Week 55
Date
September 25, 2017
Area
Fourth Area - Salem, OR
Companion
Elder Johnson and Elder Chamberlain
Week 55
Something I didn't mention in my last email is that in addition to being called to the Salem 5th area, I was also called to be a zone leader for the Salem Zone! That doesn't change a single thing about missionary work, other than there are a few extra meetings I now attend, and I make sure all the missionaries withing the Salem Zone are doing well, on a weekly basis via calls with their district leaders. Fun stuff!
Elder Johnson is my new companion, and he's great! Well, he's not my only companion, to but it technically :). I am one of the two zone leaders for the zone. The other is Elder Chamberlain, and both of us are training. That means that our normal companions are the trainee's we are training, unless we are doing zone leader specific assignments, then we're companions. I hope that made sense... All four of us live in the same apartment, but we have separate areas, too. Back to Elder Johnson: he's pretty tall, has blonde hair, and is from Utah! He loves basketball, and is an awesome missionary!
Being in a new area, its neat to learn (at least try, at this point) our boundaries, the members, and the investigators. We've had a lot of time to just street contact, and have our goal of 10 contacts every day! We've met some really interesting people, both uninterested and interested. There are so many neat stories this past week! Most of the contacts were, again, not interested, but of the ones that were, it was so amazing to see how as Elder Johnson and I testified to them of the Book of Mormon, and the truthfulness of the message we share, their hearts were softened, and we were able to set return appointments! I've also seen how as we've followed the promptings of the Spirit, we have been literally led and guided to houses that we needed to knock. One time that happened, we had just finished praying on the sidewalk to know where to go, and started walking. We felt drawn to a particular house, and decided to knock on the door. We did, and no one was home. We then reasoned that the person we were supposed to talk to was just down the street, and by knocking on that door, we had allowed time for whoever it was to be on the street. We hoofed it around the next corner, but nobody was there either! We carried out the rest of the night, not really seeing anyone outside, and talking to the ones we did see, who weren't interested. As I've reflected on that experience, I realized that Heavenly Father gave us those promptings to test us. To see if we were going to be obedient to them, so that when we receive promptings in the future, Heavenly Father will know he can trust us.
Something from personal study stuck out to me this past week. 3 Nephi 17:2-3 says: 2) I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time. 3) Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again.
It struck me how even though Christ appeared to the Nephites personally, that was not enough in order for them to know who He was. They still had to pray and ponder what He told them, and the Holy Ghost would tell them in their hearts that He was the Savior. How often do we wish we had a physical witness of Christ? We don't need to see him physically! We ALREADY have testimonies of Him, and that wouldn't change if He showed himself to us. We know through the Spirit, and that is the only way that we have ever needed to know Him.
I love you all! I hope you have a great week! Hasta luego!
Love,
Elder Kehl
Elder Johnson is my new companion, and he's great! Well, he's not my only companion, to but it technically :). I am one of the two zone leaders for the zone. The other is Elder Chamberlain, and both of us are training. That means that our normal companions are the trainee's we are training, unless we are doing zone leader specific assignments, then we're companions. I hope that made sense... All four of us live in the same apartment, but we have separate areas, too. Back to Elder Johnson: he's pretty tall, has blonde hair, and is from Utah! He loves basketball, and is an awesome missionary!
Being in a new area, its neat to learn (at least try, at this point) our boundaries, the members, and the investigators. We've had a lot of time to just street contact, and have our goal of 10 contacts every day! We've met some really interesting people, both uninterested and interested. There are so many neat stories this past week! Most of the contacts were, again, not interested, but of the ones that were, it was so amazing to see how as Elder Johnson and I testified to them of the Book of Mormon, and the truthfulness of the message we share, their hearts were softened, and we were able to set return appointments! I've also seen how as we've followed the promptings of the Spirit, we have been literally led and guided to houses that we needed to knock. One time that happened, we had just finished praying on the sidewalk to know where to go, and started walking. We felt drawn to a particular house, and decided to knock on the door. We did, and no one was home. We then reasoned that the person we were supposed to talk to was just down the street, and by knocking on that door, we had allowed time for whoever it was to be on the street. We hoofed it around the next corner, but nobody was there either! We carried out the rest of the night, not really seeing anyone outside, and talking to the ones we did see, who weren't interested. As I've reflected on that experience, I realized that Heavenly Father gave us those promptings to test us. To see if we were going to be obedient to them, so that when we receive promptings in the future, Heavenly Father will know he can trust us.
Something from personal study stuck out to me this past week. 3 Nephi 17:2-3 says: 2) I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time. 3) Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again.
It struck me how even though Christ appeared to the Nephites personally, that was not enough in order for them to know who He was. They still had to pray and ponder what He told them, and the Holy Ghost would tell them in their hearts that He was the Savior. How often do we wish we had a physical witness of Christ? We don't need to see him physically! We ALREADY have testimonies of Him, and that wouldn't change if He showed himself to us. We know through the Spirit, and that is the only way that we have ever needed to know Him.
I love you all! I hope you have a great week! Hasta luego!
Love,
Elder Kehl
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