Once again another week in paradise, what more can I say!? That's it for this week..
With Love,
Elder Pond
Haha just kiddin!! I wouldn't do that to ya'll! But it truly was another inspirational week. I haven't received mail for FOR-EV-ER though!! So ya'll know who you are that I'm waitin for, and I'll be sendin off a bunch of letters today so be expectin one!! But it has been SOO hot and humid down here in Southern Florida, it is gettin to be summer and I am not looking foreword to it!! But that is wayy sick that the waitress' mom lives in West Palm Beach that's like a half hour away from Wellington. Oh one of the most exciting things that happened this week, that isn't gospel related, was we actually got to play in a softball game it took me back to the good old days in Dub Jay! We had a ward barbeque and softball game and it was an amazing activity. We had a bunch of recent converts and investigators come and be able to mingle with other ward members and make friends. It was a huge success and I had a blast pullin out a glove and bat and goin to work! Oh mom I would love for you to send me two old gloves that we have laying around and a couple of baseballs that would be amazing!
On a more spiritual note we had some great, uplifting experiences this week as well! First of all, Elder Shaffer and I actually had a wedding that went threw! It was one of the greatest experiences of my entire life! The Oaks gave us a referral who are absolutely amazing and their names are Vivian, German, and their daughter Alexandra! The Savior and His teaching have brought so much peace and happiness in their lives. One time Vivian was not feeling well because the cancer that she had about five years ago was slowly coming back. We gave her a preisthood blessing for the sick and afflicted and she told us after that day absolutely everything was perfect with her body and health. It was a modern day miracle!! They got married yesterday and are getting baptized on Sunday! Vivian has overcame soo much in her life and they all said that the gospel filled a VOID that was always missing and now is filled! We all felt the Spirit soo strongly at the wedding and after they are baptized they will be preparing to enter the temple and be sealed for time and all eternity in a year. Vivian loves the San Diego temple and wants to be sealed there so we could not be more excited for them! I'll send you guys pictures from the wedding cause we took a whole bunch! But Vivian and German have taught me soo much as we have got to know them very well. That the gospel can help absolutely anyone no matter what the circumstances are. The gospel helps fill that void that everyone outside of the Church is missing in their lives. And the priesthood truly is the POWER given from GOD to MAN! It works and can perform any miracle if true and sincere faith is involved on both ends of the blessing.
Another amazing experience happened while Elder Shaffer and I were harvesting one day. Our district leader challenged us to harvest for at least an hour a day and we tried our best to find time to do so and miracles came from it for sure! We set out on a harvest at normally a bad time which was around noon when everyone is either at work or school. But we had the faith that if we were obedient MIRACLES would come and they most surely did. I felt the Spirit prompt us to harvest another street that we weren't planning on going to so of course we listened! The first five doors we knocked no one answered and we kept telling ourselves to keep the faith and miracles would happen. Then someone answered!! But he said no.. But of course we still had the faith. The next door we answered this lady answered and immediately opened up to us and started telling us that her life was falling apart. We testified to her that Jesus Christ can help her put her life back together no matter what as she follows the example of Jesus Christ! We left a blessing with her that was super powerful, invited her to be baptized and she accepted! The Lord led us to someone who was prepared to accept the gospel as we listened to the promptings of the Spirit! We pulled out a scripture from the Book of Mormon testified of its truthfullness and now she is excited and well on her way to entering the waters of baptism! This all happened because we listened to the Spirit, had faith, were obedient, and the Lord provided a MIRACLE right before our eyes! It was amazing!!
But other than that the work is just moving right along here in the Wellington Ward. I am absolutely loving mission life and would not rather be anywhere in the world right now! This IS the LORDS WORK!! We are all His servants and His hands. So my challenge to ya'll back home is to be a misssionary. Just because you don't have a nametag and aren't set apart doesn't mean you aren't still a servant of the Lord. I want to here about your missionary experiences back home and I promise you that with faith, prayer, and hard work ANYTHING including MIRACLES are POSSIBLE! Pray for people to share the gospel with, be an example everywhere you go, and involve the missionaries back home in everything! Be the kind of members that missionaries love!
Look foreword to hearing from ya'll soon!
With Love,
Elder Pond
