1. Elder and Sister Bird's wonderful Thanksgiving meal for the
missionaries. (Elder and Sister Bird are
a senior couple who work in the Church Employment Center at the Madison Stake
Center).
Hello!
So Elder
Moeller is now enjoying the comforts of home, and my new companion is Elder
Hansen. He has been out one transfer less then I have (so 4.5 months) so that
makes me the senior companion at 6 months. It's been really fun to get to know
Elder Hansen. He is from Nyssa, Oregon which is basically an hour west of Boise,
Idaho. He's a singer, too, so we may play some musical numbers in the near
future.
Before
Elder Moeller returned home he shared some parting advice to the entire
mission. It was sad to see all the
departing missionaries go.
2. The departing missionaries. Elder Moeller is the tall Elder on the far
left next to Sister Andersen.
3. Elder Moeller's parting advice
4. Elder Golightly (Elder Leavitt’s other trainee) and me
5. Elder Alarcon's parting advice
Pretty
much out of the starting gate, Elder Hansen and I tore it up in Hendersonville.
By the end of the week we had seen and taught 21 people which is a new record
for the area in about 4 months. We were so happy
because all we need is another week like this and then we can become Facebook missionaries.
That will not only improve the area, but will also allow us to teach our
non-member (and in some cases) member friends.
So on
Wednesday I learned the difference between being bold and being overbearing.
There is certainly a fine line, but I think I may have grasped it for the most
part. We have an investigator who has his own theories of the scriptures. He
gets into books such as the Book of Judas and the Book of Thomas (both of which
are not in our scriptural canon) and LOVES the book of Daniel. I felt so much
love for this guy and I knew that getting carried away and sidetracked would
not lead him to the salvation of the gospel of Jesus Christ….so I was bold and
up front with him. The spirit was very strong. I laid out everything he needed
to do to truly be converted. He must've felt something cause he bought us lunch
a few days later.
On
Thursday we were tracting, and came across these teenagers had set up this tight
rope course. It was very complex and legit so Elder Hansen gave it a go. He tried
the one that was about two stories up and had he not been wearing a harness, he
would've died. The teenagers were having a blast saying, "The Lord saved
you man!" "JW's on the top line!" And more. We ended up teaching
one of them and he actually was interested so that's awesome. By the end of the week we were exhausted but
it's all worth it.
6. My new companion Elder Hansen taking literal leaps of
faith walking a tightrope!
7. Here are my notes on the Book of Revelation
Finally, I
would like to share with you one of my new favorite scriptures that is also a
favorite of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. (He is one of the apostles in our church). It's from Hebrews 10:35-39.
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence,
which hath great recompence of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that,
after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while, and he that
shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but
if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back
unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
I love
these scriptures because they teach me the importance of maintaining my personal faith and confidence
in the Lord especially when a trial or some doubting person wants me to adjust what I
believe. It is challenging for all of us to maintain a testimony and a desire
when there are so many things that fight against us.
I'm very grateful for this
gospel and I'm also very grateful for people like you all who read this
stuff and write to me.
Thank you
very much for reading my email and have a happy thanksgiving.
Elder Peery
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