Nampa Idaho Mission 2016-2018: Week 14 - Fonts Fill Faster Than You Think

Hello Everyone!

This week has been yet another testimony builder to me.. what an amazing thing to see how God works! We knew that this past week was going to be hard, since school was out for the week and Thanksgiving so most of the lessons we would have usually taught were not going to happen, which only meant that we had to find new people to teach:) And sure enough when you are looking and praying with a prayer of faith you will find those God has prepared.

Last Monday night we were about to go home and we biked past this kid on the way home who was standing on the corner wearing shorts (it was pretty darn cold that night) after we passed him we felt like we needed to go back and talk to the person on the corner. His name was Jaden and he said that he was waiting on the corner for someone, but when we finished talking with him he ended up just going home so we are not sure what happened with that. We talked to him about the Book of Mormon and the Restoration and invited him to church but because he is14 we wanted him to go see if his parents would let us teach him. He said he would get back to us about whether his mom would let him or not. We actually have talked to his mom before but she wasn't interested. Well we went a week without hearing from him and this past Sunday Elder Candland and I fasted for our investigators and our Area and out of no where guess who shows up and stays for all three hours of church by himself!? You guessed it.. Jaden! It was super sweet and a tender mercy for sure!

The other cool finding experience came from going and knocking on some doors on a street of a neighborhood that we haven't done much on.. So we got started and the first door was a members home, which is always slightly awkward, since we probably should know they are members but yet we knocked on their door and at that point you dont know what to say besides just act like your were coming for a visit the whole time haha! We knocked on Sister Dowleys home and shared a message with her and asked for any referrals and she didnt have anything for us but then she mentioned something about a family that recently had a grandpa pass that was living with them. She wasn't sure if it was true or not or if it was the right house but we knocked on that door two different times that day and no one was home so kinda too bad.. but right before we left the street we were knocking I decided eh lets knock one more! So we knocked on one more house, which turned out to be a new investigator that were able to teach the first lesson to! ( Even though he dropped us middle of the week we gave him his chance to hear the first lesson! and he said he would keep reading the Book of Mormon so I know that the book alone can work mighty miracles!)

After knocking doors in that area we moved to a different area to knock some homes we haven't visited before, but after the second house our eyes were drawn to a kid walking by but he was too far away so we basically speed walked after him to catch up to him, but when that wasn't working I started running up a different road to intercept him "casually" after these attempts we weren't successful and we had to give up so we walked back to our dinner appointment,but went the long way to hopefully catch someone outside when BAM there was a new car in the driveway of the house with the family that had a death recently.. So we knocked on the door and they were home and we are planning on teaching them the Plan of Salvation!! WOOHOO! super awesome stuff so our stalkerish running paid off in the long run!

The other cool experience this week of course was Oredi's Baptism! Word to wise the font fills alot faster than you think it would haha we were super close to over filling it haha but we didn't so you know I learned haha. Unfortunately we wanted his dad to baptize him but he said he wasn't ready.. so I was chosen to baptize Oredi, which was pretty amazing.. its very true that Gods power is manifested when his priesthood is exercised worthily and I really felt that when I was baptizing Oredi it was really really cool. Im grateful for the knowledge of the Priesthood and what a sacred, sacred privilege to hold that mantel for the blessing of others. Oredi said that during the confirmation he couldn't stop smiling and that he felt pretty good after the baptism too so its awesome to see that step that he took especially since he dropped us last transfer!

So as far as transfers go Elder Candland will be moving to Star, Idaho and I got a call from President informing me that ill be training! sooo thats gonna be way cool! Everyone including myself is really surprised that im training considering i just finished my training yesterday! But i know the Lord needs me to train so of course

I'll do it! its super exciting and gonna be pretty fun! There is no better way to change a mission than to train a mission!

My thought I would like to share comes from the Christmas Initiative! I encourage everyone to watch it and participate, because its truly inspired and i know that its one of the best ways we can shine our light it makes me soo happy to have a testimony of what the Light of Christ is! we read from the bible dictionary that its a feeling of enlightenment, knowledge, and a ennobling persevering influence. As I have been reading the book of Mormon with this in mind I realize that Nephi's light brought more knowledge to himself and his family closer to the gospel and we too can receive that same blessing as we let our light shine towards others! I love you all and appreciate your prayers for myself and for those not of our faith!

Keep Smiling

Love Elder Gerrard