so this week was a crazy one for us here in the biggest little city! mostly for me. First of all, I'm serving in the same exact area that i started my mission in. I'm in the same house (1765 Carlin St Reno NV 89503 ..Write me friends) , i'm in the same ward, I'm sleeping in the same bed for crying out loud! the only difference this go around is my companion and my new assignment. So my trainer (who had a year left in his mission when i was sent here) went home last week. I can't believe it! the time just goes and goes. If you don't stay focused as a missionary the time just slips through your fingers .I've experienced it! so there's a lot to talk about this week, let's get to it! no questions jus me and the keyboard... lame haha
So! first thing is first. hello!!!? same area!? it is so crazy. it truly feels like i've been here my whole mission, which is why i think this week went by super slow. But! the work in this area has tripled since i was here last. the mission in general has just "sharpened the axe" if you will. Everything is more efficient and more polished. Last year at this time we found 1 new investigator in the whole transfer. We taught 6 lessons a week on average. this week we taught 21 lessons and found 4 new investigators. You don't realize progress made until you look at where you came from compared to where you are now. I'm not a numbers guy.. i actually don't like referring to people (lessons, baptisms etc.) as numbers. But if the motive for being a missionary is to share the joy and love the gospel gives us than using numbers to measure can be a useful resource( for lack of a better term) We go out by campus and we talk to everybody that we cross on the street. In a singles ward we've got 2 real ways to find people. Referalls from members (usually recent converts are the most enthused) and talking with everybody. Our ward isn't focused on missionary work at all so we just have to do everything we can to invite people to listen. It's super hard work but it's also very rewarding when we come in contact with people that right away we recognize the impact the gospel will have on them. Scattered Israel! So the 4 new people last week all came from street contacting or talking with everyone. my new companion is super good at it, which i'm grateful for because it's not easy and with his help i have and will continue to learn a lot more. So that's the area. Reno YSA 2nd ward. So fun! i've seen only a handful of people i knew from last year.. but it has been warm welcomes from those people. It's different enough to not feel too repetitive, and the work is on the up and up. i'm grateful the Lord has trusted me to serve in this area again and i'm going to do anything i can to help the peeps here. sleep will come easy this transfer!
Movin on ! well this is already kinda long. let's talk about Gen con! i don't know if it's just because i'm a missionary and i pay closer attention.. but i feel like general conference has become more powerful with every session! this conference had a huge impact on me and there were countless times when i felt like the Lord was reaching out to me individually, attempting to soften my heart and help me to become more like the Savior. I believe that is the case for everybody who exercises faith and listens! I'll just elaborate on two of the address' that stuck out to me, as i'm sure they are ones that stuck out to the rest of y'all as well! first one- The talk on gratitude by Elder Uchtdorf. Unreal!!! i loved every minute of it. excuse me for slaughtering the quote.. " we should be grateful, not for our trials.. but IN our trials." what does that even mean!? it really opened my eyes once again to what it means to be grateful. it helped me to understand the principle of gratitude looking beyond the present time. Being grateful in your trails as he talked about, refers to looking forward with an eye of faith to what the Lord has in store for us after the storm calms. not just being stoked that a loved one just passed away. not being grateful that you got laid off from your job.. but keeping in mind the Lord's blessings. Paying attention to what he has done for us in our lives. not only the blessings that we have, but the blessings that we will receive. I've shared my testimony on the principle of being grateful for trials because they promote an opportunity to grow and learn- and i think this is an important concept to grasp. The Savior experienced our pains and sorrows as part of the Atonement. Trials help us to rely on him and to develop a stronger relationship with Him. truly a blessing for us! unfortunately it takes humbling experiences for us to turn to God sometimes. Trials are a blessing to us because they force us ( sort of ) to rely on God, in turn strengthening and deepening our knowledge that he is there and he loves us. If this concept is understood than we could look at trials as a means by which God helps us build a desire to Communicate with him. such a good talk! there's so much more too it and i'm looking forward to studying it when we get the ensign next month. Also, (sorry this is so long!! ) the talk by President Monson on Love. My testimony is that the gospel is a gospel and a message of Love. The only reason we have the gospel and are encouraged to live the principles is because God loves us and wants us to be happy in this life and in the life to come. I know that He loves us and is mindful of us. Such a blessing!
gosh sorry guys. didn't meant to get all intense.. but i loved conference and those address' have been on my mind.
So, i'm in the same area, the work is super exciting, and conference was awesome. I think that's all i've got this week. write me soon and let me know how yall are doing! the address is above and my email is joseph.sykes@myldsmail.net Love you all and i hope you guys have a super good week! until next time.
