The Lord's Mouthpiece

     I've started figuring things out. The area is becoming more familiar, I'm getting to know my companion better, I'm going back to where I'm cruising along. 

      We had Zone Conference on Tuesday which was really cool, I learned a lot of neat stuff about how I can be a better missionary. One thing that happened there is President Johnson got on everybody's case for not teaching 10 lessons a day. He basically said that this goal didn't come from him and the only reason we aren't teaching 10 each day is a lack of faith and not being bought in. When he said this I realized that I was indeed not bought in and that lit a fire for me to once again buy in. The problem was that after Zone Conference it was now 7:30 and we had 0 lessons for the day. Then with travel and whatnot we didn't leave the apartment until 8pm, but we're always told to seek and expect miracles and we were also promised that if we talked to everybody, as in everybody everybody, we would get 10 lessons each day. I've always found the concept of expecting miracles strange as if I'm putting God on my timeline, but I knew that what they said was true because I felt the spirit and even though it was 8pm, it was very dark, and it was raining harder than I've ever seen it in Utah, there was no doubt in my mind that we were going to teach 10 lessons because both me and Elder Raine were going to talk to everybody. The odds were against us, but we did it teaching 11 lessons and getting back home by 9:10 and for the first time I understand what they mean when they say to expect miracles. I haven't necessarily done it since or understand it fully, but I understand it a lot better and I have a reference point for what it should look like. In hindsight, I have no idea how we got 10 because of how dark and rainy it was, but sure enough the spirit did not lie, the promise was fulfilled. 10 lessons a day isn't actually that hard if you have the full 9 hours of proselyting time we normally do. I would invite any missionaries reading this to also teach 10 lessons a day, just teach everyone you see. 

      There's a kid in our area that we had an interesting week with. His name is Benson and he's 10 years old. So on Sunday he went to his ward and he wasn't there. So we biked over to his house, knocked on the door and told him to ask his mom if he could walk over to church with us and he did! That was a very proud moment for me and Elder Raine for not giving up when we didn't see him at first. Benson is a funny kid, he's been taught all the lessons and wants to be baptized, but his dad won't let him be baptized; that's his situation. Anyways, it was kinda funny because the first time I met him we had to have a lesson on the Word of Wisdom because he wasn't keeping it. At 10 years old! It was strange, but this time we were talking about our spiritual health and how we improve our spiritual health by reading scriptures, going to church, praying and whatnot and we read a scripture, Mosiah 2:41, "And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it." I then said that I found it interesting that the verse did not say those who keep the commandments and are baptized are happy, but rather just those who keep the commandments. After I said that, the room instantly changed. It went quiet, and the spirit was so strong. The spirit in that room was the first time the sprit has felt palpable to me. It felt like I'd reach my hand out and touch it.  It was that strong. It was clear that I said what the Lord needed me to say, I was his mouthpiece and it felt great. That was a really cool experience though because that room just felt different, it was so peaceful and comforting and still and warm. 

        I also had another baptism on Saturday. Cheylyn (Shy) got baptized and it was really neat to see. It wasn't as satisfying as the Van Der Spek's and I think that's because when we met her she was already ready for baptism. She expressed interest in baptism after 5 minutes of meeting us. With the Van Der Spek's, there was real work that was needed to be done. They needed us. Still, Chey's baptism was awesome because we have that relationship with her. My first baptism, Kalo, he was already ready to be baptized and we didn't grow a particularly great relationship with him. I at last have a great relationship with Chey, when I saw Chey she gave me a hug. She later tried to leave without giving me another hug, which she failed to do. Chey's great I love her, I loved being at Chey's baptism, and I loved getting to know and teach her and I know she'll be a great follower of Jesus Christ. 

Wow! what a great week,

Elder Blacker