Monday, March 26, 2018

Family and Friends,

I had an amazing week this week! Even though my bike gave me more problems it has been a pretty good one. We have been working diligently to get the paper area books transferred into the phones. It is such an annoying job, but when it is all said and done it is going to help so much in hastening the Lord's work! Having the phones has definitely been an adjustment. Before the mission phones were used as a crutch or something to use when you were bored. But as Elder Ballard has said we are learning to make the phone our slave and not be a slave to it. I am so glad I get to learn these principles while I am serving the Lord. It was also a good week because we were able to have interviews with President Palmer! He motivates me to be a better man. I am so glad I was called to serve here at this time! 

We were able to teach Ronald last Monday evening and we hope to teach them again tonight! It was awesome because his Mom said that she would think about getting re-baptized and join in on the lessons. We also invited his sister to join the lessons for tonight so we hope that we can teach her too! I am happy that I get to work with this wonderful family! They are awesome. 

We were out this week with Brother Black and we were going everywhere. We were trying to contact all of our referrals/potentials. Well, Brother Black asked us if we could go to Mia's. We decided to drop by because we hadn't been in awhile. It turned out that she was going through a really hard time. She got hit by someone in her car and they hit and ran. So she didn't know how she was going to fix her car. Brother Black being the goat and all asked if she needed a blessing. She did not know what it was so we explained it and she wanted one. It was a good opportunity to help her recognize the priesthood has been restored. She ended up getting her car fixed. We hope to meet with her this Wednesday!

We had another Temple Prep class with Andi! We taught about the histories of Temples. It was great because Andi has a lot of questions! We showed one of the new Mormon messages to help Sister Abbott teach. It has been great to see her testimony grow. I can tell that she is nervous and does not know what to expect, but she will do great!

An update on Tiffani. So we are going to start teaching her twice a week because her baptism is coming up. This week we were able to teach her about prayer a little more. It was cool because this was one of her biggest concerns. We answered a lot of her questions. I really like teaching about prayer. Because we really do have a loving Father in Heaven who wants to hear from us each day. And it is through the Savior Jesus Christ that we are able to pray to Him. We hope that she is developing a positive relationship with God. 

I am excited to tell everyone that we found Jim Wiggins! He got transferred to a facility in South Stockton. Which is still in our area. A little more sketchy, but we love it down there;) Jim told us that he missed us too so that felt good! 

Lizzette is doing so good! We have been working with her and her top goal is marriage and Baptism. She went to a relief society event this week without us knowing. Which is the best thing as a missionary because you know that the ward is doing their job! She enjoyed it so much. She still has so much opposition, but she is plowing through it. Her best friend kinda flipped when she told her she was going to be Mormon and she said that was the first time she felt solid defending the church. She knows that it is true. She has a lot of questions about the Temple so we are going to be teaching her that this week! 

I have been so happy with the joy my mission is giving me. Anyone who is contemplating a mission JUST GO! It is the most selfless, happiest, hardest time of your life. And you come to find out that God is really there. You feel it everyday as you talk to His children. I know that this church is true. I know the Savior lives. He is our Redeemer and our Captain. He knows each of us very intimately. I love Him. And I love this work. 

Love, 

Elder Willden

Uncle Brad's and Aunt Krislyn's family sent St. Patrick's Day Package! 

This shirt is completely worn out!