Yeah as you could probably tell, we had a way hot week. Saturday we walked all day and the High was 113. It also is about 900000% humidity! (Actually because it was so hot, the relative humidity was probably pretty low even though the air was wet)
As far as business goes, this next transferish we may get ipads. They have not announced anything, but we got some things we had to read about using technology and we are having some general authorities come. Maybe, maybe not, but I will keep it posted.
Also exciting, we are teaching a man named Gregorio who is super close to having a baptismal date. It is truly wonderful to see the gospel working in people's lives.
The good stuff!
1. This week was not the most productive work because of the heat. We tend to talk to people who are enjoying their evenings but it was just too hot for people to be outside and not very many people let us in. There are two lessons learned from this. First, endure to the end. Though our days were long and the heat was intense, we did the work we needed to do. And by the end, we got the reward of driving down to Damascus to teach Gregorio. Second, the few people we did talk to needed to hear our message. We were needed that day at that specific time to bless their lives.
2. Members are the key to missionary work. We had a super rough week last week because no members kept their commitments. However this week, we had a super productive use of members. When our members came with us, we had much greater success. An example of this is the fact that we were able to get in to a home that normally would have just said there's no man in the home, but we had a male member with us. Also, we had lots of success with a less active named Rene. He related with our member very well. His big issue is that he has bad friends, and having a member there to be his friend was crazy helpful.
3. We are all family. This is super easy to see when you see the interaction of our Spanish Branch. One of the Sisters' investigators named Carmen invited three or so families to come over and eat after church. They then in turn invited Gregorio and us Elders to join. It was great food and just a wonderful feeling of fellowship. We had to leave early, but the Sisters told us that Gregorio basically shared his testimony of the importance of church. Great miracles!
4. We had New Trainee/Trainer meeting this week and just one of the things President Christiansen said was that Exact Obedience brings the Gift of Discernment and that the Gift of Discernment brings Miracles. I think this is true as a servant of the Lord. We are blessed when we are obedient, but we are missing the key gift required to be able to help bring souls to salvation. We cannot know how to help people without this gift. Though in many instances we may see miracles from being exactly obedient, the greater gift is the Gift of Discernment, of being able to know a person as God knows them.
Do not be lousy members! Help the missionaries. Also though, remember that you do have lives to care for. Lift where you stand. That means do not try to do it all, but give what service you are able.
Be a Missionary. Do not be afraid to share the joy that this wonderful gospel brings. It is hard, yes, but you only have to sweat for a conversation. We may have to work and sweat every day, but every time that you invite your friends, that reduces many hours I do not have to. Member help is the strongest help a missionary can receive. The success of missionary work comes when we as members are willing to open our mouths.
I love you all and am grateful for your prayers.
Sincerely,
Elder Haynie
Also we went to the Zoo today!
After the trainee meeting
Random balloon we found
Zoo pictures!!
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