Happy Monday Everyone!
Lots of exciting stuff this week.
Let's start with Tuesday... Transfers were successful. We
got to pick up the new missionaries from the airport on Tuesday. They are
pretty solid! The best part of Tuesday was the evening devotional. So if you still
have last week's email with the baptismal picture, the 4 non-missionaries in it
(Dan & Lindsay + Jim & Colleen) came to the dinner and devotional along
with Chantelle and Hot Rod. It was SWEET! It was powerful to hear the
conversions of Dan & Lindsay again and see the repercussions of little
decisions. The missionaries here tracted on Christmas Day to find them! They
had a process of about 9 months before being baptized. They have stopped
drinking and smoking and more. And NOW Lindsay's mom has been baptized too!
Lindsay's dad (Jim) was kinda listening when his family was talking, but when
Chantelle and Hot Rod shared their experiences he became really engaged. Hot
Rod had never felt welcome in any church's (he has a full sleeve of tattoos on
both arms, and they aren't all appropriate) and is just an intimidating looking
guy! Both of he and his wife had really bad habits they have broken. He said,
"I did it Hot Rod's way for over 40 years and it didn't get me anywhere. I
have lived it. I was ready to change and I have left it behind. I now do it
God's way." Jim laughed a lot and really enjoyed himself that night. His
experiences lined up so well with Hot Rod's experiences. I am hopeful that he
will give the church a chance!
We had trainers meeting and service Wednesday, planning
Thursday and Mission Leader Council on Friday. They were pretty sweet. It is awesome
to see the missionaries that have been asked to build the mission this week -
the new trainers and zone leaders. It's weird that I am the missionary who has
been at the mission leadership council longest now. (And at the Stake
President's breakfast on Saturday morning he had the missionary who had been in
the field longest give the closing prayer - in that group, it that was me). We
are definitely pumped with where we are going! We had two of our best weeks as
a mission to end the month of October. It's looking up!
Lastly, the best parts of the week were doing missionary
work. Sister Bates is really starting to make progress. She is opening her
heart little by little to the message and wants to give this another shot. We
met with her... Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Sunday (and ate dinner with them
Saturday). I am praying a lot that this can be the time where she makes the
leap of faith to join. We have had President Bagley (our Elders Quorum
President) there most of the times. He is an amazing teacher - though it is
more like missionaries present than a member present with him. Haha. So he has
been doing a lot of the heavy lifting to help Sister Bates understand some
stuff. I am always surprised to hear the things that people don't understand
even when they have been associated with the church for eight years. We are starting
to identify them and help her learn. She even came to church this weekend! Her
husband didn't think that she could get back to this point again. We are
optimistic! :)
We also found a new investigator and are working with some
new people to help them come back to church. I have said it before, but will
say it again, it is one of the best feelings in the world to see someone's life
be changed. The First Presidency said in the introduction to Preach My Gospel,
"There is no more compelling work than this, nor any which brings greater
satisfaction... More happiness awaits you than you have ever experienced as you
labor among His children." I can definitely testify that is true! It is so
satisfying to help someone recognize their relationship with their Father in
Heaven. To help people understand how they can communicate with Him and receive
answers to prayer. To help people experience the changing power of Christ's
Atonement. To see people have a change of heart and truly become a different
person! I love it!
Love,
Elder Jeff Campbell
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