Josh's Mission Aug 5 2014

Iokwe Baamle!!

So my new companion that I am training, is elder Stoddard, unfortunatly I can't send a picture because these computers won't let me. He is fresh out of high school, he's from Puyallup, Washington. He is the oldest in a family of 4, all younger sister. And he is super prepared. He's taken 4 years of mission preparation and is very smart. I love him!!

Unfortunantly, I got sick a few days ago, from e blackburn and so yesterday we had to stay inside while I tried and failed to get some rest. but I'm feeling a little bit better today, I don't think the fever has quite gone away though.

So Yesterday, Isaac came to church again! He is just the best! He was answering questions, asking tons of questions, and just loving it. He is really starting to get into enjoying the branch, and everyone is accepting him like family. We super excited for his baptism date in september, but we are thinking that he will be ready before that, so we will have to see. He's just awesome!

Also Taika came to church again, she's been out of town for a few weeks, but got back this week and came to church with her boyfriend, who's a member. Hopefully we will able to meet with her this week, as well as her parents, who would like to meet with us.

Mary, another investigator, is doing very well. She really wants to get baptized, but her brother who has power of attorney for her, won't let her come to church. And she isn't sure how her parents would feel about it, because they were both Baptist before they passed away. but She is very willing to keeping learning and really wants to come to church.

So, one thing that is really awesome, that we are trying to do with our Branch members, is to create a family mission plan for everyone, that will allow them to help in the work of salvation. We are trying really hard to focus on the hastening the work broadcast and help everyone to understand that we all can be missionaries. I know that the Lord wants to bless us all, but blessing require us to take action. Like it says in D&C 130: 20-21

 20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—

 21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

I know that the lord will bless us as we make the necessary sacrifices and endure with faithfulness to the end.

That is a  really amazing experience to help with the open house! And that's awesome that you got to meet elder Cook, it really is amazing how so many times we put them on these high pedestals, and think that they are beyond us, but really they are just normal people.

I love the picture in the baptistery, it looks so awesome, I love how the river flows from all three pictures. And I love the look of all the rooms, that is just really awesome!! How are the preparations going for the celebration?

I really love those quotes, I especially love the one from elder Bednar, it reminds me of something that a missionary here wrote, but I don't remember it all, so I'll have to send it some other time. I a really love the one from pres Monson, It is so true that love is the essence of the gospel. without charity we are nothing. like it talks about in Moroni 7. 

(these are the quotes he is referring to:

"There is no physical pain, no spiritual wound, no anguish of soul or heartache, no infirmity or weakness you or I ever confront in mortality that the Savior did not experience first. In a moment of weakness we may cry out, “No one knows what it is like. No one understands.” But the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He has felt and borne our individual burdens. And because of His infinite and eternal sacrifice, He has perfect empathy and can extend to us His arm of mercy. He can reach out, touch, succor, heal, and strengthen us to be more than we could ever be and help us to do that which we could never do relying only upon our own power. Indeed, His yoke is easy and His burden is light."

—David A. Bednar

"Love is the very essence of the gospel, and Jesus Christ is our Exemplar. His life was a legacy of love. The sick He healed; the downtrodden He lifted; the sinner He saved. At the end the angry mob took His life. And yet there rings from Golgotha’s hill the words: 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do'—a crowning expression in mortality of compassion and love."

—Thomas S. Monson  )

I love you all!! thank you so much for everything! thank you for your prayers, love and support!
  

Kajoor ilo Christ

ij iokwe eok!!

Elder Broadbent