Agency is Essential

Hello all,
Well, this was another week of teaching and "enduring." Not really "enduring," but you know what I mean. 
We continue to teach Sushil. He is slowly progressing. He's kind of hard to read. We taught him the Word of Wisdom on Tuesday night and he told us that it was one of the only commandments that made since to him and he wholeheartedly committed to keep it. He still doesn't seem to understand the need of authority, but that is what we're planning to teach him this next week.
Ashley on the other hand is a wild card. She's really hard to read. She has so many hidden concerns that I'm starting to think we need to drop her and let good 'ol time and the Savior work on her until she is ready for more of the gospel. Members will continue to know her, but I think we as missionaries need to step out of the picture with her. Like this week when she was determined to go to the stake picnic on Saturday, but when the time came, she cancelled at the last minute. Or various fallen through appointments where something occurs at the last minute. Don't get me wrong, Ashley is a really nice person, but as for now she isn't necessarily ready to progress any further until she gets some deep things sorted out, including having trust in God and His Church, but she'll come around eventually. But she must decide to go through with it.
Sometimes it really breaks your heart to stop teaching someone. You want them to progress so badly, but of course, agency is essential to God's plan. It truly is one of the best God-given gifts available.
On Saturday we had a stake picnic in Issaquah with sports and of course, lots of food. It was fun to see people from the former two wards that I have served in in this stake, especially as my mission is coming to a close. I have really been blessed to serve in such a great stake here in the mission. Although missionary work is harder here in Bellevue, I am serving in the best stake around with some of the nicest, strongest and most dedicated members of the Church.
Things continue to fly by. These next 3 weeks are going by quickly. But I'll continue to work with my might because this is God's true Church!
~Elder Fetzer