Dear Family and Friends,
Announcements: Today is a beautiful preparation day in the Washington, Seattle Mission. The sun is out following a rather cold, cloudy, bone-chilling day (I like those too though, they are different.) I recieved three e-mails from mom! I got dad's letter this week, and his note in e-mail!, I got the several pictures of Olivia from Elizabeth (Olivia is getting quite the personality in that cute little face!) I also recieved the Guanana!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAHA! YES! Oh man, that brings tears to my eyes! Thanks for the "Brazilian Soda" Mom and Dad, Thanks for everyone's support and love throughout this week!
This week was zone conference! That was a blast! It changed my mission forever! The mission is now going to use 21-day rollout planning. My companion and I are still trying to get a hang on it. Elder Nelson (The apostle) came to this mission a couple months ago and introduced this type of planning. He said that if, in our nightly planning, we planned for planned for the next week (I.E. if you are planning for the next day, being a tuesday, you plan for the following tuesday as well) Baptisms WILL increase. He then said, if you plan for three weeks out, BAPTISMS WILL DOUBLE!!! So this is the new vision in the Washington Seattle Mission, How excitied I am!
There was a huge focus on Humility at this last conference. If anyone needs to be more humble, it is me. I loved it. it helped me so much. President Larkin made us all turn to the hymn, "Be Thou Humble." What an interesting first verse. "Be thou humble in thy WEAKNESS, and the Lord thy God shall lead thee, shall lead the by the hand and give thee answer to thy prayers." Be thou humble in thy weakness? I thought God "[gave] man weaknesses that they may be humble." (Well ya gotta read the rest of the scripture) "...And my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me that I may make weak things become strong unto them." It is my new desire and goal to be humble in my MANY weaknesses, that I may recieve answers to my prayers and be lead by the Hand of the Lord. I can see the reason for humility in weakness. I have noticed in my life, that sometimes I have felt like I am not doing enough to overcome my weakness. What a dumb thought... I will never overcome my weakness. God will. My job is to be humble so he can SHOW me how to do it. I wonder how many more times I am going to need to learn that lesson.
This leads me to talk about the witness I have recieved this week of the power of humility. This week we put 3 more people on date for baptism. Giving us a total of 7 people on date for baptism! We have 8 total investigators, 5 of them coming to church! Hazzah for Israel! I testify that God is a God of miracles. This week was impossible to do that, but God did it. Somehow, we will meet our district goal for this month of 9 total baptisms and rejoice in the Arm of God.
Unfortunately... President Larkin reached his 2 year mark last week. Which means, my departing interview will not be with him. I love him, perhaps the only man that could give him a run for his charity is my own Dad. (I sincerely mean that dad.) I will definitely miss him. He seems like someone that actually weeps and rejoices with his missionaries and he is so deeply involved with all of our personal missions. I hope I don't judge my next mission president to too high of a standard.
As I close this letter, I would like to add to my testimony of last week. There was a very important part I forgot to add of what president Holland said. I believe it may even be paramount. As he mentioned "The token that has to be paid" He also talked about how each missionary is standing "Shoulder to shoulder with the Savior." As we stand with the savior, he said we have "every reason to stand tall." The Savior is our captain. Fortunately He went forefront into the battle. I love my Savior. I love him with all my heart. I hope something of what I say will help others love him more as well. There are many people on this earth whom I love so dear. To them I am determined to prove faithful. I write this things, in the name of my Savior, my captian, my light and life, even Jesus Christ, Amen.
--
--
Elder William Lloyd Lovell
Washington, Seattle Mission
10675 NE 20th Street
Bellevue, Washington 98004
Washington, Seattle Mission
10675 NE 20th Street
Bellevue, Washington 98004
D&C 6:36 - "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not"
No comments:
Post a Comment