Howdy Ya'll! Hope you are all doing great and back into your regular routine after the holiday break. Well I certaintly had a great week. Sorry if last week I was a little depressing. I was definitely getting discouraged, but the Lord is merciful unto those who put their trust in him. I think there are a couple reasons for my discouragement. First of all, we were teaching no one. Everyone was too busy for us, but we were still working as hard as we could because that is what the Lord expects of us. So basically we just knocked doors and people rejected us, and those who did tell us to come back were dodgey. So that wasn't good. Also, I think I lost my enthusiasm for the work, and this is why I think it happened. Because I had just been made district leader and trainer, and took over the area after just 6 weeks, I felt a bit overwhelmed. The reason is, I think, because I now felt like I was obligated to work dilligently and to set a good example for Elder Gonzales and my district. I don't like doing things out of an obligation, rather, I like to do things because I want to do them. So this week I realized that I needed to go out and work, not because I had to, but because I wanted to. When I changed my attitude, the work improved, and this week we we're able to find four new investigators. Three of them come from a part-member family we have been trying to teach for a while, but they told us not to come back until after the new year. Well we called them and they invited us over for dinner. The Dad is a less active member who hasn't been since he was a teenager. The mom and the two kids hardley know anything about the church. But they fed us and then after we had an awesome Restoration lesson. It was certaintly the bost I needed to get me going. It was really good. I also was able to go up to Omaha for a leadership training meeting, which helped lift my spirits a lot. Elder Bell was there and we sat by each other and reminisced about the good old days when we were companions, haha. So this week was definitely a better week, and I am looking forward to being a missionary in 2012!
So Spiritual thought of the week. I don't have my scriptures on me, but I believe the verse comes from Isaiah 63:4. In the verse it talks about the day of vengence and the year of the redeemed. It's interesting to note that we will have trials, symbolized by the day of vengence talked about. While in the trials we may feel hopeless, that there is no escape, and that they will last forever. But then it talks about the year of the redeemed. Although we may have trials, if we endure them well, the blessings we receive far outweigh the struggles that we are going through. That is what every great prophet and member of the Church realizes. Most importantly, it is what the Savior realized. He was willing to go through an infinite amount of pain, but He knew that the reward would far outweigh the price. Because of what He did, He was exalted on high and made sure that every child of our Heavenly Father, His brothers and sisters, had every oppurtunity to receive the same reward. So let us strive to endure our trials and know that although they are difficult, we will receive far greater rewards if we edure them well. I love you all so much. Thank you for all of your prayers, I can really feel them in the hard times. Hope you all have a great week.
Godspeed,
Elder Chandler Kendall
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