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HI Brothers & Sisters!
Hope you had an exciting and amazing week. From the pictures it looks like you and the Yokshas's had a blast at Bear Lake and for Kenadi's birthday party - - HAPPY BIRTHDAY KENADI!!!! Thanks for the blog update Nicole, loved all the pictures! Haha, I like the one where Adi is trying to ride the horse Susan gave her... haha - I would tell her to stick to the scooter or the bike.. haha. Bear Lake looked amazing! And LaBaues.. [or however you spell it] tastes so good right now... think a shake would melt if you sent it to me??]
Well I had a really good week, a weird week - but really really good. On Tuesday I got to go on a road-trip back to my old area in Riverside for a leadership conference that was going to last from Tuesday to Friday everyday from 7:50am-4:30pm. It was so good to see everyone of the missionaries I knew there. Since all leadership including Zone leaders, District leaders, and trainers were invited to the meeting in equaled about a 3rd of our mission.
The four days were spiritually packed! On the first day they trained us on the "doctrine of Christ" which is basically our purpose as missionaries "To invite otheres to come unto Christ, by helping them recieve the restored gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End." If you look in the scriptures in references such as 2 Nephi 32, 3 Nephi 27, Alma 7, etc. You can see this "doctrine of Christ". What the bretheren want us to start doing is teaching this in our first lessons to our investigators. Teaching them why baptism is necessary and the WHY we need to do it. Then duh duh duh duh - COMMIT them to follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized by one holding the authority of God. Crazy to think to invite and commit them for a baptism date the first time we meet - but I know it will work, this is the Lords way and His plan!
The new curriculum we were trained on does not replace anything that we have been doing. Just as Preach My Gospel is used to help us be better missionaries from the scriptures, this new curriculum helps us be better missionaries from both sources. We were also trained on how to help ourselves and our investigators receive revelation from the Book of Mormon and from church attendance.
While we were there (since it was like 2 hours away from Palm Desert - where I live) they put us with other missionaries around the area and I got the privlege to be put with Elder Burton & Yarn serving in the ... Mt. Rubidoux Ward!! Yup, that's right - my old ward! YA! So, after the first meeting was over they desided to take me to see an old friend... Sister Brenda Franklin! When we got to her house I went around the corner and told Elder Burton to say his companion was just on the phone - so she came around the corner and saw me and starting screaming and jumping up and down .. awhh it was so amazing!!! It was so good to see her! She actually came with us to our night appointment and took us to dinner right after!
One of the exciting things was that Brenda actually came and spoke at our Leadership meeting on Thursday! We were being taught about "Teaching people, Not Lessons" and she sharred a heart-felt testimony on being "real" with the people that you teach. "If we are coming to people with a message from God, give a message from God!" is something that she said that just made me think - do I always treat my missionary calling for what it is worth?? EVERYTHING {you did so good Brenda, I am so proud of you!!}
One of the people I tracted into in Riverside and started teaching named Eric Morris just got baptized on Sunday! I was so excited! Sad I couldn't go back for the baptism, but so excited for him! You really can make a difference in peoples lives - even if it is only planting a seed.
Our Investigators Elizabeth, Madison & Sunny Holmstrom are scheduled to get baptized this upcoming sunday and I am so excited. Elizebeth drew us a picture of us and her family saying "thankyou for changing my life and bringing happiness, I love my family and have never been happier." Which means sooo much knowing how much they have changed! Venus Paez is getting baptized with her daughter Aaliyah soon - she has also changed soo much. Really, if you want help and peace the Gospel of Jesus Christ helps so much, it is truely everything. This past week I have just been smiling so much with the tender mercies and miracles Heavenly Father is blessing me with!
I love you all so much! Hope you have a great week! Be safe and follow the spirit! Keep praying for me and my investigators!-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE