Dear Mary,
I'm so glad that
you're getting used to driving! I love the gospel analogy that you made with
that! It makes a lot of sense honestly!
[my analogy: As I sat in sacrament meeting yesterday listening to the testimonies, it
suddenly occurred to me that learning to drive and working toward a driver's
license could be an analogy for gaining a testimony and converting to the
gospel. At least, the way that I learned could be. It can be scary, but the
more you practice, the more comfortable you are behind the wheel, the more
you're ready and willing for other parts of driving that seem scary—like the
roundabouts or driving on the interstate. And if you have a teacher who is
calm, friendly, helpful, loving, one who celebrates every driving milestone
with you, it's so much better. As a person learns about the gospel, it might
seem scary, it might seem exciting, it might not be interesting, who knows how
they feel? But as they learn more, their hearts are softened, and they become
eager to learn more and more. It can bring about changes in their lives that
they might not be ready for. But will they keep going? It's up to them.]
I have also found a
gospel analogy this week! I told you of the mishap with my laundry didn't I?
Ink splotches all over my white clothes...I was not pleased haha but I asked
many people about how I can get the ink out of my clothes, cuz I don't wanna
walk around with black spots all over myself, that would be just weird! But
after asking several people that I trust, I found a few things to try, and it
was not super easy! I had to scrub with one certain solution, with another
solution I had to let it soak for a while, but finally after much effort, the
stains came out of the majority of the clothes. The whites that had some spots
remaining on them were still so much better than before! The shirts even became
brighter as if I had just bought them! and that experience made me think of the
scripture in Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together,
saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." and
also in Alma 5:21 " ...for there can no man be saved except
his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they
are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been
spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their
sins."
I was literally doing just that! except for in
the blood of Christ part, but if there was a cleaning product called the Blood
of Christ, it would be the best stain remover ever!! Because of Christ our
stains can be removed, but as I had to do with my clothes, we have to put in
our best effort and then let the Blood of Christ do the rest. It can't just be
us working on it, and it can't just be Christ doing everything. He did pay the
price for our sins and sadness, but we have to continuously work and improve
everyday. Otherwise it's just like not striving to take care of our white
laundry, we could just throw them in the washer with no other thought in taking
care of them then just "the washer will take care of it, I don't have to
do any thing else," but that won't amount to much will it? I've learned
that I have to scrub at certain spots of my white shirts in order to keep them
white. If I don't scrub them and take care of them with certain solutions, they
will yellow and not look nice. It's a lot like the Atonement of Christ, if we
don't take advantage of it and use it to get rid of our "stains", it
won't amount to much. That's one thing what I learned this week haha
We set baptismal dates
with 2 of our investigators!! :D They will both be baptized on the 18th this
month! We are so excited for them!
Also, we had been asked by the bishop to teach
a little boy in the ward in preparation for his baptism, to make sure that he
understands everything. His family had been less active until earlier this
year, so they just wanted us to help Santiago understand more about baptism,
the restoration, and the commandments, to make sure he knew what he was getting
into. He's now going to be baptized this Saturday by Elder Sedgwick,
and then he's asked that I confirm him in church the next day. It won't count
as an official "number" for us as a missionary baptism, but we taught
him, we're helping him to make this step, so it counts to us as helping another
soul coming unto Christ.
I haven't gotten those prepaid packages yet,
but I'm sure I'll get them today though!
Today, we're having a district activity!
ANNNND......We're going to LEGOLAND!!!! :D
There's nothing different regarding our areas,
we just meet with our missionaries for DM, report our numbers to a different
Elder, stuff like that.
I'll certainly let you know if there is anyone
who needs a postcard!
Thanks for writing!
Keep it up when you can, Love you!!
With much love,
Elder Patrick
Wockenfuss
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