GenCon! Week 4

I'm already heading onto the 5th week of this transfer, its crazy how fast everything is flying by. I'm so excited for the road ahead. We had a member meal with sister phillips, and she went above and beyond to make it special. She made these amazing homemade pepperoni rolls with cheese and pepperoni inside, they were absolutely delicious! I mean, I've had my fair share of pepperoni rolls, but hers were something else. Everyone raved about them, and they were gone in no time. What made it even more special was when she had us sign her book and take a photo to commemorate the occasion. I wish I had a copy of that photo! To top it all off, she sent us home with a ziplock bag full of those delicious pepperoni rolls. I'm not exaggerating when I say they were devoured within two days. Sister Phillips truly has a gift for making people feel loved and appreciated. Her kindness and generosity are an inspiration to all of us here in Johnstown, PA. We're so grateful for her presence in our lives. I recently went on an exchange to Altoona with Elder Wilkinson, while Elder Kress stayed back in Johnstown. My time with Elder Wilkinson was incredible. He's an amazing teacher and mentor. We dove into some really important scriptures, and he taught me about the importance of scripture study. Specifically, we discussed John 10:16 and 3 Nephi 15:21, which have been a huge help to me. I've already used those verses in multiple lessons, and they've been a blessing. However, I have to admit that when I returned to Johnstown, I felt a bit discouraged. It seemed like the mission field was blessing Elder Kress and Elder Eldredge with an outpouring of new people. They got five new contacts in one day! Meanwhile, we've been averaging only one or two new people per week. I couldn't help but wonder if it was something I was doing wrong. But Elder Kress reassured me that it's just the nature of missionary work. Some days are good, and some days are bad. He reminded me that his successful day just happened to coincide with my absence, and it had nothing to do with me personally. His words were exactly what I needed to hear, and I'm grateful for his support and leadership. I'm learning to trust in the Lord's plan and not get too caught up in the ups and downs of daily life as a missionary. It's not always easy, but I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve and for the amazing people I've met along the way. I wanted to update you on the progress of the kids we're working with. We've had to make the difficult decision to take Derrick and Greyson off the baptism schedule for this week. While they're making progress in some areas, they're not quite ready to take that next step. Honestly, they need to develop a stronger desire to attend church and participate in fellowship with the members. It's crucial that they understand the significance of baptism and what it means to them personally. We're continuing to work with them and provide support and guidance as they prepare for this important step. We're praying that they'll feel the Spirit and be ready soon. It's a challenging but rewarding process, and we're grateful for the opportunity to be a part of their journey. We're staying positive and trusting in the Lord's timing. We're confident that when the time is right, they'll be ready to make this important commitment. I've been reflecting on Mark 3, where Jesus teaches about the power of resisting the adversary. In verses 22-30, the scribes question Jesus' authority, and He responds by asking, "How can Satan cast out Satan?" He also shares the parable of the strong man, which I find particularly meaningful. I love how this scripture illustrates the importance of relying on our Savior, Jesus Christ, to overcome challenges. We all face temptations and struggles, and it's clear that we can't do it alone. We need the helping hand of our Redeemer to resist the adversary's influence and find strength in His power. It's also interesting to note that Jesus faced criticism and skepticism from the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes during His ministry. Unfortunately, we can expect to encounter similar attitudes and criticisms in our own lives. However, we can learn from Jesus' example and focus on leaning on the Rock that is our Redeemer, rather than trying to face challenges on our own. Oh General Conference, I must say it was an incredible experience. For the first time, I watched every session, and it was truly uplifting. Although I have to admit I was sleepy at times, every talk resonated with me. One of the talks that stood out to me was by Kevin G. Brown. He spoke about the power of testimony and how it's an eternal gift that can never be weakened over small and simple things. He used the parable of the talents to illustrate how our testimonies are meant to be multiplied, not buried. It really hit home for me. As President Nelson said, we need to nurture our testimonies because they're so important. Our testimonies are anchors in difficult times, and they're a joy to see replicated in our children and those we serve. I love how Elder Brown emphasized that our testimonies are not temporary gifts, but eternal ones. It's a reminder that we need to lay hold of this precious gift and cherish it. I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve as a missionary here in Johnstown, PA, and I'm reminded that there's no better way to use my agency than to defend and share my testimony. Love, Elder Batman