Gratitude...

10/4/10...Hi,


How is everyone? I'm good. It's been a good week. Elder Frampton and I have been working hard and seeing miracles. Last Wednesday we rode our bikes out to teach a lesson to a member family, and on the way back we found a new investigator. His name is Hartley. We were riding and saw him walking down the street. When we stopped and talked to him he was really interested and we set up a return appointment. We've taught him a few times since then and it's going really well. There are some unique challenges with him. He can only read at about a 1st or 2nd grade level. So reading the Book of Mormon is going to be difficult for him. We have talked to him about reading and he has committed to reading a verse a night (which will take him about 15 minutes) then the next time we see him we'll reread the verse to check his understanding and expound on it. Last week when we did this it went well. We also were able to get him a copy of the Book of Mormon Reader. I think that will help him a lot too. He came and watched the morning session of General Conference on Saturday. He enjoyed it and we had a short lesson with him.
Speaking of which, I really enjoyed General Conference. It was incredible. I feel so spiritually enlightened and full of joy. I now realize how important and wonderful General Conference is. There is so much important information regarding our spiritual well being. On Saturday we went to the ward house and watched it in the Chapel. There were not very many people there for the morning session. Only the missionaries, six of us in total, Tommy, a recent convert, and Hartley. The afternoon session had a few more people, but they didn't stay the whole time. Priesthood Meeting was incredible! I really loved it. Elder Nelson's talk was just what we needed. He talked a lot about the importance of members sharing the gospel with people they know. I'm praying that the priesthood holders will take it to heart and be more mindful of missionary experiences.
One thing I've been working on while out here is being more grateful. It doesn't matter what struggles we may be going through if we open our eyes and look around we will see a multitude of ways the Lord is blessing us. So, in these emails I'm going to include five things I'm grateful for.
1.My amazing family and friends. I'm grateful for your love and support. For you kind words of encouragement, and prayers.
2. My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I will be eternally grateful and can't adequately express my love for Him.
3. My struggles, and trials. As strange as it may sound I am grateful for these things. I know that I can always come out of them a better person as long as I rely on the Lord. Also that no matter how bleak the situation may seem and how alone I may feel, I know my Heavenly Father is right there with me.
4. My opportunity to be here on a mission. I nearly missed this chance, and I would have forever regretted it. I'm so happy to be here.
5. The words of the living prophet and apostles. After watching General Conference I know what a great blessing it is to have a prophet leading and guiding us through revelation.


Well, that's all for this week. Sorry if any of this doesn't make sense.


Love Always, Zach