Can We Be Saved

Hi everyone!

  This week was fantastic! We had a great missionary broadcast on Wednesday where we learned a little more about the new missionary schedule and where they condensed our key indicators. Instead of reporting on nine key indicators we only report on four. The indicators we report on are baptisms and confirmations, people on date, people at sacrament meeting, and new investigators. I'm really excited for this new focus as it will focus our minds on the things that are most important which are finding people to teach and helping them work towards baptism and confirmation. I’m specifically excited to focus on finding new investigators is that is something that seems to be difficult for many missionaries including myself. I'm excited to focus on that and to see success as we do so.
  Monday night was a really cool night. We called the Assistants to find out an answer to question and at the end of our call they invited us to take a Book of Mormon and stop by a former investigator or less active and to give it to them and they promised that we would see success. Elder Barnes felt like stopping by a former investigator and I felt a less active part-member family. We stop by both of them and they both were home. The former investigator gave us a referral and accepted the book of Mormon and the less active part of her family asked us to come by later today could set up a time with us to have us come over. It was pretty awesome because both of those people have not had contact with missionaries in quite a long time so the Assistants were definitely inspired with that. Tuesday we had a great day as well. We, I mean Elder Barnes found $41 on the side of the road. Lucky him. It was pretty cool and quite an interesting miracle.
  The rest of our week was pretty good as well. We did some good work and talk to some people. We taught a former investigator, he still isn't interested but were able to answer some of his questions and help them understand the restoration better. It's been a long time since I've taught the restoration to someone without it being a planned lesson, I definitely need to start role-playing more so I can get better at teaching that. Elder Barnes and I both gave talks on Sunday. I spoke on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Atonement and Elder Barnes talked about faith, hope, charity, and missionary work. After we gave our talks there were quite a few members that came up to us and asked us to set up times when we could come visit them and we had a lot more people sign up to feed us on the dinner calendar, so that's pretty awesome.
  I think that's about it for this week. Overall it was a fantastic week. As I was preparing for my talk I came to understand more the importance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I truly know that Christ suffered all things for us and that is only, and only through His Atonement that we can be saved. I know that, and can never deny that.

I love you all and hope you have a great week!

-Elder Eddenfield

I Feel His Presence Around Me

Hello everyone!

  

  This week was pretty good. Brett dropped us this week. I was on exchanges with a new Missionary at the time and I'm sure it was quite the interesting experience for him. Brett brought up a whole bunch of excuses as to why he didn't want to meet, some being that he doesn't feel welcome, he disagrees with the doctrine of the Spirit World, and some other doctrinal things. We knew this was coming but it was a pretty hard drop. He was pretty upset so it was a really good learning experience. We received a referral a few weeks ago and we're finally able to set up an appointment with her so she is now a new investigator. Something I've noticed since last year is that investigators seem to be found more and more through referrals, whether it be from headquarters, members, or reassignment from other missionaries. It's very seldom specifically from our personal finding. Of course we still go out and work to show the Lord that we are willing to work, but it's interesting nevertheless. We also taught Brenda a few lessons and she is starting to come along. She thinks that the idea of Temples is awesome and feels like it would make sense for Joseph Smith to be a prophet. It's not a testimony yet, but it's a start.

   Some exciting things are happening in the Ward for some reason. Our Ward Mission Leader is super pumped to get things rolling, members are bringing people to church and Missionary Work has been a topic of discussion. Not sure what happened but it could just be God preparing them. It's a lot easier to be excited for the work when you know that the Members have your back, otherwise it makes it a lot more difficult.

   We had exchanges on Friday. I went with Elder Wright and he is a great new missionary. I'm glad that I get to serve around him and learn from him. I am starting something called a 40 day fast where I start with a food fast and then for 40 days think about and work in everything that is keeping me from having the Spirit. I started yesterday and I can already tell the difference that it's making but Satan is also noticing so I'm going to have to stay extra on guard.

  I realized today that I only have 6 months left. It's been quite the experience so far and I'm glad I still have a good amount of time left. Time to work hard!

   My testimony of God has been strengthen this week simply by the fact that I feel His presence around me and have really been able to feel His love. I'm not sure what was different this week but I know he's there more and more as the days have been going by. I hope you all can feel His love as well because I know that He truly loves you and wants to bless you. Please do all that you can to allow His blessings to permeate through your life. I love you all! Have a great week and let me know if I can do anything for you!

- Elder Eddenfield

Elder Wright