Week 57 - Clinton, Oklahoma - August 5, 2013

Mi querida familia, Another great week full of miracles. The biggest news for this week has to do with the Temple Conferance we had on Wednesday with President Walkenhorst. First off, the temple was amazing. It's always very insightful to remember the sacred convenants that we've made in the House of the Lord. I think each time I go, a different part always sticks out to me and I suddenly understand the impact it has on my life. That happened several times on Wednesday. President Walkenhorst issued a new vision for the month of August...you ready? brace yourselves...100 baptisms for the whole mission for the month of August!! This is a huge stretch for us, last month we had 28 and it's been hovering around that number for the whole year. And he's not just saying this number to set a goal...he truly believes that there are 100 people ready to be baptized this month. We are really excited! This is going to be a good month. It means we have to work twice as hard as last transfer. Obviously if we don't change anything, then we won't reach a higher goal. He focused a lot on receiving revelation. He talked about three ways revelation comes: 1) It comes very gradually with trial and error and work on our part, 2)all at once when we aren't looking for it, or 3) all at once when you specifically ask for it. He stressed that the first way was more common. Ok a few experiences for this week: Armando received the Preisthood, at first I thought it was a little rushed to give it to him so quickly...but now that I think of it, this is what he needs. The priesthood gives him that opportunity to participate in the duties of the priesthood and thus giving him more ways to increase his faith and testimony. We met a solid new investigator! WE met her a few weeks back and I may have mentioned her last week. But Carolina is awesome! We had a lesson with her and Brother Poteet this Wednesday and we just taught her about faith from the Book of Mormon. The spirit was very strong and she mentioned how when we came over she felt at peace and that her problems didn't seem that stressful anymore. Brother Poteet also connected with her because they both were active in Amway (a multi-level marketing company or something like that). They established a good friendship and after the lesson, you could start to see his excitement for missionary work grow as well. I'd always thought that missionary work was strictly between investigators and missionaries, but now I'm seeing that it effects all members of the church. We had a lesson with Cindy this week in which we invited some members who had just moved in. They were such a great source of testimony. The mom and daughter who came did a great job. And in this case I think they benefited most from the experience. You could see the spirit working with them:) A little sad news... our golden investigator Jesus from a couple weeks ago dropped us over a text message. Ever since we explained that becoming baptized involved a little bit of commitment, he started declining. It makes me sad and frustrated because he told us himself that our message made sense and we know he felt the spirit. I wanted to call or text him back and try and save him from dropping us, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that he had used his agency to not accept the message...and there's nothing more you can do in those situations. We'll try back in a few weeks though. I can't imagine we found him for no reason at all. Also our recent convert Sister Lonebear from a few months back is going through some struggles as well. She hasn't been coming to church... and literally every single week, she's had someone in her family go to the hospital. Satan is working so hard on her and it's difficult to watch. We don't want to lose her to inactivity. It's crazy how much you start caring about these people you interact with. I can feel my capacity to love expanding and I've never been happier. I'm running out of time but have a great week. Pray for all the names I've mentioned here in the email. They are so close to finding the truth, they just need to follow the small whisperings of the Holy Ghost and endure to the end. Con Amor, Elder Powley