Week of March 19th

Well we thought we would go another week without a letter, but late last night after we retired it came through.  Great way to wake up, a good letter from our son.

Well here is the letter from him.

Hello Everybody,

Sorry for the lack of a letter last week, it was not the best of days for me when we were e-mailing and I could not think of what to write. I am still in Canal Winchester and am doing a lot better. This past week, president asked us to read through the entire white hand book during our studies and after that, Elder Fullmer and I talked and we worked some things out. It would be great if you could send those along with the stuff I forgot to bring from Christmas. Also, for future reference, we will probably be moving apartments at the end of the month so any mail might want to be sent to the mission office after the package.

I am not sure what is meant by the bribery to get Elder Bednar to speak to the whole mission, and no, I did not include the fact that an Elder barfed from the second row, filling his scriptures and also getting the back of a senior missionaries suit coat. I felt bad for him and I thought that it would probably not be tasteful to send.

Mike was baptized on Saturday and confirmed yesterday, Best birthday present ever. his wife was at the baptism and I know that she could feel the spirit and knew that Mike was making the right decision. We are hoping to start teaching her shortly. I have found that I do not pray harder than when there is a baptism coming up.

Also Elder Smith was transfered and Elder Welch is training now. Also, Sister Weedon is training the one sister who will go home at the same time as me. It is weird to think about that the Sister who will go home the same time as me is in the field now.

Well, things out here are going well and I hope that you enjoy the pictures of Hocking Hills

Love,

Elder Rawlings

Week of 3-5 6 MONTHS THIS WEEK

We find it hard to believe he has been out for 6 months minus that little 2 week episode at home.  This week was better for Richard than last week, last week really had no "news" only a very down young man searching for solutions.  Well here is this week's letter.

Hello Everybody,

 

This week has been a lot better than last week. President called and as he said, we are sent out two by two, not four by four and we need to have as little interaction with the other set of missionaries as we can, and as I thought about it more, that is where the conflict came from was the interactions with the other set of Elders not from disagreements with my companion. President also told us that he is looking to break up the four-pad which would be a blessing  because I feel that more work would get done that way, but I am not sure he would do it because he told me when I first got into the area that he was looking at breaking it up.

 

On a happier note, this past Saturday, Elder Bednar came to our mission and gave us the opportunity to ask him questions and he asked us questions. It was a wonderful experience and I learned a lot from it, but as he told us, the reason that we need Apostles is for the keys they hold and not necessarily for for other reasons. I can not explain it as well as he did, but the point he made was driven home to me the following day on Sunday.

 

Sunday was Fast and Testimony meeting and the first person to get up was Josh Shremshock. He shared his conversion story with the congregation and as he spoke, I felt the spirit testify that he truly had a testimony of this Gospel and that the words that he spoke were true, and I felt the spirit a lot more at that time than I had at any point in the meeting with Elder Bednar including when I shook his hand. At that moment I knew that the Simple testimony of a recent convert could do more to strengthen my testimony of the Gospel than any amount of one on one time with an Apostle of the Lord in a Question and Answer setting. I can still remember how I felt as Josh bore his testimony as I am typing this and I am emotional and weeping for joy.

 

I know that this Gospel is true and that Christ did suffer and die for us that all that will come unto him and repent may be saved. I know that God loves us more than we could ever know in this life and that if we stay true and faithful, we can return to live with our Heavenly Father once again, and I know that as we strive to follow the commandments of God we will be blessed.

 

All my Love,

Elder Rawlings