Week 33
Date
April 24, 2017
Area
Second Area - Monmouth, OR
Companion
Elder Vega
Week 33
As I looked back on this past week, I realized that Elder Vega and I did a lot of walking again. :) The great thing about it is summer is right around the corner, so the weather is going to get a whole lot nicer! Yes!
This week we visited a lot of people, trying to find those who are prepared for the gospel in this point of their lives. I feel like we do a lot of searching right now, and at some points I got a little disappointed. I definitely felt as if I was doing things right, or if Elder Vega and I were being in some way "punished" for something we did or didn't do. As I've tried to see our investigators in white though, I've realized I can fight those feelings back, and I'm able to re-center myself on the missionary purpose. Then, as I was having personal study one day this week, as I was reading about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the part that stood out to me was this: There's an enabling power of the Atonement that allows us to persevere through anything, ANYTHING, that comes our way. The enabling power of the Atonement allows us to keep going when nothing is left, and keeps us upbeat and positive after the eighth door is slammed in your face, or when nobody answers the door after all day of knocking.
A couple of days this week we walked close to fifteen miles each day, which is pretty average for a missionary. Well, I realized that since we're so blessed to have a car, that I'm definitely not used to walking that many miles at all. :) Oh, the whole reason we've been walking has been to save on miles so that we can drive to West Salem, and our other far-to-reach areas. Then, that day for dinner, had a foot race with the other Elders a mile and a half to dinner. We took separate paths, and raced to see which companionship was faster. Let's just say when we were 100 yards away from dinner, and the elders popped out of a side road, it turned from walking into a dead sprint. ;) It's been those kinds of experiences, mixed in with finding people to teach, that have given me some great experiences this past week.
Friday afternoon we went with the other Elders to work more on cutting an older gentleman's lawn we start last week. The grass was actually as tall as Elder Vega and I in some spots, and you wouldn't believe how many trash bags and cans we filled! Then we found around six or seven wasp nests! Wasp nests! So we spent a good chunk of time finding them and destroying them with extreme prejudice. :) Translation: we wacked them with a knife tied to a tent pole with string. ;)
On Saturday we were in West Salem, for once knocking on doors intentionally not looking for people, and found a sweet young family. The guys name is Miguel, and his wife is Daniela. They have two young kids, and when we started talking about eternal families something clicked with them. We gave them a pamphlet, and said we'd come back in a week and talk with them more. They seemed excited to hear from us again!
This week has taught me a lot about obedience and patience. We're trying to do a ton of different things all at once, and the only way it happens is if we are patient in the Lords time, and be exactly obedient to what He tells us to do. A powerful quote from President Utchdorf stood out to me this week: "We are banner bearers of the Lord Jesus Christ, upheld by the Holy Spirit of God" I know this is the work of the Lord, and that in His time, and in His way, He does His work.
I love you all! I hope you all have a great week!
Elder Kehl
This week we visited a lot of people, trying to find those who are prepared for the gospel in this point of their lives. I feel like we do a lot of searching right now, and at some points I got a little disappointed. I definitely felt as if I was doing things right, or if Elder Vega and I were being in some way "punished" for something we did or didn't do. As I've tried to see our investigators in white though, I've realized I can fight those feelings back, and I'm able to re-center myself on the missionary purpose. Then, as I was having personal study one day this week, as I was reading about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the part that stood out to me was this: There's an enabling power of the Atonement that allows us to persevere through anything, ANYTHING, that comes our way. The enabling power of the Atonement allows us to keep going when nothing is left, and keeps us upbeat and positive after the eighth door is slammed in your face, or when nobody answers the door after all day of knocking.
A couple of days this week we walked close to fifteen miles each day, which is pretty average for a missionary. Well, I realized that since we're so blessed to have a car, that I'm definitely not used to walking that many miles at all. :) Oh, the whole reason we've been walking has been to save on miles so that we can drive to West Salem, and our other far-to-reach areas. Then, that day for dinner, had a foot race with the other Elders a mile and a half to dinner. We took separate paths, and raced to see which companionship was faster. Let's just say when we were 100 yards away from dinner, and the elders popped out of a side road, it turned from walking into a dead sprint. ;) It's been those kinds of experiences, mixed in with finding people to teach, that have given me some great experiences this past week.
Friday afternoon we went with the other Elders to work more on cutting an older gentleman's lawn we start last week. The grass was actually as tall as Elder Vega and I in some spots, and you wouldn't believe how many trash bags and cans we filled! Then we found around six or seven wasp nests! Wasp nests! So we spent a good chunk of time finding them and destroying them with extreme prejudice. :) Translation: we wacked them with a knife tied to a tent pole with string. ;)
On Saturday we were in West Salem, for once knocking on doors intentionally not looking for people, and found a sweet young family. The guys name is Miguel, and his wife is Daniela. They have two young kids, and when we started talking about eternal families something clicked with them. We gave them a pamphlet, and said we'd come back in a week and talk with them more. They seemed excited to hear from us again!
This week has taught me a lot about obedience and patience. We're trying to do a ton of different things all at once, and the only way it happens is if we are patient in the Lords time, and be exactly obedient to what He tells us to do. A powerful quote from President Utchdorf stood out to me this week: "We are banner bearers of the Lord Jesus Christ, upheld by the Holy Spirit of God" I know this is the work of the Lord, and that in His time, and in His way, He does His work.
I love you all! I hope you all have a great week!
Elder Kehl
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