I am sorry it has been so long since I last emailed. To be honest recently I have been stressed and disappointed by a lot of things. I don't really want to go into those things. I guess the point is that life is not easy for anyone. We have ups and downs and shortcomings and set backs. The important thing I have come to learn is that it just matters where your nose is pointed.
I love section 123 of the Doctrine and Covenants. It talks about wasting and wearing out our lives in bringing people the truth. There are times when it feels like wasting and wearing happens more easily than at other times. I love the last verse, "17 Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." Yesterday was an example of this.
We had the font filled for a friend of ours to be baptized. We had to fill the font twice because some boys broke in and swam in it making the water brown. It is a pain in the rear to get that font filled because of how slow the water fills and the lack of keys to it. She is a member of a part member family. Imagine our surprise and disappointment when the uncle came up to us and said that she would be unable to be baptized that day. To add to the disappointment two of the people we had on date for this month did not come to church making them ineligible for baptism this month. This was after taking the long bike ride up the hill and having them promise us again that they would come. It stung because our mission has the goal to baptize 100 people this month and every area is expected to baptize. We have Stake Conference the last weekend in this month and had General Conference last. We hope to reach our goals.
As we rode away from church we were left wondering what else we could have done. We came to the conclusion that we did everything in our power. After finishing our studies we went out. We met someone around our age named Jay. The three times before this he asked us many questions about things that seemed to him to contradict the bible. We taught him about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. The time before we had a long discussion about what he had read. He was looking for anyway to disprove it. We answered all his questions. We told him to continue to pray. The difference yesterday was like night and day. He had prayed "earnestly", as he put it, and received an answer. He only asked questions for understanding. To see the change in him literally over night was such a blessing to see. I saw, "the salvation of God, and his arm" was revealed. It felt like a moment of light between the clouds and the Spirit was there in abundance. I look forward to seeing him in the water wearing all white.
I love you all. I hope each of you have a great week.
-Elder Garrison
