Converted to the Lord

Hello all,

 

Well this was actually not too bad of a week. We continue to work with Amina and Rachel, but we did receive a bit of official news about Amina this week - she is already a member of the Church, baptized in Utah in 2007. She told us in our lesson this week. We had a few suspicions because she told us that she had been to Church several times in Utah, but didn't completely understand what baptism is and didn't remember receiving the Holy Ghost. When we gave the ward her full name and birth date, sure enough they were able to find her records. But whoever the missionaries were there did a really bad job. She doesn't know nearly any of the doctrine so we're still treating her as an investigator right now until she understands and fully believes the doctrine of the Church. So now Rachel is our only progressing investigator, but at least she has member fellowship right?

 

I did a really neat baptismal interview for a man named Grayson. He was baptized Saturday into the May Creek ward, one that hasn't baptized in nearly 2 years. He was tracted into and was a chain smoker for over 40 years and had many other addictions, which greatly affected his health. But the atonement of Jesus Christ affected him in such a way that he has been able to quit smoking. It was really amazing talking to him about his testimony of the Savior and repentance. His story really increased my testimony of what the Savior can do and really how likes can be changed by coming unto Him.

 

Yesterday we had our stake conference. They focused on youth and the dedication it takes in the Church to stay active in the gospel. The stake president talked about becoming truly converted to the Lord, not just to the Church. And when we are converted to the Lord we will not fail. Things that the Lord asks us to do will not be a burden because we have full faith that the Lord will fulfill His promises. It was a really great talk.

So the Renton Highlands are still good. We continue to work hard and we are seeing the blessings of the Lord because this is His true church.

~Elder Fetzer

Sunny Days Ahead

Hello all,

Well the sun came out and we went to work this week. We actually have been doing a bit of service this week for the Griffin's. They are a less-active couple that we visit on occasion and have done a lot of service for including yard work, raking, Christmas decorations, putting up shelves for a bathroom remodel, and other tasks around the house. They have a lot of health problems, which make it difficult for them to do the work. I guess it is also good preparation for when I get home as well. But I don't really mind serving for them.

 

Well spring is in the air and we have been having a lot more sunny and nice days. People seem more friendly. But we did have a crazy experience. We were talking to this guy at a bus stop when all of a sudden a tall man with long blond hair came up to us and started talking. He pointed around and turned around. "This is the either," he said. He pointed down and said, "This is the past." And swinging his arm up into the air he said, "the present and the future" ending pointing at a cloud in the sky. He told us that the clouds in the sky was a sign of how we know "they are coming." Then he pointed to the Book of Mormon that was in Elder Walk's hand. "I wrote the book," he said. "I am Joseph Smith!" Then this man raised his hands into the air and started talking/praying to the cloud's "face." Yeah, there are some crazy people in this world!

 

We did get a few new investigators this week, including Janet. She is probably in her late 50's. She is the friend of a less-active woman and was referred to us by her home teacher. We had a powerful restoration lesson with her yesterday and is looking forward to being baptized, although she only wants to really commit to it when she has a few more of her questions answered.

 

We also continue to teach Amina and Rachel. Amina came to Church yesterday for the third time and really liked it! We are going to try some new fellowship. There is a man in another ward that is also from Kenya. The ward council recommended that we also get him involved.

 

This was a good week and I am looking forward to more like this because the Church is true!

 

~Elder Fetzer

Easter

Hello all,

 

Well, this is gonna be short. Things are going well in the Renton Highlands. We had a good week - 24 lessons and most of them "other," which is the most I think I have ever taught in a single week. That doesn't necessarily mean that we were let into all those peoples houses, although we were for some, just that we were able to share a short message with a prayer. It was cool!

 

We continue to work with Amina and Rachel. They are progressing nicely, although they had to work last-minute and weren't able to come to Church, they still want to learn and are progressing. We had a great spirit-filled lesson on 2 Nephi ch. 31 on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and they really liked it. I think they're close.

Along with that we taught Steve. We've been trying to get in with him for a while and he finally had time! We taught him the Restoration.

 

We found a family that was baptized into another ward and lives in our area. I don't get why it happened. But we invited them to our ward party on Saturday and they came! The ward was very welcoming.

It was a great week to remember the resurrection and atonement of Christ! The Church is true!

 

~Elder Fetzer.

Feeling Joy Through Repentance

Hello all,

 

This week I met Elder Walk, who will be my new companion. He is from Nephi, Utah. He is a great hard-working companion and I have learned a lot from him.

 

Well, this was actually kind of an interesting week. I had leadership training for 2 whole days so there wasn't as much as we would have gotten done in this area, but we still did have an okay week. This transfer we are working on letting people know how they can feel greater joy through declaring repentance. Lately I have really gotten to know what the true meaning of our purpose is. Our purpose isn't just that we have a special message about Jesus Christ, or that God has called a prophet, or even that we know the purpose of life, but that through the power of God, we can help people change their ways and truly become the people that they have always dreamed of becoming, but haven't known how they can do so. We are here to help people become happy through the cleansing power of the atonement of Jesus Christ because "men are that they might have joy!" We are truly here to declare repentance and help people realize that God gives us commandments not to punish us, but because in his all-infinite wisdom, they will bring peace and direction into our lives. We have found a bit more success coming all our and talking to people about the Doctrine of Christ. It's really amazing!

 

We continue to meet with Levi. We used our training on helping make the commandments of God more personal to investigators and taught him the Word of Wisdom. Levi is interesting. He wants to change, but it has been difficult to help him realize that he can repent and change his ways. Maybe it will click with him soon.

We do have 2 progressing investigators. Amina and Rachel came to general conference Sunday morning and loved it! They wanted to stay longer, but didn't have time. So I guess we'll read some talks to them later. They are great!

 

My first district meeting was this week. We talked about how people truly do have the desire to change, but often don't know how or think that they can. So we talked about how through Doctrine of Christ that mighty change can come about and people can truly feel joy as we declare repentance.

Well, things in the Highlands are good. And yes, the Church is true!

 

~Elder Fetzer