Dear Family and Friends,
This week we were able to teach more lessons than we have the past
little bit. We had a great experience when a member from a different
ward called us and said that he had an appointment with an
investigator that lived in Delaware (this part was in the sisters area
but they didn't know and told him to call us.) We explained that
minor dilemma and said we would fill the appointment anyways. When we
got there she was ready to listen. She had great questions and the
member was basically a missionary. She recognized the spirit while we
were there and we reminded her that she could have that spirit when we
weren't there. She accepted the baptismal invite for the end of April.
She read and prayed and received her own personal witness. Her family
gave her a really hard time, though and during the rest of the week,
almost convinced her not to come to church. She did indeed come to
church and she loved it. The class was on the priesthood and
organization and she said, “Oh right. That is why this is the true
church.” That was amazing. Sad we won't be teaching her anymore but
the sisters will. It's exciting that another person had that confirming
witness of the spirit that just can't be denied. This reminds me of a
less active member that we taught as well. We really talked about how
God really is testable. You just have to run the right test and have
the right instruments. God has given us one of the tests in the form
of reading the Book of Mormon and being able to pray about it. If the
answer comes blurry one time then there shouldn't be a reason not to
give it a second try. Scientific experiments aren't run only one time
to be conclusive. This less active has opened up a lot over the last
couple lessons. He really wants us to meet his wife as well but she
keeps having to work. We will likely be able to meet her this Sunday.
The next concept that I keep bringing up and I put as a background in
our phone is that you are always in the middle. President Uchtdorf
gave this thought as a first presidency message July 2012 and it has
stuck with me. When you put your life and compare it with Eternity you
really are in the middle. You existed for who knows how long before
and you will live for eternities afterward. The mission is no
different. Although my time as a full-time missionary is “closing” it
is just the middle of a life time of selfless service. President
Brigham Young taught, “If you go on a mission to preach the Gospel
with lightness and frivolity in your hearts, looking for this and
that, and to learn what is in the world, . . . you will go and return
in vain. . . . Let your minds be centered on your missions” I plan to
do my best to stay changed. I will need all of your help as well. I
will help you. We are all brothers and sisters and it is given to us
to lift and uphold one another. Let us be one family connected by our
covenants to hasten the work and work out our salvation. No man can be
saved alone, nor is that the plan that has been laid out before us.
Ponder these words: 18There is no fear in love; but perfect love
casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not
made perfect in love.19 We love him, because he first loved us.20 If a
man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that
loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he
hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who
loveth God love his brother also.(1 John 4) Being in the middle of the
ladder of perfection/ progression, let us have the perfect love to
help those ascending the ladder behind us rather than shut them down.
Let us have the humility to accept the loving hand from those that
have ascended beyond ourselves. I pray like Nephi that many are
saved in the last day if not all of us. I thank you for everything
that you have done to help me get to this point and for the future
help you will undoubtedly render.
Love
Elder Jesse M Killpack
P-Day Waffle day
Some books I read in the mission field
The reset is real!
