Week 93--Many to teach and sticking to commitments

Hi, everybody!

Becky is excited for baptism, she also heard in Relief Society about the temple and is really excited to go there, we're excited for her too What a blessing and a journey!

Lila had to have surgery so we weren't able to meet with her. In order to have an effective routine for her to quit smoking, we're going to have to push back the date as opposed to increasing the fire and keeping the date, because that could add to her stress. So, we'll find out today what date will work best. Continue to pray for her :)

Jeremy and Misty fasted, and his kids have been fasting in ways other than from food, so one of them fasted from social media, for example. We fasted with them and we were tempted to eat that day for sure. A really good lunch for interviews with the mission president. But, we took leftovers instead. :P

We dropped in on Matt and Ashley a couple times this week, not for a formal lesson, but to follow-up, and also to help them get the Book of Mormon study guide on their phones, because Ashley had been wanting that. 

Mary came to our Christmas Brunch on the 9th. It was good according to everyone. I didn't know, because I actually had either a virus or food poisoning so my body was protesting in a multitude of ways. I was able to eat 4 little bites of a biscuit and some water. I asked for a blessing though and got better that afternoon and got to meet with a family that night that hasn't come to church in a while and had a really good visit with them.

There's a guy by the name of TJ, and we see him occasionally, only because he doesn't really know what his schedule is since he's new to his job. But, we had a brief restoration lesson with him and he agreed with all the principles we taught, very sharp guy. The spirit was certainly there, though his girlfriend wasn't very interested.

We started teaching another family of 6. we're going to invite them to baptism this week. They're all pretty neat. It's two sisters, Diane and Eleshia and the kids of both live there. We taught the restoration on Thursday and they enjoyed it. The two sisters also each have a boyfriend. They're really good guys too and they asked for a Book of Mormon each.

There is a guy in the ward here, super cool, hasn't been to church to much in a while due to work, and we had a really good visit with him. He asked us about the Godhead, and whether or not they were three beings in one physically or separate and one in purpose, and what supports what we believe. At first I was anxious because I thought he was starting to doubt himself, but he asked because he had someone at work who was asking those questions and he wanted to know how to answer. He was being a missionary!!!!!!!!!!!!! And he said he's going to have us over for barbecue some time.

Like I said we had a pretty neat ward party, but I wasn't  very concentrated on it because of a little illness. My companions and I did, however, play guitar and sing 'Oh Come All Ye Faithful' and got a lot of compliments on it. We did not rehearse it very well before, but At least we made it sound somewhat decent.

I want you all to know that I know that this gospel has the true doctrine of Christ and that it is only in and through the Holy Messiah, who is Jesus Christ, that mankind may be saved, relying wholly upon His merits. I also know that in order to connect ourselves with that saving power, we must align ourselves with the will of our Father in Heaven. It might be scary at times to change things that are outside of our comfort zone, but I know it brings lasting joy and peace and relief.  No unclean thing can enter into the presence of God, neither would they want to, unless they are cleansed through the atonement of Christ and are aligned with His will in all things.

Love to you all

Elder Rodgers