New Phones Acquired

On Thursday, March 31, 2016 5:06 PM, Dustin Thelander <dustin.thelander@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Well, this week and a half has been pretty good to say the least. It has been fairly busy overall, but in some ways a little slow. After an awesome district meeting on Tuesday, we had the chance to see Grimaldo. He continues to say great things to us but at the same time not show any initiative in getting to church. Hopefully, with General Conference coming up it will give him a chance to come on out to church. Please everyone say a prayer for Brother Hotzinger. He had a loss in the family and is struggling with things at home. He just needs a little support from your prayers, I think.

On Wednesday, I was once again in the Spanish area as my District Leader responsibilities require- this time I was with Elder Williams. He is a great missionary from the Austin, Texas area. We had a great day of talking with everyone with me not really knowing what was going on at some points. I may or may not have been made fun of in one meeting, but I would never know ;) It was a really good day. I had a blast as I am sure some of you can imagine. Thursday and Friday were the bummer days- a lot of walking and talking to people but not getting anything solid. Then Saturday, we had our weekly miracle. The Spanish elders had talked to someone about two weeks ago named Brian. We had been trying to contact him for all this time, then he texted us and said we could come over. We went right over and taught him about the restoration, and he asked some very good questions and made some great connections. So, we now have him as our best investigator.

Sunday, we had a great Easter church service, and I, as well as Elder Parry, got to sing with the ward choir in a really cool rendition of "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" and "I Know that My Redeemer Lives". So, I guess our singing career is off to a great start. Then we taught old Maxine. Dinner was with the Garcias. We had a great little dinner with this young family expecting their first child. Monday was weird, no P-Day for us, just a normal day. That being said, we did a lot of walking but not so much talking due to a lack of people on the streets. We had a fantastic dinner with the Merricks who are a great old couple who happen to own a frozen yogurt store, so we had a lot to talk about.

Tuesday, we had the chance one again to teach Brian. We taught the plan of salvation after going over the reading that he did. It was so cool because he actually read and had some questions for us. That lesson went great, and he will be attending the Saturday Priesthood session of General Conference. Wednesday we did some service with a member of the ward. He, for a living, trims and removes trees. So, we helped him out with that and carried wood, used the big ole chipper, and had a really good time. It was like 68 and sunny- perfect for that work. Then we, after literally 3 months of trying, got in with a less-active member Flavio who actually called us. His wife is in rehab, and once she left he gave us a call- she is not too Mormon friendly. He played some rock on the guitar, and then we had a great chat with him. He wants to come back to church and wants to come to the Saturday Priesthood session as well. Hopefully, both guys can make it to that.

And, we got new phones this week. Switched carriers and everything. Really, it's not a big thing, but hey, new is always fun! It's the little things...

Then today we had the great chance to attend the temple of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was such an amazing spiritual experience, and I just loved the spirit that I felt there. I know it was in preparation for a blessing I had to give right before I wrote this email. A brother in the ward is struggling, and he just kept saying how inspired and great the blessing I gave to him was. I know that the words and spirit he felt came directly from Jesus Christ. In no way could I even begin to be able to help this man with his problems. I am a 19 year old boy, but Jesus Christ suffered all so that he can truly be empathetic. The words coming to this struggling brother through me were His words. The temple truly prepared me for that moment. I am so grateful for Christ and for all of the things that he has done for me.

Scripture of the Week is from Alma 7 verse 23, "And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering;being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive".

I love you all so much.

Love,

Elder Thelander

photos- me hitting in the cages which was so fun and me with Elders Babcock and Williams