records defeated

Dear Readers,

Elder Argyle and I are a good team. We reviewed the area book and the past records for each of the stats that we turn in and realized that we held several records from the time we have been companions. After looking at the remaining unbroken records, we decided to defeat the records and set new standards for our area. This last week, we defeated the last record we had planned to break (there is only one remaining record, but in order to break it, such as the week it was set, we would have to not teach any lessons and spend all of our time in the street talking to people—we'd rather have lessons). Achieving a goal is a sweet feeling. I have learned a lot from Elder Argyle, and am especially grateful for this last transfer we have had together, since it has done wonders to train me to be a better missionary, and a better man.

This transfer has also included caring for Elder Snyder. His eye slowly recovers, and he goes to the doctor frequently where he, each time, gets a different explanation of why it isn't healing more quickly and a new medication. Supposedly, if it were being treated correctly, it would disappear in a matter of days. After so many blessings and medicine, I am unanswered in why he must go through this, but we are doing all we can to help him get out of the house (he can't ride his bike, so him getting out of the house means going on an exchange with us in the car) and spending a lot of time scrambled up with different companions. God knows why this is happening, and that is the end of questioning.

Yesterday, just before sitting down to dinner with our Relief Society President, President Craig called with the news of Grandma Bostwick. I will miss her. This makes both of Dad's parents whose funerals I was not able to attend due to my missionary service. Again, God knows the reason. I feel that I don't have an emotional need to go to the funeral. Death in the gospel has such a clear perspective that I don't feel much sadness. However, all change has effects, and I feel the effect of a change in our family. I love Grandma Rose and I will be very glad to see her again someday, happier and stronger.

We had a great youth baptismal service on Saturday with a lot of involvement with the youth of our branch. In giving talks or extending welcomes, it was a good opportunity to teach a few of the kids some practical gospel skills. I see it as more evidence that the Church is true, that young people can prepare a talk and present it to a group with clarity, confidence, and testimony. The three kids that were baptized (Jessica, Christian and Alan) are very happy, and we finally began to teach their parents, though they will likely progress much more slowly than their children. We always are happy to see continual progress in our investigators as well as the investigators that other missionaries are working with.

We had a cool experience with a recent convert. He was baptized two weeks ago and the Saturday after his baptism, we went to his house for a lesson, to teach him about the priesthood (he had already been ordained a priest and we wanted him to really understand his duties and privileges as a priesthood holder). When we got to his house, he said he was going to invite a neighbor to hear the gospel, which he did, she came, and he himself began to teach her the about the Restoration, bearing testimony, using the scriptures, and teaching the true doctrines of the Church. This miraculous change from our "so-so" investigator to our new powerful fellowshipper came so quickly as a result of acting on faith. Raul took a leap of faith to be baptized, and his life now is continual evidence of the faith he has to act. The spirit is with him and he is a new man. We took him and his neighbor to the temple visitor's center and he again, bore his testimony with more conviction than we thought was in him. God is great, and this is His work. For as much as we do, we do very little. This change in Raul that is so surprising to us, is exactly the change that He had planned all along, by no accident or chance to the One who really taught Raul to have faith.

I love you all, as I always say, and always mean. I care about what is going on in your lives. Thanks for everything you do to teach me. I have little hope by myself, but I have all reason to hope in the great examples and teachers who surround my life and in the mercy of our Lord, who truly is mighty to save.

-Elder Sam Bostwick