Hi Everyone!
This week has been an adventure. I'm being transferred to
another ward! I will sure miss the Twin Peaks YSA. It has been my favorite place
to serve because I have become more able to love while serving here. I love so
many things about the Loveland Stake and this ward. President Crane and Brother
LaMarr - who we work with on missionary work for the stake - are AMAZING. They
are some of the best examples of loving leaders I have met. The missionaries I
have been able to work with for the last 5+ months have been great too. It' s
been a lot of fun to serve here without even including the ward! But I have
been privileged to serve in this YSA for so long. I couldn't make a list of all
the people that I love here because there are so many! One thing that makes it
different leaving here is that I have spent time consistently every week with a
lot of people here for the last 4-5 months. It is hard saying goodbye to people
that have genuinely become friends because of the time that you have spent with
them. It's also weird that I'm not moving far... to the Left Hand Creek ward in
the Longmont Stake. The Twin Peaks YSA covers the Loveland and Longmont stake,
so this is part of the area I have been covering for the last 5 months! But
whatever! It should be good.
One cool thing I learned this week... I finally finished
reading through the Book of Mormon! That was awesome. I learned a lot from reading
it this time. The last thing that I learned is something I need to develop more
faith in. Unintentionally, I have justified myself in committing sin or not
doing my best. I have said/thought, "I'm not perfect." But in reality
I began to use it as a crutch and not put in the effort I know I could! At the
very end of the Book of Mormon it said how we need to love God with all our
might, mind and strength (Moroni 10:32). While reading that I asked, "Is
it really possible to love God with ALL of my might, might, and strength?"
If the scriptures are saying that I need to, then I know that it must be true!
However, I have never genuinely believed that I was capable of doing that!
Personally, giving "all of me" is a scary thought. It scares me
thinking about it while I'm writing this! I think one of the reasons is because
deep down I feel like if I did that I would be missing out on something or be
required to do more than that I am able. I know the scriptures say, "the
Lord gives no commandment unto the children of men save He shall prepare a way
for them to accomplish the thing that He commands them." (1 Nephi 3:7),
but really BELIEVING that in your heart is different. So I guess I share this
with you to ponder about it in your life as I ponder about how this is possible
and have my heart changed so I can do that! I do know that I have made
tremendous strides in the right direction, but there is still room to grow! The
coolest thing is that the process to do that is SUPER SIMPLE; it is the Gospel
of Jesus Christ. You first develop more faith in Christ by reading the
scriptures, praying, attending church, and serving others. You then recognize
areas to improve and seek Christ's help to change. Finally you experience
greater love and the Spirit more in your life, which in turn causes you to
develop more faith! I love how simple the Gospel is and how we can truly have
our natures changed (and you will read more about an example of someone who had
that shortly...).
Awesome missionary
experiences... We got to meet up with Jen Mallory this week at the Turner's
home (3rd time teaching Jen at their home) and it was AWESOME! The Sister
Turner really has connected with Jen. We just talked about the role of the Holy
Ghost, recognizing the Holy Ghost, and receiving answers to our prayers. After
talking for a while, Sister Turner asked Jen, "So where are you at with
all this?" Jen said she recently developed real intent, or the desire to
truly know for herself that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is
what we claim it is. Before she hadn't received an answer and didn't want one.
But as she gained that, she did receive an answer to know that it is true!! :)
She has one last thing to do/know. As it is, she has a very limited
relationship with her mom. She is scared that being baptized into the church
will sever all that remains of that relationship. We invited her to pray to
know what God would have her do and for the courage to do it.
Interestingly, Jen shared about one of her friends with us
that helped her come to receive that answer. Jen's friend was one of her best
friends in high school who was also not a Mormon (in South East Idaho, they
were two of the only ones in the whole school that weren't Mormon). Jen and her
friend were the wild girls. They were Goth and lots of stuff. That friend
became interested in the church at the end of high school and ended up going to
BYU-Idaho. Jen says that if she didn't know for a fact that this friend of hers
was the same girl from high school, she wouldn't believe it. Her friend has
made a complete 180 for the better in her life. She truly has had her nature
changed by Christ becoming someone who is not mean like she used to be. (Jen
said that you really didn't want to cross her!) She has becoming a loving
person who experiences true joy and happiness in her life. I asked Jen how this
friend's family reacted... not well!! Her parents didn't talk to her for a
couple years. The dad is now talking to her. I asked, "Despite this, she
still is in a much better place than ever?" "Yes. The only difference
in her life is that she chose to join the church. That is what made the change
in her life." We definitely hope that the experience of her friend will
give Jen the strength and courage to make a hard decision knowing that it will
work out for the best!
One lesson I take from my experience with Jen since I've
been here is that I'm not the converter! We asked her, "what questions do
you have?" when we met this week and she didn't have any because she asks
her Mormon friends those questions. How sweet is that? She has been emailing a
couple of her friends who are on missions and talked on the phone to some
others. I have never seen her so convinced of the power of the Gospel in
someone's life as she was when she shared that above story. I couldn't give her
any of these experiences! She has been prepared and placed in situations in her
life that would enable her to learn and grow. Not that I didn't help, Jen
texted us last night saying, "And if I don't see Elder Campbell again, let
him know that he has greatly impacted my life for the better, thank you!"
But I know that if I was the only one impacting her life that it wouldn't have
made this significant a difference. It is humbling and awesome to be on the
same team as God who does all these marvelous works without us knowing! He
softens hearts and puts situations in people's lives that facilitate their
belief in Him. I have been privileged to be there and witness this change in
Jen's life as I have witnessed it in Ruth McGaughey's life and Kellen Brumley's
life. It's the best experience ever!
Another experience on Sunday, I was introduced to a guy who
came to church for the first time - the friend of a girl named Elle from
church. He told me that while he is not religious, he believes in God because
he has seen miracles happen in his family. His mom miraculously overcame a
deadly/debilitating disease, his brother fell asleep at the wheel and rolled
his truck 3 times without being seriously injured. He has witnessed the hand of
God. It is SOOOOO cool to see God's hand and know that he is the one of moves
missionary work forward as we develop faith in him. Perhaps that guy came to
church because we had the BEST meetings before church started ever! We
committed to do missionary work as a ward. We are having a fast for missionary
work on the first Sunday of July and focusing on inviting nonmember friends to
our fun activities. Immediately after we decided to exercise our faith and
believe that there is missionary work to be done here, we meet a guy after
church who is interested! Coincidence, I think not! That has literally happened
every time I have become more committed to doing God's will - a miracle happens
and we find someone prepared to receive the Gospel.
Lastly, I had the opportunity to share my testimony at the
close of church on Sunday (though it already ran SUPER over... it started at 11
and ended after 1230... haha). Two people shared what they had learned in the
mission field as they returned in the last month. It was powerful for them to
share the miracles they had witnessed in the parts of the world they were sent
(I think one was in Northern Idaho and the other in Mexico). What I closed with
was basically, "I love hearing about the missionary work going forth in
other places as we have recently returned missionaries share. But I testify
that the field is white here. There are people being prepared right here to
receive the Gospel and have their lives changed. I have seen it and taught
people who are experiencing changes today." :) And I know that's true
wherever we are! There is truly work to be had anywhere where we exercise
faith. God has prepared people to receive His Gospel.
Have the best week of your life!
Elder Jeff Campbell
P.S. You can reply to the email if you want to. ;)
Sent from my iPad
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