Dear Family and Friends,
I am sorry that I did not write a group email last week! Thank you all
so much for the birthday wishes!! I had a fantastic birthday.
This last week has been somewhat stressful, because Brother Torikiri
is very close to being baptized, and teaching the final commandments,
and trying to work everything out schedule and contacting wise, it has
been absolute chaos in my head. But if things go smoothly, he should
be able to be baptized on this Sunday. He stopped smoking on last
Sunday after we committed him to completely stop. We gave him a
priesthood blessing, and were able to really testify to him of the
power of the Atonement to help him overcome his addiction! It was such
a special experience! And then when we met him on Friday night it was
another amazing experience in my mission:
Friday night we went to Brother Torikiri's house, because we hadn't
been able to get in clear contact with him, and I was really stressed
and worried about him. He wasn't at his house, we found for a little
while around there, and then it was time to come back, and so we were
walking back pretty fast, and all of a sudden when we are only about 5
minutes away from our apartment (It is about a 15 minute walk), Elder
Blackley spotted him walking the opposite direction on the other side
of the street! We got his attention and were able to walk back with
him and go back to his house with him. He had been really busy with
work, and it had been pretty tough lately because he had been so busy!
But he had cut his hair, and hadn't smoked since our lesson the Sunday
before, which was the best thing to hear!!! We taught him tithing
while we were walking, and he had already read the pamphlet, so it was
more of like a question of whether or not he was okay with the law of
tithing or not. We promised some blessings, and then asked him if he
would be willing to obey it, and he said that he would!!! And he was
still all on track to get baptized either yesterday or this next
Sunday, but since time was so tight, we were more thinking this Sunday
vs yesterday. He said that we could meet on Saturday morning, but then
that also got changed with work, and then we were going to meet at
another place and time, but then it all got crazy, and now we haven't
been able to get in contact with him for the past day. He was for sure
planning on coming to church, but no contact, so we went to his house,
banged on his door, called him, but if he was there, no answer, and so
we weren't able to take him to church, and so yesterday I was very
worried and stressed sad, about this whole situation. We went to his
house last night, but still weren't able to meet him. So...basically
not sure what the story is right now, hopefully we will be able to get
things on track soon, and he can be baptized!! He seriously has such
incredible faith, and I love watching him learn and accept the
principles of the gospel.
I have learned particularly through this experience with Torikiri
kyoudai, that I have to learn to trust in God, and in his timing. We
do everything that we can and then we leave it up to God. He has a
plan for each of his Children, and we have to trust that for both
ourselves, and the people that we love.
I know that missionary work is the happiest work in the world. It can
be challenging, and discouraging, but there is a price to all things
that are worth anything. I know that the joy of seeing others come
unto Christ is a deep and profound joy, and it is a motivator to work
hard and try to help God in bringing others unto Him. I am grateful to
be a missionary. I know that Christ lives, and that he Suffered for
our sins. Through Christ we have the ability to change and to improve;
to repent. I love you all and am so grateful for your support and
love!!! Have a fantastic week!!!
Love,
コノバー長老
Elder Conover
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