June 5, 2017

From June 5, 2017 (Mom was unable to keep blog updated for a few weeks.)

 

Hello wonderful family and friends!

   This was a good week! It was one of those weeks where I'm not entirely sure what happened but I feel good about it. I know that we tried really hard to work with some part-member families and we were able to make contact with one of them that lives far far away. They said that they would love to have us come back but that they would get back to us about a time. We also asked if they know anyone who might be interested in our message and she said that she had a few people in mind but their village has some weird law that prohibits missionaries from proselytizing without getting direct permission from the village hall. It's really weird but we'll try to figure a way around it.

   Anqunette is still in Peoria but Joyce is being a little softer hearted again. Whenever we do service for her she is far more willing to listen and act. Today we are going over to put up some curtains for her and then we'll teach her and see where it goes.

   Other than that I'm not entirely sure what else happened this week. This is the last week of the transfer so we are going to make it a good one to kick of the next transfer strong. 

   I was reading in the Howard W. Hunter manual and I really liked this paragraph. "It is as Alma proclaimed, in his day in teaching the people, when he said: 'And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren [and sisters] of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?' (Alma 5:14.) This is the purpose of teaching. This is the reason we labor so hard, seek the Spirit, and prepare our minds with good things as the Lord has commanded, that we might be an instrument in the hands of the Lord in changing the heart of an individual. Our aim is to plant in the hearts of children the desire to be good, the desire to be righteous, the desire to keep the commandments of the Lord, the desire to walk in humility before Him. If we can be an instrument in the hands of the Lord in bringing to pass this mighty change in the hearts of the children, then we have accomplished the great miracle of a teacher. And truly, it is a miracle. We do not understand how the Lord changes the hearts of men, but He does." I loved that. I know that it is true that as we do our best as teachers in all forms, that is; parents, missionaries, teachers in church, or just setting an example we can find joy in those whom we help. I know that He lives, I testify of it.

I love you all!

Elder Eddenfield