Elder Kyle Houssian: Week #42 & #43

Howdy y'all! What a wonderful week it has been here in this part of the Lord's vineyard! I hope y'all have been able to have an awesome and exciting week this week!

Before I say anything, I want to shout out my sister Amber who had a birthday on the 19th! And of course, shout out to my beautiful mother who last Sunday had a birthday, and what a wonderful woman and mother she is!!

So this week has been crazy! We went on exchanges (where a missionary from 2 companionships switches areas for 24 hours) 3 times this week! Elder Bannagao and I did not have one full day together this week until yesterday! It was crazy busy! But blessings came of it. Poor Elder Bannagao left our area all 3 times this week, so he's barely been able to sleep in his own bed! I stayed in my area with Elder Ryder from Tuesday to Wednesday. ThenWednesday to Thursday I was in my area with Elder Young, and then Friday to Saturday I was in my area with Elder Shiffler, one of my Zone Leaders! It was a lot of fun being able to be with some other missionaries who we don't get to see as often!

This week we found a family with 3 kids, who's mother told us she wanted her kids to have Jesus in their lives, so we've been teaching them a lot! The mother is on bed rest while goi through the first trimester of pregnancy with twins, and one of the twins' heart rate is 20% lower than the other twin, so please keep her in your prayers! Her name is Carla. The kids are progressing very well! On Friday night, while with Elder Shiffler, we were planning on teaching them a lesson about Faith and Repentance, but while walking in Elder Shiffler had this impression to show a video of Christ being baptized. At the end of it, we explained how Christ was baptized even though He was perfect, and then asked why this was important. Before any of them answered, the oldest kid, Kayla who is 17, said "I want to be baptized like that!" and immediately after that the other two kids (15 and 11) agreed with her. So right then and there we were able to set them to be baptized on June 10th, and they were ecstatic! The Spirit was so strong during that lesson and really touched the hearts of all of us there!

Following that lesson we went to a Part-Member Family's house to teach the fiancé of a member. We taught the Plan of Salvation, and at the end tied it into baptism and how it is one of the first things we do to work towards living with our Heavenly Father for eternity. After that we invited Aaron to be baptized and he accepted! We set a goal for him to be baptized onJuly 1st! He is progressing very well and attending church regularly!

This Saturday I had the privilege of going to my 2nd area in the mission to watch the sweetest little girl that I've ever taught, get baptized. Three of her siblings had been baptized before and she made the decision to follow their example, and of course the example of Jesus Christ, and baptized as well. The Spirit was very strong and present during the service, and it was so great to see her and her family and reconnect with them!

My spiritual thought this week comes from the Book of Mormon, chapter 3 verse 17. It reads;

17 And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.

In this chapter, King Benjamin is addressing his people and teaching them about the Lord. Here he says that we as God's children can only receive the eternal blessings that are in store for us through Jesus Christ. He was appointed before this life to be our Savior and Redeemer. Brothers and sisters, I know that Jesus Christ lives. He came to Earth and established His church, and that same church was restored by Jesus Christ through the prophet Joseph Smith. With the Priesthood power Joseph Smith received, he translated the Book of Mormon with the help of God. I know this church is true. The foundation of this church and the principles taught will bring individuals and families more joy and happiness than they can imagine. I have seen it bless the lives of so many people, including my family. I know families are eternal, and I'm so grateful for that wonderful blessing it is to have my beautiful family forever. I know Heavenly Father knows each one of us individually and knows what we feel, our desires, our pains, and everything else. He loves us. May we all strive to grow closer to the Lord is my humble prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I love y'all! I hope y'all have a wonderful week! Until next time, God speed!

Elder Houssian