Good to hear from you! Thanks for your emails!
This
week, was a good week. It ended really well, with a baptism (picture
should be attached). It was for an investigator who is like almost 80
years old. The baptism went really well, and it was a special, nice
service. A brother, (his member integrator) baptized him, and Elder
White confirmed him in Tahitian! It was super cool, because the
confirmation prayer is pretty hard, and he got it perfectly, then gave a
nice inspired blessing. Pretty cool :D
This
week, President took a trip to Rurutu, and Tubuai, so Elder White and I
were lucky, and got to teach a lot! A lot more than 6 lessons that is...
:P We taught 19 investigator lessons, and some other lessons. It was a
good week, and it felt very productive. We had some good experiences as
we both felt like we needed to find new people to teach. We studied PMG
chapter nine (finding people) and we both felt like Heavenly Father has
got people READY and waiting for our message. Having this in mind, made
contacting and other efforts easier, and it made them make more sense. I
remember that last week, when we watched Meet the Mormons, I had felt
the Spirit, and I felt an excitement and desire to spread the news about
Christ, and to really help others go to Him. That feeling carried over
throughout the week, and was a good help. I think that feeling, and the
feeling of knowing that Heavenly Father is happy with your efforts, are
really what makes missionary work so rewarding, and worth doing. The
peace, and simple joy that the holy Ghost communicates, makes every
thing else calm down, and is so worth fighting for.
Elder
White is such an amazing companion. I feel really lucky to be with him.
He works really hard, and as we were studying chapter nine this week,
he picked up on some opportunities I would have missed. At the baptismal
service, Saturday, Elder White talked to a couple who came, and found
out that they were taught a long time ago, and that the husband in the
couple, would love to be baptized.... :D Wow. That was amazing. We'd
like to help him with that. :D
This week, we
also had the chance to give some priesthood blessings. There is a member
family here, who I love so much. The sister in this family asked us for
a blessing once, a few months ago, because she was sick, and because
her husband wasn't there. We came, and gave her a blessing with her
brother in law. Now, she's doing better, and she just had a baby. We got
to stand in on their baby's blessing, and it was a neat experience.
This Sunday there were 4 blessings, and 1 confirmation, all before the
sacrament. I was struck by the power of the ordinances, and thrilled to
have been able to participate in some of them. This sacrament meeting, I
got to translate all the testimonies into English, for the Warner
couple (I love this couple!) Sister Warner is the mission nurse, and her
husband, is such a cool man. They don't speak or understand much french
or Tahitian, so we sat with them, and I got to whisper all of what
happened in the meeting, in English to them. I enjoyed translating for
them, and as I did, I was touched by some of the testimonies. When you
have to focus on the meaning of every word, the level of understanding,
and of effort put in to listening, really goes up. It was a neat
experience. I have loved translating for meetings, and this was my first
time with fast and testimony meeting. Sunday was just uplifting.
Speaking
of PMG chapter nine, I had a strong impression this week, that I wanted
to share with you. As we studied this chapter, I felt very strongly,
that the family can prepare somebody for the missionary lessons. In 6
months I will be home, and I felt VERY strongly, that we can get someone
ready to follow the lessons by the time I get home. I know that like
all our friends are members( all is a slight exaggeration), and I
know that it isn't really the easiest thing, but I really felt like the
family can do it. I see the efforts of other families here, and I know
that having a project, or "game plan" (as Elder Neilsen said) should
consist of specific names, and specific goals (such as FHEs and
sacrament meetings, leading up to missionary visits). Again, I don't
know why I felt this, but as I read PMG chapter nine, I very strongly
felt that we can do it, and that we could have someone in our family
game plan, to get ready for the sisters in our stake to teach. I'd like
to know what you all think about that. I really felt strongly, to ask
you about it in my letter home this week. (its been written in my
planner since Tuesday)
This week, I have
thought a lot about what I'd like to be as a missionary, and what I'd
like to be afterwards. I have come to the conclusion,
(long long pause for suspense :D)
that
I don't know what I'd like to be afterwards, but I know that I always
want to be a missionary. I love my mission. I love the people, and I am
sooo glad that I am here. I want to be a better servant for Heavenly
Father, and I know that the work we are involved in is real. It feels
like a game to some people, and some times, people look at it as a game,
or as something secondary to 'real life'. But this has been the most
rewarding, challenging, and happy period of my life. I know that
Heavenly Father is real, and that His work is real. I am so happy to be a
missionary. I love you. And I hope that I will always be able to be a
missionary, and to work for Heavenly Father.
These are my thoughts this week.
Know
that I am doing well, and that I love you so much! I am so thankful for
all that you have given me, as my parents,and for all that you do for
me. I miss you, but I know that I will see you when it is time.
Thank you for all your love, prayers, and help.
Have a good week!
-Brigham
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