Date
September 23, 2018
Area
khabarovsk , Khabarovsk , Russia
Companion
Brady Spencer
fear not what man can do
Dear Family, Friends, Brothers, and sister
This week was the first week we were home for the whole week and we have been meeting with people and such. We have been teaching families that are not the most active and trying to be encouraging. We have also had vika come to a FHE with the president loscotov and his family and vika’s daughter and the loscotovs kids were playing while we talked. It was nice to see a relationship being built. We also have been providing service to her mother on her dacha and have built a relationship with her. She began asking question about he we are and we answered what we could. She is not keenly interested in the gospel though she did ask us if we were going to pray before we ate when they fed us so we had a small prayer with their family. We really really want their mother to be part of the investigation so that vika has home support because her family all smokes and drinks which is a big trial for her. She has been reading though she has a very hard time understanding and she prays. We are going to try and work with her on the book of mormon and also the word of wisdom. We want to set a baptismal date for 3 weeks and have her really work towards that date. She has not been able to come to church the past 3 weeks though she has had the desire. We hope to find out how to help her out more with going to church.
. We have been able to get a few of our members more actively engaged in missionary work by inviting 2 or 3 of them to come and get to know, serve, or help our potentials. Yesterday we had sasha maltsava meet three girls I met in a store and they have gotten to know each other and will be coming back next sunday to speak english and play the piano.
This upcoming week we have splits with our district which should be good. I am really hoping to bring encouragement to them and love. They need it. It will also be interesting to travel by plane….train...bus...and then plane. The only thing that is missing is snow-machine.. Only if it was winter haha. I have ridden in a vehicle with tracks rather than wheels so I count it! I do have to say I will be very very tired by the end of it all. VERY TIRED!! Traveling everyday is honestly very hard and I don't know how people can do it hahaha. I will make a small video blog.
My thought for this week is this. How much are you willing to give for the salvation of a soul? (by the way my thoughts come from my pondering and conversations with people) Doctrine and Covenants 18:10 “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God” How Great? Verse 12 “For, Behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; Wherefore he suffered the pain of ALL MEN [and women], That ALL MEN [and women] might repent and come unto him.”
And I especially loved this verse in correlation to someday being a father and the love that you should show to your family and to your children. Ephesians 5:25 “ Husbands, love your wives, even as christ also loves the church, and gave himself for it;” I have been thinking alot about faith hope and charity. Specifically charity. Ether 12:33-34
“33.And again, I remember that thou hast said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world, that thou mightest take it again to prepare a place for the children of men.
34. And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity; wherefore, except men shall have charity they cannot inherit that place which thou hast prepared in the mansions of thy Father.”
I love the gospel, i love the people, I love the challenges, I love the pains, and I love the trials because of Doctrine and Covenants 122 “
1 The ends of the earth shall inquire after thy name, and fools shall have thee in derision, and hell shall rage against thee;
2 While the pure in heart, and the wise, and the noble, and the virtuous, shall seek counsel, and authority, and blessings constantly from under thy hand.
3 And thy people shall never be turned against thee by the testimony of traitors.
4 And although their influence shall cast thee into trouble, and into bars and walls, thou shalt be had in honor; and but for a small moment and thy voice shall be more terrible in the midst of thine enemies than the fierce lion, because of thy righteousness; and thy God shall stand by thee forever and ever.
5 If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea;
6 If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb;
7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?
9 Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.
Fear not what man can do. Thy days are known, thy years are not numbered less. For God shall be with you for ever and ever. I know this to be true. In the Name of Jesus Christ Our Savior and Redeemer AMEN.
Elder webb