My experiences here this week have been fortifying and I'm glad that I have more time here to take advantage of all that happened. Tuesday night we we had a feeling we needed to see how a family of investigators was doing and when we showed up it was kind of a mess. We didn't enter in their house but talked to the mother and daughter in the street and found out about a lot of problems that we didn't even know that they had. Turns out that the 17 year old soon went and got completely drunk and also hyas been smoking a lot of marijuana, and for this reason the boyfriend of the mom has been trying to get him to stop but in a really conflictive manner. Also the daughter told us that she has deppression and has been on medication for it since she was 9 and because of the problems in her family she never has believed in God, but that she has noticed a difference a difference in her life since we started visiting them. The last time there was a fight in the house it got so pad apparently that someone called the police and now the son and mom have to see a psycologist and there are going to be a lot of changes in the future for them. We went home and I actually said a prayer asking that I could stay for one more change so that I could specifically help this family, and later the mother and daughter actually told me they did the same. Looks like somebody's listening. We had a lesson on Friday and shared a message with them promising that what we share really can help them with all of their problem if they will listen to our advice and accept the commitments we extend. I have great faith that really we are going to help them in these next few weeks.
There were a few other cool experiences that we had of following the Spirit in situations where we needed help in a lessson or finding people to teach, but I'm just going to state simply that I know the Lord in lolistening to us and is well aware of our needs. All that we need to do is have the faith to oput our trust in Him and ask for the help that we need.
As in times past, I am going to end with a scripture (big surprise there haha). I know that not everyone is of the same religion as I am, but I would like to share a scripture from Doctrine and Covenants which is another book of holy scriture that we have in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In Section 122 verses 7-9 it read: "And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thee, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he? Therefore, hold on thy way, and the Priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy days shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever." I know that sometimes it's hard to se the blessings in our lives, but sometimes it's the lessons we learn from our difficulties that are the greatest blessings of all. I testify that the Lord will not give us more tribulations than we can handle, and that all the problems we face today are for our "experience, and shall be for [our] good." Keep striving to fight the good fight. I love you all and pray that you are well!
Love, Elder Conger
