Week #64

Hey hey y'all! Man this week has flown by so fast! We were able to see so many miracles this past week. The Lord's hand is very active in the work right now! 

For starters, Jakob and Mathew were baptized Saturday morning, and it was a wonderful service! Mathew has been taking the lessons for a couple years. He knew the Church was true, but his father wanted Mathew to make sure he was ready and really understood what was going on, and how being baptized would lead to a life-long commitment, before he was baptized. In the long run, it was a good call by his dad, and patience pays off! He was so ready and has a great testimony. Jakob has come such a long way. When he started talking with missionaries, he didn't know if he believed in a God. Now he has a growing testimony of our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and of this gospel. I had the privilege of baptizing Jakob, and the next day, Elder Paulukaitis was able to confirm Jakob, and he did great! 

The Redd family is progressing very well. When we met with them this past week, we asked them all why they wanted to meet with us. When the mom answered, she said "I want to know more about your church and beliefs, and learn about the truth" and all of the kids piped in and agreed. They are so willing to learn and grow their faith. We have high hopes for them.

We were able to set a wonderful couple with a baptismal date this week! Diane and Michael Werner are their names. They called the Bishop and asked to meet with him, and then after that came to church, and have been coming since! They are set to be baptized on October 21st!

Kasie and Harold are doing well. We were not able to meet with them this week due to some family issues, but we are going to pick back up with them this week!

Fun fact, we went golfing last pday. It was my first time in 7 years so it was brutal haha but we had fun! We teed off at 7:48 am, so we got nice cool weather and an awesome sunrise! A member gave us a coupon for two free rounds, which was nice so we took advantage!

My thought this week comes from Alma 26. I came across these two verses in my studies this week, verses 11 and part of 12. Here, Ammon and his brethren are conversing about the missionary work that they were able to be a part of. Aaron, one of Ammon's brothers, cautioned Ammon that it seemed like Ammon was boasting in himself and his brethren. Then Ammon responded with these verses;

"11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things;..."

As we go through life, we will have ups and we will have downs. Our trials help us build our faith, and when we keep the commandments and are faithful to the promises we make with God, we are rewarded. When we receive blessings from on high, or when we are able to accomplish great feats, if we must boast, let us boast in our God. Without Him and without our Savior, we would be nothing. We would have no where to go after this life. We are literally nothing without Them. BUT if we turn to our Heavenly Father with an honest and humble heart, we will be strengthened and carried by the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and we will be able to endure our trials and experience wonderful highlights in this life and exaltation in the life to come. May we all turn to the Lord a little more this week, and acknowledge His hand in our lives, is my humble prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I love y'all so much! Thank you for your emails and letters! Until next week! God speed!

Elder Houssian