My Change of Heart

Hey hey hey!!!
Well, haven't gotten a letter from Cameron this week. Bummer! But as you assumed, things are going really well! Investigators are progressing, and we are finding more and more people to teach. I think the real challenge now is helping the ward becoming more missionary-minded, and also strengthening them in the process. This Sunday was "Missionary Sunday," so all four of us Elders talked, and Elder Christensen and I sang hymn 136 (I Know That My Redeemer Lives). I spoke about the importance of missionary work and how to use the Spirit to help share the Gospel. I love writing talks because I always benefit greatly.

Jo (short for Jolene) is finally an investigator. She is a friend of a recently activated member, April. Jo had finally reached her breaking point last week and she came to us and basically said that she was ready to change her life. How happy I was! I immediately thought of the people in Alma 32 who’s afflictions had humbled them. It was a big step for Jolene to admit that she wanted to change. She even came to church on Sunday! She's still going to be tough to work with, but there is something there now that we can work with.

And on the note of April, I'm wondering if you have any ideas here, because I'm stumped. She has gone through a lot in her life. She has a lot of questions still about why things are the way they are, and has an issue that she can't be sealed to her daughter without a priesthood holder. I tried to testify as much as I could that the Gospel is the panacea for every spiritual ailment, especially the Atonement. She just feels tired of trying to live the commandments and what she believes, not seeing a ton of results. The problem is, she has changed a ton, and her friends see that and start asking her questions that are beyond her capability to explain clearly and that frustrates her too. Aahhh.... any advice/ scriptures?

Anyways, on top of all that, I went to talk to one lady and she turned away from me in disgust and told me to get away because I wasn't Christian... Well I was mad after that, I didn't smart off to her, but I just felt tired after that. Spiritually and physically tired, for the first time in a long time. For a moment, I just wanted to be done. But there was a lesson that I learned and that is that work is the cure-all for anything, as a missionary anyhoo. So we went out and worked, and it rained really good, and my raincoat wasn't water proof, so I got soaked, and I loved it.

Yes. I've seen a great change in myself, and that because of the great effort on my part to better myself and to do the work. The Lord is changing me into what I need to become, and I'm ever-so grateful for that. That alone seems to be the greatest miracle of my mission. My change of heart. I strive to read the Book of Mormon every day, (I'm in 3 Nephi right now, on my second time through all the way.) I memorize scriptures every day. Obedience to the rules has become less of an irritant and more of a quest as President Benson has said. I know that I must keep going because there is more and more work to be done here in Thunder Bay, and at the moment, I hope I don't leave. I love it!

So in short, work is the thing that brought about the change. Because the Lord can work with that. When all other distractions were removed, missionary work and my role in it was 100x clearer.

Well, I love you all, and I'm glad to hear everything is going well! Mom, unfortunately, you probably won't be able to beat my tan or my farmers tan, haha.

Love,
ELDER BROOKS