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Aug. 22, 2016

Heylo Eberyone!

Apologies for the lack of an email last week. I was shopping, and left my cart for a few minutes, and when I came back, my iPad was gone. As you may have guessed, that threw me for a loop for a few days. I still have no iPad, but we're working on getting a replacement. All is well in Zion!

The Millers are getting baptized this week! Brother and Sister Miller are still prayerfully deciding on a date to be married, and they're almost ready to set it in stone! They are, however, moving forward with getting Brynn and Hunter baptized this Friday. This will be the first convert baptism this ward has had since January! Everyone is so excited. As an expression of that excitement, the ward is helping the Millers to plan out a beautiful wedding for absolutely no cost! There's nothing like a ward that loves missionary work. I love it!

We also found out that Hien, our other investigator that is preparing to be baptized, lives outside of our proselyting area, which means we have to refer him to the missionaries that cover his address. His wifes parents live in one of our wards, which is how we came in contact with him; they referred him to us. We thought that he lives at least in our stake, but it turns out he does not; he lives right on the other side of the mission boundaries! Not only will we have to give him up to another set of missionaries, we have to give him to missionaries in the Gilbert mission. We're a bit worried about that, since he has told us that we are the only missionaries he has met, of which there have been many, that he trusts. We're going to see if we can contact the bishop in his home ward, so he can go with the missionaries to visit him. I'll keep you updated on that. 

I've been thinking and studying a lot about faith these past two weeks. I have learned so much about what faith truly is, and how our faith in Jesus Christ is truly manifest. In Hebrews chapter 11, Paul writes about many examples of faith, and how the people of the Old Testament exercised that faith. In every example, they didn't know how things were going to work out, or what blessings would come from it. But because they put their trust and faith in the Lord, they received blessings after they accomplished that which God asked them to accomplish. This is something I am working on in myself right now. There are a whole truck load of things with which I must trust my Heavenly Father; and even though I understand the concept - I had to put my faith in Him as I prepared for my mission, too - it's still very difficult. I try my best in everything I do, and that is where I find my comfort. Knowing the Lord only expects my honest effort, no matter how perfect or imperfect I am at doing His will, I know that He will bless me for trying. According to Moroni, I should "dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." (Ether 12:6) It may not be easy, but I know that I have faith in Jesus Christ, for it is he who works the miracles that I have seen. 

Thank you all for your prayers and support! I can feel them every day.

ALL IS WELL IN ZION!

Love,

Elder Grover