October 19, 2009: Missions are HARD!!

Hey everyone!

It's very true what they say, "Your mission will be the best thing for you, it will also be the hardest thing you do"

It's been a week of trials. There have been so many investigators who have been attcked by the adversary SO MUCH. There was one invetigator who we committed to baptism. After that, everything went downhill (in a negative way). His mom became extremely sick and had to go to the hospital, he experienced loneliness and frustration towards everything because of that, and he was kicked out of his apartment and is now sleeping on a couch at a friend's. We were supposed to have a baptism of a very sweet woman and her 9 year-old daughter yesterday, but they have not been at church for the past four weeks, she has been dealing with cut-backs at her work, and her two oldest sons have been causing much turmoil to the point where she's kicking them out today. Ww also had a baptismal date set for a young woman going to the Single's Branch for the 24th of October. Since we set the date, she has experienced SO MUCH oppostion from her family. The aunt she is living with threw away her copy of the Book of Mormon, her brother yelled at her one night for being baptized a "Mormon", and it hasn't stopped. Her baptismal date has been pushed back to a later day...hopefully she will be baptized. A very nice man, recptive to the Gospel, we have been speaking to, has not come to church AT ALL. He always says that he will come, but he never shows. Satan is truly at work! Those are just a few stories I have, and there are SO MANY MORE! I look at all of these people, and I think to myself, "They are my brothers and sisters, and the adversary is trying to destroy them (his brothers and sisters)." All I can do is continue to fight and help these people see that "all things shall give thee experience." I want all of these people, friends of mine, brothers and sisters of mine, to say what Paul said: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7)

Someone that has been uplifting to me, lately, is Captain Moroni. There is one scripture that inspires me so much to walk in the paths of righteousness, and to stand boldly as a witness and disciple of Christ. Captain Moroni was such a man. He was a man who defended his country, his family, and his God. He was a very powerful man, both physically and spiritually. In Alma 48:17, it says, "Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, that if all men had been, and were, and every would be like unto Moroni, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men." WHEW!!!! That's intense! How great would it be if all men would have a similar intensity.

I know that missions are hard, and mine is no exception. I know that all the things we go through are for our learning, but we must not lose the faith. We must all be like unto Moroni! If we can do that, we will have the power to shake the powers of hell! We will have the power to do what the Lord wants done: To preach the Gospel. To redeem the dead. To perfect the Saints. I know that the things I have read in the Book of Mormon are true. it is the most correct book on this earth. I know the prophet, Joesph Smith, translated the Book of Mormon through the power of God, that same power that can shake the powers of hell FOREVER! I know that these thing are true. I pray that all of you keep the faith and keep fighting. I love all of you.

Elder Fellows