6-7

Hello my Family & Friends!
Hope that you all had a good safe week and no one ran into any poles, got ran over by cars or hurt in any way!
I am doing good down here! Elder Palmer and me had a really great week - Funny because we worked SO HARD! We have been teaching lessons like crazy! Most of the lessons are to members and less-actives, but I'll tell you I have never been so proud and happy of these less active members that I have been working with! It's weird, in most of my area's less active people NEVER want to come back to church even when they feel the spirit so strong. And in These two wards (La Quinta & Santa Rosa) we are teaching so many and they actually listen and keep their commitments in reading and coming to church! As a missionary we plead to be lead and guided to the elect people that Heavenly Father has prepared for us - but I also think that Heavenly Father prepares people to except the gospel into their lives again - and that's what I am seeing again! Two less actives that we have been working with have recently said that they didn't even have testimonies and a Faith to start out with - but through a desire, searching, pondering and praying they gained not only a testimony - but a strong testimony; one that is rooted into a firm ground!
I was reading over Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life... I love the story and can say it is definately one of my favorites! I also love Sister Anne Dibb's talk on it a couple of conferences ago ("Hold On"). We all are called and directed toward this "tree of life". If we listen we can know that this tree holds things within it that can bring eternal happiness. Who wouldn't want that for theirselves and family? As I was reading I was thinking about testimonies and having a faith in Jesus Christ. When we have a faith in Christ we can have a strong foundation, that is- if we keep building on it. I think of that tree from the vision and when we think of trees we think of what... okay maybe that was a little too vague... ROOTS! This past week we had to do some service and cut this huge tree down. Well with being a big tree it obviously had some pretty huge roots! We spent minutes chopping at these roots and sweat was dripping down our faces - but it was the only way that the tree would come out of the ground - it had such a strong steady foundation - it was rooted into the ground. Interesting to see that the prophet Lehi didn't call and becon people to come to the great and spacious building ... could it be that it didn't hold a strong foundation.. or any foundation? Yup! I think so - Having a testimony of Jesus Christ and Faith in Jesus Christ is something that we all have to gain. We go through times of trial and tribulation - but in the end Eternal Life is what we want and it is that something and a place that is rooted. It's the only place, and a place that I want to be for SURE!
I love the joy that comes from doing the work out here. My favorite is when people say "that is just what I needed today". Crazy to think that when you plan and pray for what lessons to do for each person that it is actually person revelation that you are being given!
Like I said, the week was great and we even had 7 investigators at church... that's right 7!!! I was sooo excited! One of our new investigators whose name is Tiffiny actually came up to us and said that she was already to Ether in the Book of Mormon. Well that is great - but the even greater thing is that we just gave her the book a week and a half ago! SO COOL! I don't think I've ever read the book that quik even! haha
Well, I love you all sooo much! Stay safe and remember to always be "rooted" in the gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ! I love each and everyone of you soo much!
-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
PS- Nicole, Sister Christine Ferraud wanted to add herself as my "friend" on facebook and said that you "denied" her. Haha, you will have to add her (she wants to see my profile).