Elder Samuel Ward: Missouri Independence Mission: #RopinRascles 🐂- Week 28

Helloooooo family!!

This has definitely been an interesting week. We got a lot done! It was sort of a long week. But was good!

Monday we helped the Parkins a little bit more with their kitchen. That was really good! Tuesday was really good too. We all had interviews with President Vest (#Mission President) it was great! I got to talk to him about the work and my own personal self. It was really great. We also got to talk with Sister Vest as well, it went great but she took Siri off of our iPads. Which I was a little sad about hahaha... but some missionaries had been using that feature not wisely. So, everyone gets to pay for it! :)

Then the next day I got to go on exchanges with Elder Kirkham! It was way super awesome! He was one of my ol MTC companions, so it was really cool to catch up and work together again. We got some pizzas and walked over to sonic. Kimberlyn Parkin gave us some free drinks and it was a great day!!!

We taught Kylie earlier this week. We were supposed to have a campfire with them but of course it started raining :(. So we had some hot dogs inside and had a little lesson. Her Baptism is coming up this Saturday! And it looks like her husband Robby is going to be able to baptize her! It's so exciting! This will definitely be a super busy
weekend!

Later this week we went to the Dunlaps to do some service! They are super cool. Bruce is a real interesting guy. His wife Leta is also really cool. She's already a member, we are working on trying to help her get to church more often. She leaves on a cruise this week. But we are going to try to get her to the Visitors Center when she gets back. Anyways, we did some service at their house... their middle level floor was sagging down pretty hardcore. So we spent like 6 hours in the basement putting in new support beams and hitting stuff with heavy hammers. It was pretty fun. My body hurts, but we got it about halfway done! Haha. We also ate egg and Spam sandwiches there ;) .

We also did some service at the Ray County Museum which was also really cool.

But probably the Most interesting thing that happened to me this week is two things. We ate at a family restaurant with the Conner family. Well, it didn't taste bad, but it didn't taste good either. We got the tenderloin and we survived. Buuuuuttttt. We definitely payed with some severe gastroenteritis the next day 😅. But we Still went to the Dunlaps and did all the things.

The next thing, is that we met a REALLY interesting couple, we've talked to them a few times on the phone in the last couple months. We have been trying to find his records so that our Branch President can marry them. But I don't think he was actually ever baptized. But that's besides the point, we went and finally met them in person the next day. Well we had a lesson with them. They have some really interesting beliefs to say the least. But they are definitely very nice genuine people. Hopefully potentials to join the gospel some day, but there are some things we will need to clear up first haha.

Spirit time!: I read through some of the Book of Helaman this week; and of course came across Chapter 5. Where Nephi and Lehi devote themselves to preaching. They help convert a lot of people, but are eventually cast into prison, and 300 people are overshadowed with a cloud of darkness. I love the verses 40-41

40 "And it came to pass that the Lamanites said unto him: What shall we do, that this cloud of darkness may be removed from overshadowing us?
41 And Aminadab said unto them: You must repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ, who was taught unto you by Alma, and Amulek, and Zeezrom; and when ye shall do this, the cloud of darkness shall be removed from overshadowing you."
42 And it came to pass that they all did begin to cry unto the voice of him who had shaken the earth; yea, they did cry even until the cloud of darkness was dispersed."

To find the way back as Aminadab had remembered, one must repent and pray until doubt and darkness disappear. It is possible to return. And to see that Heavenly Father focuses on who we are, and who we are to become, instead of who we once were. Doubt and darkness can be removed from all of our lives. We can always overcome darkness. The Lord will help us! I know that is true. I know that Heavenly Father truly loves all of us, and that he is willing to help, especially if we just simply ask, and have faith. I love all of you!! Thanks for all that you do! Have a marvelous week!

~Elder Samuel LaVar Ward