July 1, 2013

Dear Elder Williams,

 

I hope you are enjoying the sunny California summer. Since you are further North, it is probably absolutely beautiful and not too hot. My garden is growing and starting to produce lots of vegetables and my flowers are looking exquisite. They are so lovely and they make me happy.

 

I just finished a book about the tyranny of Trujillo and his despotic reign in the Dominican Republic. The book was about 4 sisters who fought his regime in an underground movement, were imprisoned, and eventually 3 of them murdered. It was a powerful read. It makes me so grateful for freedom and our Constitution. I'm so grateful we get to celebrate the 4th of July and think of our founding fathers. We are so blessed as a nation and people. We have such a big responsibility and stewardship over our liberty. God has granted us so much.

 

How are your people? I went to the temple on Wednesday and thought of you and who you are teaching. I hope they will feel the prayers and open their hearts to the spirit.

 

I love you and send you my blessings. Let me know how you are doing.

With love,

Mom

 

 

 

Dear Mom,

It has been good in Cali. We've got a heat wave going through the area, but it is supposed to cool down on Tuesday.

I don't remember if I told you that we had a car in this area last transfer. Well, we got 28 new missionaries last week, and 14 of them were sisters. They needed our car more than we did. It has been good on bike, though. We get to talk to more people on the street.

Speaking about freedoms, it has been really interesting being in California as the Supreme Court made its decision last week. We live in troubled times, but I'm forever grateful for the eternal principles of the gospel and the liberty it brings. I'm grateful that I get to stand by the Lord in defending and proclaiming His gospel.

Thank you for praying and thinking about our people. I know they make a difference.

We picked up a new investigator this week. His name is Chris. He is 17, and he is going to be a senior this next year. We contacted him on the street and offered him a blessing. (We've been doing that in our mission for a while now. We offer blessings as servants of Jesus Christ, and if they accept we say a prayer with them or set up a future appointment. It brings the Spirit powerfully into their homes, and it gives them a clear choice to follow the Spirit or not.) He accepted, so we went over a while later and knocked on his door. He had warned us that his dad wouldn't accept it, and sure enough, the dad answered the door. He told us to leave, and as we were about to depart Chris intervenes. He tells his dad to let us stay. So, we do. Then Chris's mom came out and said she was so glad to see us. She wanted her son to learn about Christ. We gave a powerful blessing, and we helped Chris recognize the Spirit. We asked him if he wanted that more in his life, and he said yes. So, a couple of days later we had a lesson with him and it was awesome. He is going to come to church with us, and he said he'd get baptized once he knows the Church is true. I love this work.

Could you and the family pray for Jessica too? Jessica's husband has become a hindrance to her progress. His heart needs to be softened. She is prepared for baptism, we have just got to overcome this challenge.

Love,

Elder Williams