Week Two!!

Dear All,

The week is picking up, we got a few appointments set and we are being led by the Spirit as to what we shall do for each investigator and for the area.

I met my first “basher” the other day...... WOW. I mean WOW. I always want to laugh inside when meeting them, ‘cause they claim to be followers of Christ, they claim to have studied the Holy Scriptures for long periods of time, but I think even though those are good, they've gotten caught up in the "thick of thin things" and don't have a knowledge of the Spirit. His words were contentious and sounded a bit like a hypocrite claiming, "Don't mean to thump with you guys but you're wasting your time being out here", he challenged us to read the Book of Hebrews. I read it and it helped me confirm what my purpose is here. I took the challenge because I knew the Lord would teach me something about these types of people. I said little to the young man because I would rather stand before my God saying, “I Listened to the man, to what he had to say and sought to know what he needed rather than feed his desire to stir up my heart to anger and contend with him”. I decided if I see that man again I shall thank him for helping me understand my purpose as a missionary a little better. :)

The members are great and loving of the Missionaries. I think of a talk from President Uchtdorf where he said, "When I was called as a General Authority, I was blessed to be tutored by many of the senior Brethren in the Church. One day I had the opportunity to drive President James E. Faust to a stake conference. During the hours we spent in the car, President Faust took the time to teach me some important principles about my assignment. He explained also how gracious the members of the Church are, especially to General Authorities. He said, “They will treat you very kindly. They will say nice things about you.” He laughed a little and then said, “Dieter, be thankful for this. But don’t you ever inhale it.””

I went on exchanges last Wednesday and we taught a Wiccan. I was surprised to find what that is though, they are commonly called witches. They amazingly have a lot of beliefs that are similar the church. Granted, they have a few differences, but I could sense she had a great deal of love for her fellow men and could tell she was charitable and compassionate. I felt the Saviors love for her in the lesson and we stressed it to her. I wish I had more to say, but my mind has drawn a blank. In time I hope I can be a more effective missionary.

2 Nephi 25:26
"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."

Love you all!
Elder Hedgecock