Conference is Coming

Hola a todos! Neeephi!!!! This last week we watched the cartoon version of the Book of Mormon stories; haha it brought me way back, and we have had the inside joke of Laman and Lamuel complaining. "Neeeephi, Awww you thought you could build a boat! HA!" Its slowly turned into a bane from bat man imitation "Awww you thought the planchas were your ally.." That probably made no sense. Thats ok. Great week! I feel like its all just going by too fast now. I feel like there's not enough time. I wish often that there was just a big pause button for life, and I could press it, and just log hours and hours of studying, and contacting, but no, my little Casio watch chimes at the hour, and we hustle home. We had the chance to begin the account and give a lesson to L a recent convert on Family History. We sat and attempted to explain the immensity of the project in which we were embarking. In all honesty it was one of the first times that I've really sat and attempted to search for ancestors. I was immensely impressed with the great resources the church provides. Completely free. I love the church. I have a feeling that the next conference is going to just demand an increased dedication to family history work. I am excited to be a avid participant. We had an interesting lesson with a new friend J. We spoke in the street. He was meeting with us mostly because his girlfriend believes a lot in God, and he wants to know. He just stated that he didn't have any desires. Death didn't worry him, he was content with it all just ending. Great place to start! We stated to him that he can see his family again, and he rebutted, that he could state that things all come to an end, and it would be the same. We then asked him for things that we could do, fruits that we could try, words that we could read that we could do that would build this belief in us. We came to the conclusion that fear is just the absence of faith, dark absence of light. We don't see atheist missionaries running around, attempting to help others give up hope on life. That's because to grow faith is to progress. There is no motivation no meaning, no reason to pull down the progress and hopes of others. To grow faith, we pray, we study, we apply, we learn, and feel, to let it slip away, there is only to stop doing so. Clearly you can tell this lesson left me thinking and with more words than I could leave with him in our short time with him. Every morning, we have the very critical decision. "It is a decision we make daily, to choose faith over doubt." (Bonnie L Oscarson April 2016) I make it on my knees. When things are hard, when you have doubts questions, and people don't listen, that's when it really becomes faith. That's when it counts. That is when you can love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and strength. Alma 32:18-21 Last little bit, I just want to brag about an amazing member M. She is primary president of all 2-3 children. She truly takes in the poor and the needy. When we come to visit, she has her family, her grandchildren, and friend of her son, all living in her home. She feeds them, and supports them. We as well brought our friend Jorge to church, and there, she approached him, and learned his situation, and offered him work and food in her home. He now is painting and fixing up her home, and she provides the same home cooked meals. The miracle of all this is that when we first met, we approached him on the street, and he explained that he was struggling finding work. We promised if he kept the sabbath day holy, God would bless him and provide him the means to attain work. Without knowing, M literally is God's hand here on earth. Miracle. I love you all and I miss you! Work hard and get psyched for General Conference!!! Elder Gardner