Week 11/104

May 23, 2016

Hello Everyone!

I have no idea what to write, so I'm just gonna spurt until I come up
with something good.

This week has been one of spiritual testing. The work moves on, but it
is very similar to treading through a pool of molasses. Elder Hemsley
and I started tracting this week, because we haven't taught anyone new
for a while. We've spent a total of about four hours going door to
door, doing what everyone thinks missionaries do. We've met a few
people, and a few of them seem interested, but they are incredibly
difficult to contact and establish a solid meeting with. Even those we
have been teaching have been really hard to get a hold of. We didn't
get to teach any of our investigators. But, even so, I have had some
of the most spiritual experiences of my mission this week. We have
seen so many sudden promptings come to fruition. We gave two
incredible blessings. I have felt the Spirit communing with my soul as
I read the Book of Mormon in German. I cannot say that I know the
reason for all of these occurring difficulties, but it has been
teaching me where to turn, and in whom to confide, through those
difficulties. Even now, as I write this letter, allowing my thoughts
to fall upon the blessed moments of the past seven days, my mind is
filled with words to say, and my heavy heart is lifted. I am convinced
that when we follow the divine counsel given in Matthew 6:33 to "seek
ye first the kingdom of God, and its righteousness," the promise that
"all things shall be added unto you" will be fulfilled. I cannot
imagine attempting this work without the guidance of my Heavenly
Father, for it is truly His work. As such, he has promised that he
will "go before [my] face." He continues, "I will be on your right
hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine
angels round about you, to bear you up." (D&C 84:88) Though I will be
disappointed, I need not ever be discouraged because if that promise.
I have seen it in my mission, and I know that He has been carrying me
through it all.

On a happier note: For Sunday, we were asked to teach the nine year
old Sunday school class, as their usual teachers were out of town. We
talked about chapters 20 and 22 of Alma in the Book of Mormon, which
relates the conversion story of the king of all the Lamanite people.
It is part of one of my favorite stories in the Book of Mormon.
Because the vocabulary in the scriptures is often difficult for
children to understand, we explained it to them as we read, then had
them take turns drawing different scenes from the story on the
chalkboard. Below is the resulting masterpiece. The coolest part about
this story is embodied in the words on the top of the board. When
threatened with the loss of his life, the Lamanite king was willing to
offer up half of his kingdom to be spared. However, when he was taught
the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation, he was willing
to give up much more. He knelt before God in prayer, willing to give
up all his sins, all the things that he had ever or ever would do
wrong, just to know God and His Son. I am working to have the faith of
this man, but I am doing all that I can to become a better person, and
forsake my sins, just as he did. It is because of the sacrifice Christ
made for us that we are able to do that. Because he suffered for all
our sins, you and I can be forgiven of all the things we have ever
done wrong. That is the message of the Gospel, and that is what we as
missionaries share.

Thank you for all your prayers on my behalf. You all mean so much to me!

Love,
Elder Grover

P. S. It rained! It was wonderful!