Monday May 28, 2012

We got to internet late today and i havent been able to read your emails yet. i will print them out and read them this week and respond to your questions next week. but i couldnt let another week pass by without writing something. this week has still been a struggle for me..... the bishop has pretty much left us without a missionary program for our ward. the few ward missionaries that we had and our mission leader this last week all recieved new callings. and the worst part is . . . . . we didnt do anything to offend him and when we asked him about what was going on he simply responded that the missionary program for this ward isnt one of his priorities. wow . . . . . can you say apostacy. i thought this church was a 3 part church. 1 perfect the saints, 2 redeem the dead, and 3 SPREAD THE GOSPEL!! i guess he didnt read that heavenly counsel given by a prophet of god. but on a brighter side we found more families this week to teach. and we have even started a bible study class that the average attendance in the first 4 classes has been 23 people 16 members and 7 investigators. woo hoo. little by little we are finding ways to advance the work without the help of the leaders. seeing the success we are having makes me think of the promise that father gave to joseph smith. that the work will never be stopped. even though all the powers of hell try to stop it i will just keep on growing. this last week it was the birthday of the HNA lucia and we made her a little suprise. we went to the temple and bought her everything that she would need as a new member of the church and also a cake and took it to her house. she was beyond suprised. she explained that it was the first birthday cake that she had ever had but that our pressence was enough to make her day a happy one. she is still so so so strong and faithful, and continues to amaze me everyday. this last saturday we helped with another building project and it was similar to the first. we helped fill sand bags that the family used as their foundation. the whole time we were filliing and laying bags they kept saying i have faith that my house wont fall. and all i could think of was the parable of the wise man and the foolish man. but we finished it and we blessed it and we left another family very content with their new one room, dirt floor, sticks for walls, plastic for shingles house. but as we knelt in that small humble home for the first time we all could feel something special. i just wish i could keep all these moments fresh and everytime i feel down be able to take a feeling out of my memories and remember how good it felt to help that small humble family. i get so caught up . . . even as a missionary in the things that arnt important in this life and i forget exactly what christ wants me to remember. i guess it is something i will have to work on. well fam it is off to FRUIT and Vollyball (i think) but always remember that i love you and that i am working as hard as i can. Elder Landon R. Welch