Email 58 - My Favorite Lessons Ever!

 Hiya family! What's good??

Thanks for all your emails, I LOVED reading them. Unfortunately, I don't have time to respond to all of them individually because we're at the Larsens' today and I've got a bunch of Elders waiting to get on the computer....

Updates!

C-------n almost believes in God now. The lessons we have with him are probably my favorite ever. We've been answering questions like crazy and using a lot of logic in our lessons about who God and the devil are, and teaching the Plan of Salvation. He just gets it. I feel a lot of Heavenly Father's love for that kid during our visits, too. Before the mission, I feel like I had a lot of opportunities to help people that don't believe in God understand more about His existence, but I think I did it all wrong, haha. I feel very blessed by the chance to try it again. The Atonement's a great thing :)

S----a's progressing! There's still no way for her to come to church, but we finally had a lesson with both her and her mom, and found out that her mom feels like all of her biggest doubts about religion were answered by the Joseph Smith movie. Pretty awesome.

We're having some problems getting in touch with Y-----a, though. She hasn't been coming to church, and things keep coming up when we show up to her house. We're not losing faith, though! I'm confident she'll get baptized soon. She knows it's all true :)

Oh, and F--n, our world-traveling buddy, definitely had the Spirit touch his heart, and it really surprised him. He knows that if what we're teaching is true, he's got a lot to change. I can tell he's taking a little step back. He started listening to us out of curiosity, and I don't think he ever thought it could all be true.

...I'm currently hearing a lot of very animated commentary from the Elders playing Jenga on the other side of the room ("Bold move by Elder Hansen! BOLD!" "That'll come up in companionship inventory tonight...")

Anyway, our lessons (and pretty much everything in general) have been improving quite a bit lately as we've gotten back into the habit of doing comp inventories every night like our zone leaders had asked us all to do. We look at each lesson we had and try to target specific things to study together the next day. It feels good, because we're actually getting things done and not ending up with the same weekly goals every time, haha.

In other news, we had a lesson this week with members of another prominent religion, and I was really really surprised to find that their belief in their interpretation of the Bible was all founded on historical evidence. After talking for a while, it became clear that that's their only claim to truth. Honestly, it was kind of shocking... especially because of what I had just read that morning in my personal study, in 1 Nephi 10:17-19:

17 And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the Messiah who should come—I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men.

 18 For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him.

 19 For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round.

We're teaching a lot of people right now who have grown up in religious families but tell us right up front that they understand nothing about our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ. And it was really overwhelming at first, trying to figure out how in the world to start explaining something so huge and sacred and infinitely important and something that's become such a prominent part of who I am as the Atonement of Jesus Christ. But that pattern in 1 Nephi 10 works here, too!

The mysteries of God are learned by the Holy Ghost, and I'll never ever get tired of seeing its influence in people when they're touched by it during a lesson.

Other than that, it's the same old same old! (meaning, every single day is entirely different and I'm learning a ton. We've started a dessert-war with the Elders that's only lost by failing to bake at least once a week, and I've made oatmeal crispies, lemon bars and Reeses cookies. We saw a guy kneel in the street and worship Elder Bybee. We made another homeless friend, P--e, who always crosses the street over to us when he sees us, and salutes and stands at attention until we pass. And we tried a new Chinese restaurant and scored big time with some delicious shrimp pasta. Good week.)

I love you all so so much! I think of you all the time. Thanks for the emails again. Thanks for being awesome. Keep it up :)

'Til next week!

-Hna Grover