The Fun Didn't End

Happy Monday everyone!

    This week was pretty great. Every week is great but this week was extra great. On Tuesday we had Elder Casto, one of the new Specialized Training Assistants, come with us to work. It was a great day and we found 3 new people to teach. He really helped us get motivated to find and taught us some cool new finding ideas. It was a really successful and fun exchange.

   The fun didn't end there though. Throughout the rest of the week we found 4 people on our own. I think the only real difference was the fact that we were excited to work. As you may have been able to tell I've learned to stay pretty positive when things don't go perfectly but while I was being positive I still wasn't really super excited but now I am! Some of the people that became new investigators were farmers but some of them were really cool in the way they were found. Three of them are neighbors of our Ward Mission Leaders. We went there twice last week and both times we went one of their neighbors were outside and we went and talked to them. They are all interested and we should be meeting with them all tomorrow. 

   I'm not really sure what else happened this week. We worked and had success but it is all a blur. I gave a talk on Sunday about becoming more Christ-like and man do I like Christ a lot. After studying for that I realized how important it is to develop His attributes in this life. That is sort of why we came here to Earth after all. I love the opportunity that I have to learn and grow each and every day. It's something I hope continues throughout my life.

   You are all amazing! Continue to be the best you and don't let others tear you down. I love you all!

John 17:3

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

- Elder Eddenfield

John 3:16

Hello wonderful family and friends!

  This week was quite an interesting one. With this new focus on finding people to teach Satan has been working hard on us, but, he will not prevail! We didn't find out two people to teach this week, but that's okay because we can learn from it and see what needs to be done differently. We got a call a few hours ago from the new Specialized Assistants, whose job is to help train us in finding, and they will be coming down here tonight to help us in our area. They read going to every area but km excited that they picked ours for one of the first trips. Elder Casto is coming with us which is awesome because this used to be his old area. I'm excited to work with him and to learn how I can become better.
  We didn't teach any lessons this week either because they all had something come up which made it so they weren't in town, but we'll get them next week. Luckily this week we found a few potentials who seem to be somewhat interested. Hopefully they work out and we can teach them. Before church yesterday we went and tracted a court and only two people were home, but they were the nicest two ladies I have met on my Mission. They both knew who we were already and called us Elders. The reason they knew was because...missionaries served at the same places they serve at! My testimony of service increased greatly because of those contacts. One took a pamphlet because she already had a Book of Mormon and she said that we can come back this week.
  I'm just really excited to find for some reason. Last night after an awesome dinner with a family who is super pumped to do the work, we went out and tracted, street contacted and stopped by formers to try and find these people to teach. We stayed out past 9 trying to find them, with no success. It's okay though because we saw that we could get excited and could work hard, so now we are going to keep working how we did last night. Even if we have to fake it, we'll do it. I'm excited, Elder Thornock is excited. It's going to be great!
  I know that Missionary work is so important in our lives. Without it, very few people would receive the opportunity to use the Atonement in their lives and would not be able to return to live with God. It's so vital that we share what we know with those who do not yet know of the truth we have received in our lives. It is a blessing to have Christ constantly in my life. I could not imagine life any other way and I know He is with me because I am doing what God expects me to do. It's truly a blessing to have this gospel in my life. Again, as I have said in past emails, if you haven't read the Book of Mormon yet, or if it's been a while...do it! It can only bring blessings to your life, nothing, and I mean nothing bad can come from it. I know it can bless each of you as it has me. You are all fantastic and I love you all Continue to do your best because I know that God is smiling down on you, not the person next you, but you. You are all fantastic, thank you for being a part of my life.

John 3:16

 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Ether 12:33

 And again, I remember that thou hast said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world, that thou mightest take it again to prepare a place for the children of men.

- Elder Eddenfield

Different Format of Contacting Than I have Ever Done

Hey everyone!

   Happy Valentine’s Day tomorrow! There's not much I can say about that considering I don't really do anything special on that day...but I hope you all have a good one anyways!
  Transfers this week were a success. After 5 hours of driving I got to Normal safely and from what I've heard everyone else got to their new areas safely as well. I sure am happy to be back in the Bloomington-Normal area. A little background on Normal. Normal is the home of two colleges, Illinois State University and Heartland University. My area covers the campus and most of the dorms and living quarters for the college kids. As you can probably imagine, it's going to be an interesting transfer. I'm excited though because now I get to work with people around my age who I can relate with.
  This week was a good one with a good bit of success. As usual with my first week in an area we are dropping someone. This time it's because of someone in the house who's making it difficult to meet with the rest of the family. But, it's okay because we actually found two new investigators this week. We stopped by a potential and taught her and her son and then set up an appointment for yesterday. We went to that appointment but didn't stay because the circumstances weren't very conducive to the Spirit so we set up another appointment for today. We followed up on their reading of the Book of Mormon and the son had read the Plan of Salvation pamphlet we left him and part of the Book of Mormon and said he liked them both! Pretty awesome stuff.
  We did lots of different kinds of contacting this week, a main one was tracting. It's a lot different doing that in a college town because the students are actually really nice to us and a good chunk of the guys let us in for a few minutes and thank us for what we are doing, they usually aren't interested but at least they're nice about it. We also did a different format of contacting than I have ever done on the Mission...we played basketball. I didn't want to because I suck but my companion and the group of guys he walked up to made me. My thoughts of being awful were correct but it was pretty fun and then after a few minutes of playing they asked why were dressed up while paying and so we got to explain why. They invited us back to play with them whenever we are in the area. I've got to say, it was pretty cool. Luckily Elder Thornock is really good at basketball so that makes it nice.
  I think that's about it for this week. Hopefully some fun and excited things happen in this college town. Have a great week everyone! I love you all and know that the Savior lives!

-Elder Eddenfield