Wait upon the Lord

This week was a good week here in the wealthy land of Almaden. Things have really started to pick up here in the ward. There is starting to be a bigger focus on doing missionary work. It’s starting to be really a strong missionary ward. By the time I leave I want this area to be a place where Missionary work is second nature. I am really trying to put my whole heart into this ward. We did get quite a few referrals and we saw a lot of miracles happen. 

Spiritual: We had received a list from the Relief Society President of who she didn't know and who we could possibly contact. There was the name of a family that they said had lived in the area for several years. Both were on the police force and were the recipients of some hard scheduling. It was a miracle when we knocked on the door and they both were home and let us in. They let us in and we sat and talked to them for a good half hour. In that time they told us how they saw how good the church was for their family and how important it was for them to get their family involved. It was honestly nothing that we said to them that made any difference whatsoever. It was amazing. At the end of the visit they both committed to come to church this Sunday. Wow. I have really learned what being prepared by the spirit implies. Preparation takes time and patience. It’s not something that happens overnight. They told us how we were the 15th set of missionaries to come to their door and invite them to come to church. Only now were they willing to let us in and actually consider coming to church. There was nothing special about us other than the fact that we were the missionaries serving at the right time and being in the right place. It’s amazing. My message today is centered on those that are trying to share the gospel with a friend or maybe have that one home teaching family that they are working with that will not open their door. My message today is to not give up. When we Wait Upon the Lord we exercise our faith and be patient with them, we are in a better place to show pure Christlike Love to the people we are serving. It’s my personal testimony that Heavenly Father looks at the actions we do in this life and on the Desire of our hearts. He knows when we are doing all we can to help others. He will not punish us or diminish us in any way for other people’s choices to accept or reject the gospel. Keep praying and keep having faith because you just don’t know what will come. 

Funny: I want to give you a sense of what the Almaden Ward is like. We were in Gospel Principals yesterday and there a visitor with the last name of Murray. I said that I was from Murray and he laughed then the Gospel Principals teacher said that he had played golf with Bill Murray. No big deal. Those types of comments happen all the time. Almaden. 

Where I am at: Jackie is getting baptized next week!!! She is the tax lady he referenced a couple of weeks ago. As well as the Daddo family from the Blossom Valley ward!!! I am so excited! This week there are going to be quite a few people who will enter the waters of baptism and I am so excited! Ah! This ward is great. I am really liking it. I can tell that this will be really a good ward to serve in. I am so content with life. I love the Christmas Spirit and I am feeling so humbled to be in the service of Him. I love this season and I love this work. I love you all! 

Steve Young came to their MLC this week. Ammon said it was really fun and that his talk was cool. Ammon is the second elder in from the right with the blue tie. (Although Ammon did wish he had a little more sports trivia in his head. He can blame his parents for that.)