Bags Sanded

On Tuesday, February 21, 2017 3:33 PM, Dustin Thelander <dustin.thelander@myldsmail.net> wrote:

On Tuesday of last week, we had no district meeting in preparation for our zone conference. So we had some extra time. In our zone, we have some inexperienced district leaders, so we decided to have a meeting with them. We talked a lot about teaching in the Savior's way- interacting to edify. We saw just today how learning and implementing this helped each of them. After that we went to the church to show Veronica the "Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ" video. It showcases Joseph Smith and the experience he had in seeing Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. It also talks about the early history of the church. It is very moving, and she really loved it. After that, we finally had the chance to meet with Jose again. He is doing fine, but he hasn't yet gotten over some concerns. He is worried what his family will think if he gets baptized, and he, at some points, feels out of place at church. That was a little sad to us. We feel the ward has done a good job at welcoming him. We talked, and when he comes again we will not feel that way because we remembered that all that is wrong can be made right through the Atonement. We taught him a lesson on the atonement, and he loved that principle. Dinner that night was with the Miller family. They are really cool, and we had a great time teaching their young kids the Restoration lesson.

Wednesday, I was in my area with Elder Hatch, one of our district leaders. We did some service for the Let it Be foundation and then went out and worked. We were able to find a new investigator, Deloris. She is an older woman in her 70's, and she had a great conversation with us. We taught the Restoration lesson and the spirit really hit her at some points. She felt it really strongly, especially when she found out for herself that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are separate personages. Following that we headed to the Book of Mormon class we head up on Wednesdays and had a great time there reading from the scriptures.

Thursday we began the day at a local fire station filling sand bags. This was in preparation for what was thought to be a pending mega storm. Lots of people in the area had flooding with previous rain, and they needed help getting the bags filled. So, for 2 hours I filled approximately 100 sand bags. We, the missionaries, saved Chino Hills from the rain! By the way, this storm disappointed in our area. We hear it caused damage elsewhere, but it was not crazy at all for us. So there are extra sand bags ready to go if needed in the future. Then we got ready and headed to Rancho Cucamonga for our zone conference. I conducted the meeting from the pulpit, and then Elder Ludwig and I conducted out individual time with our zone. We talked about teaching the Restoration (getting the idea that the Restoration is pretty important) in the Savior's way, and then we role played it. Following that, we talked on the importance of obedience. Then we went to the home of the Blockers. Brother Blocker is the brother of Sister Patten in my ward in Crystal Lake. He even happened to face time her when I was there. We got to talk for a while, and then we joined brother Blocker and his three kids that were home in their main room. He led a conversation about Christ and asked his kids questions about us. It was very humbling. Each kid expressed that they felt something different when we came into their home as compared to other missionaries in the past. I then felt prompted to teach them the Restoration lesson. We did so, and the 14 year old son after said something that was really cool. "Wow, that lesson was different. I came to my own conclusions about the gospel, the spirit spoke to me." That is what missionary work is all about, we help people make a connection with heaven. What an amazing family! Conversation began with a father who wanted to teach his kids in the Savior's way.

Friday, we weekly planned and were able to again teach Deloris. We had little time, so it was a brief thought. Then we say Alma and Amanda. They are part of a family that has been seen in the past. They are 17 and 22 years old, and they are in a place where religion can play a big role in their lives. They definitely felt the spirit.

Saturday, I was with an Elder Gress in the Spanish area. That man can talk. He also has this odd love of dogs and feels the need to be best friends with all of them. That is fine, until of course a dog doesn't want to be friends with him. Such was the case with Blue, a beautiful Husky. Elder Gress has seen him before, but this time it was a bit different. He went to pet Blue on the head, and snap, Blue got him. A large cut on his middle finger and some other deep wounds elsewhere. We went to the local CVS, and he dressed his wounds and we went along. Later in the day, we helped a man change his tire, and he really loved the help. His dad is a long time less-active member who said he would like to come back to church. The Lord works in mysterious ways.

Sunday was very typical, we tried to visit some people after church and got no answers. A cool story was told in Sacrament meeting that I loved. The role of a silversmith is very difficult. He was asked when he knew the silver was done. He said, that is easy, when I can see my reflection in it. Christ is the Silversmith, and we are done, so to speak, when he can see His reflection in us. Pretty powerful. Yesterday we went on a hike in a State park and then played some sports with the zone.

Scripture of the week is from Alma, chapter 37, verse 44, "For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promise land."

Love you all so much. Have a fantastic week.

Love,

Elder Thelander