Sent: Monday, August 25, 2014 9:02 AM

This week went pretty well but there really wasn't anything super interesting that happened. It was just a lot of hard work. We are teaching a guy here is is super ready for baptism. We just need to help him to realize that he is ready. We see him about every 2-3 days and we have super great lessons with him. So it's just a matter of time.

 

We've been meeting a lot of awesome members of our ward lately. Our first week in Sacrament meeting in this ward was a pretty cold welcome but we've been visiting lots of members and sharing spiritual thoughts with them and helping them to do missionary work. Now we finally have members actually coming to us to say "Hi" and ask us how we are doing. And now that we have members who are actually happy to have us here, missionary work is finally progressing in the area a little bit. It's amazing how much your relationship with the members of the ward helps the work to progress in an area. I'd go as far as to say that it's the most important factor in missionary work because without the support of the members it is really almost impossible to find people to teach (especially in this area).

 

I've started to find that heat and humidity don't really bother me nearly as much as I thought they would. We went tracting the other day for about 3 hours. I knew it was pretty hot and I was sweating real good but I didn't feel run down or anything. I guessed it was about 80 degrees with a bit of humidity but then I finally asked someone and it was about 94 degrees + humidity which made it feel about 105 degrees. I agree that it's not to comfortable here but it's really not as horrible as everybody says. I guess the trick is just stay focused and forget about the heat and then you don't even really notice it.

 

A really cool scripture that a investigator showed to us this week. 2 Timothy 2:19 "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." There are a few points that I really like from this scripture. 

 

1) The "foundation of God standeth sure." I think about all the times that we hear that we are to build our testimonies based upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. And it's true, if we build our testimonies upon the rock of Christ, who standeth sure, then the Devil will never have power to overcome us with temptations... "Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail." -D&C 6:34

2) "The Lord knoweth them that are his." God knows and loves each one of us dearly. I can't imagine an all-powerful God who does not know each and every one of his children, and their trials, and their joys, etc... Not only that, but I can't imagine an all-powerful all-loving God who would not help and support his children in their times of trial and comfort them and bless them. But he does, and he does love us, and he promises that we may find peace in Him... "And he gathereth his children from the four quarters of the earth; and he numbereth his sheep, and they know him; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd; and he shall feed his sheep, and in him they shall find pasture." -1 Nephi 22:25

3) "Let every man the nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." Each member of the church has literally taken upon them the name of Jesus Christ when they were baptized. We promised that we would be examples of him in all that we do, that we would remember him at all times and in all places, and that we would obey his commandments. If we are truly disciples of Christ and truly want to follow him then we need to make sure that we are making an effort to become better and better every day and to "depart from iniquity". The Lord is very clear when he tells us that if we continue in iniquity throughout our lives that, "And then will I profess unto them: I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity." -Matthew 7:23

 

I've noticed while I've been on my mission that it is so important to really "study" the scriptures rather than just "read" them. There is so much more to be gleaned than what we just take at face value. The scriptures are just loaded with things that can help us in every phase of life. All we have to do is truly search them and apply them to our lives. Without real life application they don't really do much for us. It's like learning 100 recipes and never cooking a single one of them. Then how do they help us at all? They don't. So why do we read the scriptures and never use them in our lives? We don't.

 

Well that's about it for the week. I hope all is going well at home. Have a fantastic week. I Love You All!

 

    Love

         -Elder Nyholm