Right Place, Right Time

On Monday, June 20, 2016 3:11 PM, Dustin Thelander <dustin.thelander@myldsmail.net> wrote:

On Monday after P-Day ended, we had dinner with the Eklof family. They are really awesome members with a fun little family. Both are very musical. We had a family home evening with them and ended with a closing hymn, "Israel Israel God is Calling". Started off normal then we hit the 2nd verse and got going into SATB (look at me with that music term :), and it was epic. It sounded amazing. So, sister Eklof, being the music chair in the ward, said we will sing that in sacrament meeting next week. Should be good. Tuesday was interesting because we didn't have a district meeting like normal due to our Zone Conference on Thursday. So we did some service at the library and the thrift shop which took most of the day. We set a lesson at church to see the less active family, the Schillers, and we walked into a full on meal. This was at about 5, and we had a scheduled dinner for 6. Sister Schiller was beyond excited to feed us, and it was our pleasure to partake. Dinner after dinner was fantastic as well.

On Wednesday, we taught blessed Brother Soloman and the Otuafi family. In between, we had Austin Evans out with us who is a member of the ward getting ready to serve a mission. He got to see a little bit of the missionary life. On Thursday, we had our zone conference and had our last experience with President and Sister Hobbs. They leave the 28th, and the new president and wife come on in. The meeting was really really good. Sister Hobbs had a great discussion with us and asked us some things that we have learned on our missions. I was able to share how I have learned Christlike love. I have learned to see people through the lens of the Savior which allows me to share the gospel with a passion with everyone we come across. This realization has also caused me reflection on my life. I wonder who I could have loved more, who I could have cared for more, who I could have shared the gospel with. I now have the perspective to change all of that. Will I falter from time to time? Yes. But, I sure will be better at it. I loved the opportunity to bear testimony of that and put it into words. President Hobbs also shared some experiences from his life life, and it was really touching. I love and respect him and will miss him.

Friday we had a miracle morning. We had a lesson with Laura.. Finally!!!!!! We met at the local McD's and had a great restoration lesson. While there, we were able to resolve a bunch of her concerns. This lesson was 5 weeks in the making, and it was awesome. She really wants her two sons in on the lessons as well. They are the same age as the Ho Ching boys in our ward, so we will have them involved in the next lessons so they can make some friends. Then in the afternoon we got a call from Japhet, yes that same Japhet, saying that Maxine, yes that same Maxine, needed a blessing. He drove down for the weekend to take care of some business, and Maxine got pretty sick. So we went over to the hospital, and as we walked in a person walked up to us and said she is a member of the church and a caretaker of a man who was just rushed to the hospital. She was in the process of calling the sister missionaries so they could get a hold of other missionaries to come give him a blessing, and in that moment we walked in! So we were able to give Maxing and Franky a blessing while there. The Lord really does put us where he needs us. Later we taught a lesson to returning less active member, William. He was in a really bad spot and asked God to give him a sign that he needs to come back. Later the next day some missionaries showed up to a party they weren't invited to that William was at. He saw that as his answer, and for the last 4 weeks has been to church and reading his scriptures every day. People who say miracles don't happen today are dead wrong- that was a miracle.

Saturday I was with an Elder Schenk for the day, and we had an awesome time. We had my first ever sit down lesson with James. He opened up about his bad habits and how he wants to improve last time we saw him 3 months ago, since he had been elusive. We sat down with him and shared the Plan of Salvation. It brought him a hope that I could see in his countenance. He needed that lesson right at that time. Hopefully he will be home for our next visit next week.

Sunday and today are just stupid hot here. Got to about 111 yesterday and predicted to get up to 113 today. Yikes.

Scripture of the Week is from 2 Nephi, Chapter 31, Verse 12, "And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do."

I love you all so much. Have a wonderful week and stay cool!!!

Love,

Elder Thelander