out with the old in with the new

Howdy,

This past week was pretty fun, the mission has been contacting like crazy with some sweet results. Indirectly from our efforts, the Lord blessed us with an awesome new investigator named Tyler. He has had a lot of contact with friends in the church and even his Spanish teacher has helped out. Cant go wrong with an investigator that already has a big support group. We taught the first lesson to him on Thursday night and it went really well. He is 16 so the members actually set up the lesson at his place so his parents wouldn't be too shocked when he decided to get baptized. At the very beginning of the lesson, he asked for his Book of Mormon then said "man, I need more of these so I can turn others into Mormons." When we got to the first vision, I was super excited to teach it. Lately I have been working on quoting it with more power and more conviction. Needless to say a few seconds after explaining the significance of the first vision he, without reluctance, accepted a baptismal commitment.

The first vision is something that lately has become more important and more significant in my life. When you consider all of the fruits that have come from it, it is almost like all of our beliefs summed up. It is an extremely bold claim (two personages, not one) and brings many comfort when they know of its truth. In most of our 'dinner lessons' I quote the first vision and ask them "Why is it important in your life?" and the answers have strengthened my testimony. Think how children feel the spirit when a parent reassures them that 'yes, they really did appear to him.' Man, this Church desperately needs more testimony in the home.

Contacting this week was an experience. As I look back now I see that I tried to avoid tracting. It seems like when you trust that the Lord is the greatest micro manager ever, that the person in the gas stall next to you (or the furthest one away), the cashier at the checkout, the one who asks "hey do you work here?" just may be the one that is totally prepared to talk to you! It still gives me some butterflies but there really is no reason to be scared. I think there may be a reason that I wasn't foreordained to speak massonically like Isiah, I would probably start writing "good heavens people, just open your mouth. and NO is better then not trying at all."

The lesson with the Bennetts this week was awesome, my voice started to get shaky when the Spirit and feelings in the room were more personal and powerful. But its one of those lessons that is very special to me as a missionary that I cant type up! I want to share it with everyone but my heart, their heart, must be prepared to receive such a sweet lesson (I learned it from another missionary in Hemphill.) Twice that day I used that message and both times it brought tears, comfort and the Spirit. Yes, straight from the Book of Mormon.

This week I got a way sweet letter from Patriarch Edwards and it had some sweet, comforting messages in it. I will share only one. He wrote, "You will only be serving those who are dissatisfied spiritually." It has been something that I have been pondering over frequently. Is the reason we don't get into many well established Christian doors because they are satisfied with their beliefs? Can we truly be satisfied spiritually without the restored Gospel? Can someone accept parts of truth and be satisfied? Hmmm... (Get back to work Elder Metcalf was my response, find 'em!)

On Saturday we gave a church tour to Tyler and it went well. Elder Taylor led the way in a "Lance Starling" like tour guide voice. Hemphill used our building for a baptism with the lady I gave my first interview too. It was a good motivator.

They called a new ward mission leader with a man named... Brother Burr (I've already asked him). He's been in the ward for about a month and I had a feeling he would be called. With Bro Hughes no longer at the head of this thing here in Nac One, I am beginning to wonder with transfer calls this week if its out with the old, in with the new.

Anyway, open your mouths.

Love Elder Metcalf