The Final Email

Hello everyone,

   We had a pretty great week! We talked to some cool people and had some sweet lessons. One of those was the member referral that we've been teaching. Her husband was there again and we found out that he is a born-again Christian. He definitely disagreed with a lot of what we taught. We tried to show him through the Bible and the Book of Mormon that Christ expects us to have faith but also to repent, be Baptized and do all of that other good stuff, but he just wouldn't listen. The new Elders here will have some fun teaching them. Marlyn is still interested and is willing to listen so that's a good sign. 

   I guess I should mention what's happening with transfers. Elder Wilson is going to be the new Zone Leader in Peoria and I will be transferred to the Sacramento California Mission. That means our area is getting two new missionaries that will have to learn things on their own here.

   We were also able to make contact with Randy, the guy we met a few weeks ago. He said that his old phone broke and he has been trying to contact us but couldn't. He had a lot of questions for us that we were able to answer and it sounds like we might be coming back tonight to teach him more. He also read the Book of Mormon and enjoyed what he read and said he felt good while reading it. (Not that we were expecting him to feel anything other than good while reading it, hahaha.) That's really it for exciting things that happened.

   Well, this is it. This is the last email that you will all be receiving from me while I am a missionary. I want to thank each and every one of you that are reading this for your prayers, for your support, and for all that I've learned from you. It has been a good two years, I could even say it was the best two years but I hope that I can continue to find better years in the future. I can say that it has been the best two years for preparing me for life though. I have come to love the Lord and feel of His love. I know that this is His work and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His church. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and I know that it was translated by a prophet of God, Joseph Smith. Most importantly...I know that Christ lives! I know it. If there is anything I want you to remember about me is the fact that I love the Lord and do know that He is the Redeemer of the world! Some I will see soon, some I may not see until later in life, and some I won't see until the next life. I want each of you to remember that I love you and pray that God be with you till we meet again.

Elder Eddenfield 

Good ol' Fun

Hello family and friends!

   Can I first just express my sincere gratitude for each of you reading this and for all others not reading this who are striving to follow the Savior in serving and blessing those around you. Thank you! You are needed in this great work!

   This last week was a pretty great one. On Monday night we had dinner with an awesome missionary minded family and after the dinner we taught their neighbor who they invited over. Her name is Marlyn and she is really cool. She said that she feels like what we're telling her us true, probably because it is, and she was really interested in everything pertaining to the Plan of Salvation and especially Eternal Families. We have another lesson with her tomorrow and her husband should be off of work then so that we can teach him as well. We're pretty excited for them!

   Tuesday was just a regular day but Wednesday Elder Wilson and I walked around for a few hours in the 95 degree heat while the feel like was 105. It was pretty fun. I drank so much water that day. We had the Book of Mormon class that night and had good attendance again.

   On Thursday we had some fun at service and we had dinner with the Kiblers, the couple that have the three dogs I took a picture with a few months ago. And on Saturday we went on exchanges to Morton and had some good ol' fun. 

   On Sunday I gave a talk on how Jesus Christ set the perfect example and let me tell you that he absolutely did set the perfect example and continues to do so. There was also an Elder serving in the Sacramento mission who came home on Saturday and it was cool to be able to talk to him for a few minutes. 

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

Elder Eddenfield

Stellar Week

Hello family and friends!

   This week was great! On Monday night we took Jacob out with us to stop by a less-active member, but he wasn't home so we talked to the Less-Actives neighbors who were outside and they both seem to be pretty interested. It is so amazing how the Book of Mormon can change people's attitude. One of the guys was nice but really wasn't interested in listening to us but as we taught and testified of the Book of Mormon his heart opened and he eventually accepted a copy of it and asked us a bunch of questions that we were able to answer for him. 

   On Tuesday we completely finished cleaning out the old apartment and then we had a 4th of July dinner with the Albrechtsens. 

   Wednesday we had District Meeting and it went alright, it’s definitely quite a bit harder preparing for and teaching District Meeting with another Elder but it is preparing us for the future. We talked about the new standards of excellence that have been given to us by President Griffin. They are really some pretty hefty goals but I trust the promise given in 1 Nephi 3:7. Anything is accomplishable with God! We also had our first Book of Mormon study class session and it went really well. We had two less-active members, a non-member, and a few active members. It was a really good turnout for short notice that was given on Sunday.

   On Thursday we did the regular weekly planning and service at the Salvation Army. It's really cool how easily people learn to trust Missionaries. We have only been there for a few weeks but the head lady let us run the place on our own for a few hours while she was in her office making calls.

   On Friday we had one of the Traveling Assistants come with us out of the blue but it was really good to have him. Elder Urness came with us and he goes home with me so it was cool to work with him before we ran out of chances. We spent most of the day doing service at the Catholic Food Pantry and studying. That night we stopped by some people named Karisma and Golden who are former investigators. There wasn't a male there above the age of 18 so we called Brother Lowe, a member and asked if he could book it over to us so we could teach them and he came! Members are awesome. We had a great lesson with them and Karismas boyfriend Darius showed up right as we were starting and sat in.

   On Saturday we had a really awesome experience because we went to Kankakee! That's my first area where Elder Wilson just so happened to be serving before he came with me. He was teaching someone who got baptized on Saturday so we got to go up. It was so cool being able to see so many old faces almost two years after serving there and it was even cooler how many remembered me. That was a good area. It's funny when you get home sick for areas you've served in. 

   Lastly on Sunday we had church as always and it was great. Jacob gave his farewell talk and you can tell that he is going to be a great missionary. After that we had dinner with the Poors and then we had a lesson with Karismas group again and it was pretty good. They all committed to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it is true. After that we drove around with a different member trying to catch certain people at him but had no luck. That's how it goes sometimes! 

   Overall it was a pretty stellar week! I love you all and hope that you find some peace this week through Christ who lives! I know that He lives!

Elder Eddenfield