Hi Elder,

Not a whole lot going on here. It's been bitter cold the past week or so with temps as low as -20. Still have snow on the ground from before Christmas. Thank goodness for the wood stove otherwise the family room would feel like a meat locker.

The quarter is ending so the girls are feeling the pressure of finals. I am sure they will do fine, they always do. Brandt had 2 games this past week. He scored 15 in the first game and 25 in the second one.

Mom is getting prepared for a new term of teaching online. She will have 3 classes this time.

We now have church at 9. I am so glad even if my meetings with the bishop are at 7:30. I like having everything done early so it leaves time in the afternoon to visit less active members. I am going to try to get out and see some more people this month.

Are you getting along well in Fortuna? Tell us a little about the members and your teaching pool.

Love Dad

 

Hey Pops,

 

It sounds like I have had better weather than you, ha ha. It has mostly been sunny or overcast here.

Sounds like the kids are doing well. Brandt keeps on getting better. It's good to see him excel.

 

I'm glad that Mom is still doing that. She always seems to enjoy teaching.
 

That is so awesome that you are visiting less active members. It really makes a difference in their lives.

 

A less active member that we have been teaching came to church yesterday after a long absence. His wife is a non member and is opposed to the church, and even that morning was trying to tear him down. Still, he came to church and at the end of Fast and Testimony meeting he bore one of the most powerful testimonies that I have ever heard. He expressed his gratitude for us teaching him and helping him remember how good God has been to him throughout his life. He knows without a doubt that the Church is true. He has just had so many things that has been trying to chain him down. I'm so grateful he came. I know that 1 Nephi 3:7 is true. We can follow all of the commandments and the promptings of the Spirit. God makes it all possible.

I got to go to the baptism of a girl that I taught in McKinleyville on Friday. She is the daughter of my recent convert, Tina, and it was so good to be able to go back and see her be baptized. It was hard leaving McKinleyville because I couldn't teach her anymore, but I'm glad that I wasn't transferred too far away. I was even given the opportunity to give a talk and witness.

 

I also got to see a lot of members that I didn't get to say goodbye to in person too. I love that ward so much.
 

There was a special experience that I had right after the baptism. We were in the parking lot, sitting in a member's car, when I saw some people walk by. It was a girl and her younger siblings. I felt the impression to talk to them, but my companion was on the phone, and we were about to take off, ect... So, there were a lot of things in the way. They were gone.

Still, I felt that I needed to talk to them. I asked the member to drive the opposite way we were heading to go and find them. I was saying a silent prayer, asking for a second chance. We drove a good distance, and there was still no luck. On the way back, however, we saw them. I was able to talk to them, and I felt the Spirit confirm that action. I'm grateful that God gave me another chance to follow a prompting. I want to become more and more willing to follow promptings that the Lord gives me. There is no better feeling than knowing that you have done the right thing in God's eyes. There is nothing better than feeling trusted to do His work.

I love it here, and I love my mission. I love being an ordained minister of the Lord. I love being His missionary.

Thank you for all that you do and have done that lets me be here.

 

Love,

Elder Williams