JAMBA LOA!
I have been trying to focus on developing Christ-like love this week. It is hard for me to understand how he loves all of us, even the pompous ones, but then it helps me to reflect on myself. How can he love me? I don't deserve his love, but he gives it freely. I really want to learn how to do that.
I love you guys so much. I have the coolest family ever. You all make me so proud. You're cool. You go to concerts all the time, and you stick together. I hope my family can be as cool as you guys. I know that Heavenly Father is proud of you too. You really are all foreordained for greatness. We are so lucky. We were born into the one true church of God on the earth. Faith comes like a second nature to us. We have always known who we are, where we are going, and what we need to do to be happy. Never forget that. I love you all so much.
This week was kind of crappy - not that it was super bad, but it was really stale. I need to find a way to get a pro investigator. No one has progressed past lesson one. I don't know what I am doing wrong but I am trying to find the issue and eliminate it. I really do love this work and these people.
Brother Bendixen told me about how dad tried to sell him his bike. That was super funny. I told him that it would be sold soon anyway. Michael will have it someday. I can feel it. OH!!!
I met a kid who is just like Michael!!! You have seen pictures of him already. His name is Jaden Sola. He is the boy at the baptism I had. He looks a little like Michael and he acts like him too! Yesterday he told me about his pig. He has been raising a pig to sell at a fair. He bought it for like $300 and sold it at $1,900!! HE IS ONLY 9!! He says he is going to use the money to buy a steer and raise it for 5 years and sell it at $15,000! He will have mission and school paid for before he is 16! This kid is driven. That is why he reminds me of Michael (the entrepreneur).
I love you all so much and can't wait to see how much you all grow and progress!
Love
Elder Jamison
25 August 2013
07 August 2013
Teaching Jim and Alex with Elder Newmyer
Hey everyone! This week has been pretty amazing. We have made so many strong connections with the ward members! The people here are so generous to us. They know who we are and what we are called to do. They both trust and love the missionaries and I am so thankful for that.
We had a pretty amazing lesson with Jim Carnehan. His wife is a member and I am at a loss for why he has not been baptized. He has read the Book Of Mormon many times. He has a profound understanding of both the Old and New Testaments. He is reading the Doctrine and Covenants. He keeps all the commandments, including the Word of Wisdom. He has a testimony that this church is Christ's church restored to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith, and he has even submitted family names to the temple and has had work done for them. When we ask him why he has not been baptized, his excuses are weak and half-hearted. I believe that there is an underlying issue that he has not yet come to terms with. I have been fasting and praying to know how to help him, but I haven't yet come to understand his reservations. I do have hope however. He has had all the lessons and has come to church consistently for many years. He will be baptized someday soon, I hope that it is within the next 6 weeks, but whether it is or isn't he knows what is right and will eventually choose to make both baptismal and temple covenants with his Father in Heaven.
We also had a great lesson with an 18 year old boy named Alex. He was a referral from the Kilpalinen family. We taught him about the restoration of this gospel. It seemed that it went well, until we called the Kilpalinens the next day. They said that our lesson had scared him away a bit. He hadn't expected us to give him a Book of Mormon, invite him to be baptized, and tell him so much about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. It really goes to show how amazing our calling is. I am 19 years old. I have spent little to no time studying doctrine, and am not a very eloquent speaker, but when the Spirit of the Lord speaks through me, I become something else. I become a missionary, a disciple of the Lord and Savior of the world. I can teach with power and authority and can truly invite others to come unto Christ.
This concept was shown yesterday very well. We talked to a man who had some very deep questions about God, the creation, covenants, and the gospel in general. In the beginning we gave fairly standard answers and comments. What really started it off was when we said that we are saved through Jesus Christ. The man asked, "What does that mean? Why did he have to die for our sins? Couldn't God just have redeemed us with all his power and might?" The question was deep and puzzling, but through the Holy Ghost, Elder Newmyer and I were able to testify that our Heavenly Father, in all his infinite wisdom and glory, does have the power to redeem us. The way that he provided for us to be saved was Jesus Christ. This was the only way that we could have our sins removed. His plan is perfect and marvelous. I am so proud to be a part of this great work.
My new companion is very different than either Elder May or Elder Bostrom. Guess when his birthday is? August. I get to go to the temple again this transfer! How lucky have I been? A baptism, two temple trips, Zone conference, two mission calls, amazing trainer, and I'm only 2 months in. My mission is going to be amazing. I am so excited to preach the gospel, and I become more and more anxious to go to Australia. I feel pulled there by something. I know that there is someone there who needs me. I know that "My Friend" is out there, waiting for me.
Stay strong my friends. I love you all so much.
Elder Jamison
We had a pretty amazing lesson with Jim Carnehan. His wife is a member and I am at a loss for why he has not been baptized. He has read the Book Of Mormon many times. He has a profound understanding of both the Old and New Testaments. He is reading the Doctrine and Covenants. He keeps all the commandments, including the Word of Wisdom. He has a testimony that this church is Christ's church restored to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith, and he has even submitted family names to the temple and has had work done for them. When we ask him why he has not been baptized, his excuses are weak and half-hearted. I believe that there is an underlying issue that he has not yet come to terms with. I have been fasting and praying to know how to help him, but I haven't yet come to understand his reservations. I do have hope however. He has had all the lessons and has come to church consistently for many years. He will be baptized someday soon, I hope that it is within the next 6 weeks, but whether it is or isn't he knows what is right and will eventually choose to make both baptismal and temple covenants with his Father in Heaven.
We also had a great lesson with an 18 year old boy named Alex. He was a referral from the Kilpalinen family. We taught him about the restoration of this gospel. It seemed that it went well, until we called the Kilpalinens the next day. They said that our lesson had scared him away a bit. He hadn't expected us to give him a Book of Mormon, invite him to be baptized, and tell him so much about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. It really goes to show how amazing our calling is. I am 19 years old. I have spent little to no time studying doctrine, and am not a very eloquent speaker, but when the Spirit of the Lord speaks through me, I become something else. I become a missionary, a disciple of the Lord and Savior of the world. I can teach with power and authority and can truly invite others to come unto Christ.
This concept was shown yesterday very well. We talked to a man who had some very deep questions about God, the creation, covenants, and the gospel in general. In the beginning we gave fairly standard answers and comments. What really started it off was when we said that we are saved through Jesus Christ. The man asked, "What does that mean? Why did he have to die for our sins? Couldn't God just have redeemed us with all his power and might?" The question was deep and puzzling, but through the Holy Ghost, Elder Newmyer and I were able to testify that our Heavenly Father, in all his infinite wisdom and glory, does have the power to redeem us. The way that he provided for us to be saved was Jesus Christ. This was the only way that we could have our sins removed. His plan is perfect and marvelous. I am so proud to be a part of this great work.
My new companion is very different than either Elder May or Elder Bostrom. Guess when his birthday is? August. I get to go to the temple again this transfer! How lucky have I been? A baptism, two temple trips, Zone conference, two mission calls, amazing trainer, and I'm only 2 months in. My mission is going to be amazing. I am so excited to preach the gospel, and I become more and more anxious to go to Australia. I feel pulled there by something. I know that there is someone there who needs me. I know that "My Friend" is out there, waiting for me.
Stay strong my friends. I love you all so much.
Elder Jamison
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