Dear family,
I don't know why, but
the people here love coming to church. Week after week, I see new faces in
church. What a miracle! Sister “P” keeps on inviting people to sacrament
meeting. This past week she invited a lady she just met at Fred Meyer named “T”,
a good friend of hers named “T”, and a 21 year old Russian kid named “K” that
was going around on a bike selling books. “T” came for sacrament meeting. “K”
came at the very end, but said that he would try to make it out next week.
Sister “P” probably has everyone in the city of Kent saved as a contact in her
phone because she always gets their phone number. She told us she'll give “T” a
call in a couple of days and see what happened.
Also, a lady named “S”
just showed up to church yesterday. She said that she lived right behind the
church building and she wanted to check it out. She even came early and stayed
for the full three hours. Sadly, she lives in the Clark Lake ward boundaries,
but she is in good hands with the sister missionaries from that ward.
This is the first ward
I've served in where people just show up for church. It's incredible. Even
though we have these great miracles, it's still a struggle to find new
investigators. This new transfer, I've decided to speak about the doctrine of
Christ in every teaching opportunity I get. It will help me better focus on my
missionary purpose- to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them
receive the restored gospel, through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement,
repentance, baptism, and enduring to the end. That's really the only thing that
matters. Missionary work isn't about getting people to join the Church. It's
about helping people experience true conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
That can only come as they exercise faith in Christ, repent of all their sins,
get baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then they must continue
on that same path for the rest of their lives. We couldn't receive the
blessings of the restored gospel without taking these steps. But because we
did, we have an obligation to help others who haven't yet made these
steps.
I know that the gospel
of Jesus Christ has been restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that
the Lord is preparing the hearts of people in Kent, WA to receive the gospel
message. I know that as you implement the first principles and ordinances of
the gospel in your own lives, you will have the constant companionship of the
Holy Ghost, and you will be more like our Father in Heaven.
I care for all of you.
I can't wait to hear from you next week.
Love,
Elder Herbert