Week 27; 3 Exchanges

Photo Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/QuW5JQQJL6emqhb68 On Tuesday we had an exchange with the aps and it was so fun. I was with Elder Verdine and we had just an amazing day. I got to lead out north side and we had some lessons that just didn't go through the whole day. We met this guy named Chris he was born Catholic and went away from it a bit. We talked to him a while about the Book of Mormon and just beliefs in general and his beliefs almost completely aligned with ours and we gave him a book of Mormon and he said he would read it and maybe come to church. He was sick this Sunday and so he wasn't able to come but it was pretty cool experience. We met this other guy named Bob which was the same type of teaching but he was Lutheran and still is and so we just discussed for a while about Adam and Eve and our views on it and the book of mormon. He said that he would read it as well and possibly set up another time to meet with us. We then had to head back to the church at 6 because they had to head up all the way to the other side of the mission early and so it cut our exchange short. On Thursday we had another Exchange with Belle Vernon and I was with elder Atwood and he's such a funny guy. The day was kind of weird because we had to exchange at 9:00 and we had to keep going back because we forgot stuff and so we didn't end up getting back to the apartment until like 10:30 and so our schedule was just super pushed back. We had a lesson to go to and it was pretty good and then we had some service to help some recent converts move in. I also took up a lot of time and so we really just didn't have any study hours or any lunch and so I had to resort to just going and doing the work and we had some really good lessons. We taught this guy named Robert who we didn't plan on actually teaching because he was ghosting us. But it was a really powerful lesson, we just asked him a lot of questions and tried to get to know his background. He was in prison for 40 years due to some stuff he did in the past and now he's just a super pure-hearted dude and wanting to change and become closer to Christ. I read Moroni 6 almost all the way through with him and asked him some questions and he really wants to be baptized and really wants to make that commitment and change in his life. We then had a lesson with one of their friends that's getting baptized named Tyler and he was really cool and he's pretty ready for baptism and we went over temples with him. Even though it was a pretty unproductive day, but still had some amazing teaching opportunities. On Friday we had an exchange with the South Side elders and I was with elder Canfield in Southside. Not much happened that day besides we had a lesson that night with this guy named Rodrigo who was pretty awesome. He is struggling with staying on his feet financially. We just talked to him and really just said what you needed to hear. He started breaking down as we were testifying of Jesus Christ and the atonement and how all healing comes through him. We also talked about the Book of Mormon and how that can really help us know Jesus Christ and understand him on a deeper level. We also talked about baptism and he said that that's something that he needs to really think about before he makes that decision. It was a spiritual lesson though. This week we've been trying to shake up the box in the work and put all lines in the water. For 1 hour of the day each day we've been going downtown into major parks to go around and talk with people and be found some success from it. Just being in a place where we can talk to the most people has been pretty effective. It does suck though because of the fact that most of them don't really live in our area. We've been finding a lot of people but it's been pretty hard to find people that progress. For the past week or two we really haven't had any planned lessons go through. We don't know why this is happening I've been praying and trying to figure out why. None of the other areas are having that problem and so we're just wondering what we're doing wrong or how we can better improve ourselves to find people that progress. Alma 29:9 "I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy." Alma's words hit home. "I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it." He's not just talking about knowing the commandments; he's talking about embracing them, living them, and finding joy in the process. Elder David A. Bednar said, "The Lord's commandments are given to us to help us become like Him." That's what Alma's getting at, his glory isn't in his own strength or wisdom but in the Lord's commandments. He's an instrument, a willing tool in God's hands, focused on bringing souls to repentance. And that's what gives him joy. But it's not just about Alma; it's about us too. How often do we get caught up in our own plans and forget God's work? President Russell M. Nelson taught, "Repentance is the key to happiness." Alma's joy is tied to helping others find that happiness through Christ. When we're instruments in God's hands, our focus shifts from self to service. Elder Uchtdorf said, "God's work is all about people." Alma's example shows us that knowing and doing God's will leads to true joy. It's not about what we can get; it's about what we can give. So what does this mean for us? It means we can strive to be like Alma, willing, obedient, and focused on serving others. As Elder Bednar said, "Our greatest joy comes from serving God and our fellowmen." Let's take Alma's words to heart and find joy in following God's commandments. When we do, we'll be instruments in His hands, bringing souls to repentance and experiencing the joy that comes from serving Him. With Love, Elder Batman