Date
June 15, 2020
Area
Rockford, IL
Companion
Elder Jess
And Then There Were 2
The Rockford Trio has been rearranged! Now that Elder Vargas is in Chicago Heights, Elder Watts has joined Elder Jess and I. Elder Watts is from St. David, Arizona and he's ready to work! He's awesome haha. And through all the CRAZINESS of our schedule, we've had so much fun this week!
On Wednesday we filmed a bunch of stuff as a Zone for the Facebook page and it was raining almost all day. It was super green everywhere and the scenery was just gorgeous. It was just crazy because it took up most of the day haha.
Elder Jess and I are now on the editing team for the mission, so we get to put together some of the videos for the Facebook pages around the mission, so that's been really enjoyable.
We're kind of running around like chickens with their heads cut off, but we're learning little by little how to work with the constant changes that are happening.
BIG news! Our mission is officially moving to Phase 1! Which means we can now meet with people outside for lessons, and we can have Zone Conferences in person. And it's pretty perfect timing because Zone Conference is this coming week, so we're super excited. Those may seem small to some of you, but it's HUGE for us. We haven't been able to have a Zone meeting for 3 months, so we're excited to be able to have it in person.
ALSO, we got transfer calls already and the trio will be split up tonight because our area is getting split in half! Elder Watts will be getting a reassigned missionary tonight, and Elder Jess and I will be staying together here as Zone Leaders. A LOT of our people that we're teaching live in the other part of the area, so Elder Watts and his new companion will be teaching them, but now we gotta find some more people to teach haha. It's all good though. We're happy that we're all still in the same branch and zone.
Amidst the changes and bouncing around all week, we had MIRACLES yet again!
One of our main homies we're teaching has been kind of ghosting us this week, and we were getting a little worried, until he called us back last night (no one calls us back), and he has been reading the Book of Mormon. He said he has had been searching up baptismal covenants, resurrection, and commandments to keep for baptism, all within the Book of Mormon, which is something that NO ONE ever does haha. We were left speechless. The Lord is preparing the elect!!!
Also, this was a miracle from our Zone, and I thought I'd share it because it was SO sweet:
The Elders in our district got a self referral for this guy, and it turns out he was baptized 12 years ago, but due to his job wasn't able to come to church right off the bat. He said lately he's felt like something's missing in his life, and then he said this-
"I have felt it so strong lately. And the Facebook posts from the Church led me to you to help get me back on the right path with the one true Church"
We are seeing time and time again how technology is one of the Lord's ways of bringing His children back into the fold.
Huge achievement for our Zone! All of the companionships in our Zone reached their goals for this week for the Standard of Excellence. That may not make any sense to you, but it's been YEARS since that has happened in this Zone!!!! The Lord keeps strengthening us and providing when we trust in Him and His timing.
Play of the Week: Elder Watts taught me how to juggle and picked it up in a few hours, so that was pretty sweet haha.
This week, I was taken to 4 Nephi and I thought it was really interesting because it outlines how swiftly Satan can creep in to our lives to, little by little, lead us away from what we know is true, and from what we know is RIGHT. The people were righteous and the disciples worked miracles. The people prospered for a LONG time. It says in verse 15-
"And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people."
It showed me how powerful it can be in our lives if we truly love the Lord. I've definitely felt that power that is with the missionaries I get to serve with.
BUT, what happened that started this downfall of the Nephites? Let's jump to verse 24-
"In this 201st year, there began to be among them those who were lifted up in pride"
Pride is what will seemlessly drive us away from the Lord, and it causes the Spirit to withdraw from us. And what happens when we don't have the Spirit? We're left to our own strength. Which for me, is not much at all haha. I'd like to have the Lord on my side. "If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) Do you want to have Him on your side? Are you willing to do the simple things the Lord requires of us to qualify for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. I invite you to seek those things, and I promise you'll be so much happier and safer. The Lord will lead you where you need to go.
Have an incredible week! Stay safe and go serve someone who needs your help!
Con Gran Amor,
Elder Hertzler
1319 Butterfield Rd Ste 522
Downers Grove IL 60515
United States