Date
June 25, 2018
Area
Green River, WY
Companion
Elder Tygret
Green River Week 4: Feed my Sheep
Hey, it is Elder Tilman emailing from Green River.
This week was a super busy week. From Monday to Monday it has been so busy. This weeks title has double meaning. As a missionary, we are called to feed His sheep, but also I helped someone feed their lambs. One of the bishops that we serve with is a rancher and he has about twenty-two lambs that he raises to sell in the next year. It was unique experience holding the milk bottles and trying to not get bitten by the lambs too much as they all try to get fed. To make sure they are all fed the bishop has numbered them all and keeps track of all that he has fed. They do it three times a day. It is amazing how they are able to do it. As I think about the lesson learned is that you have to focus on the one. They are so many sheep needing nourishment, but if you are not careful, there will be one that is neglected. They will all try to get to the bottle but only one of them can be fed at a time so all can receive sufficient nourishment.
We had many things that happened this week. On Tuesday, we had interviews with the President and we were the second building that he was visiting so the schedule for the whole district got switched around as he spent more time in Rock Springs than expected. I actually went first and my companion went last to accommodate scheduled lessons. Afterward, we immediately went on exchanges, I was with Elder Pierson, while Elder Tygret was with Elder Zhang. When the exchange happened we immediately went into a new investigator lesson. It was the first time that I actually taught the Restoration to an investigator all the way through. I spent the next 24 hours in the other area.
On Friday, we had another multi-district meeting. It was a lot different because the Kemmer district had to Skype in. We received awesome training from the missionaries in our zone. The first training was on leaving it all on the AL(L)ter. I am always looking for ways to give more to the Lord and especially now I have I great desire to be obedient. Our second training was on praying for miracles. I have been trying to continually pray for miracles on the mission as I have learned that sometimes we have to ask specifically for the things that we need and want. We have applied this this week, and at times we see miracles that day and others we have yet to see. One miracle that we had is finding a family that we can potentially teach. We had prepared for that miracle earlier in the day and at like 8:45 PM we found them. We also had the miracle of being able to put on date for the 21st of July. She has the sincere desire to get baptized, but we are praying that she will receive the permission from her mother to be baptized. In other aspects, the work is going great here. We have been receiving a few referrals for people for us to visit. Though many are less active families, I believe as we actively respond, that we are continually building trust with the members that we can begin teaching their friends as we build this trust.
Yesterday, Elder Tygret and I had an opportunity to speak in the McKinnon Ward. I thought Rossville was small, but McKinnon is way small. In the "town" there are like three houses, a two-room schoolhouse, and the church. Everyone else lives on ranches around the town. It is way spread out. So neither of us received a topic from the bishop and we came up with our own by the spirit. We both felt prompted to talk on aspects of faith. It is so amazing that the spirit can reveal such things to both of us. Elder Tygret focused his talk on faith versus fear. I focused my talk on how we develop faith through the three fundamental commitments (prayer, Book of Mormon, sacrament). I invite all to find a way that is personal to them to develop faith by using one of these commitments. If you do all three, that is so awesome, but I ask you to find a better way to use one of these. I know as we continuously study, pray, and partake of the sacrament that our faith in Jesus Christ will grow even that it may become unshakable. That is all I have this week. God be with you.
Love,
Elder Tilman