Letter #44 . . . missions are good for you!

Hey hey!

Missions are good for you. That's what I'm learning. Even in tough
days my testimony is growing. We talk to a lot of people, and a lot of
them are really nice and you think the gospel would just make so much
sense to them. But then most of these people don't accept, and
sometimes even make you feel like the one in the wrong for believing
in these things. But man oh man, I know this gospel is true. I used to
have doubts about the Book of Mormon creep into my head every now and
then, but now I never do. I know what I've felt while reading that
book is the Spirit testifying and giving me peace that the simple
truths and promises in it are true. Read it people. Just read it!

Tanner and Elder Reber in Independence, Dec. 2016

Highlight of the week was our lesson with our RLDS investigator Matt Boyd. Brought President Cato with us, and it went amazing. Most powerful lesson of my whole mission. Very short version of president Cato's story is this . . he was a Pastor of a congregation of 350 people in one of the few RLDS branches. Their church started going way off the path and becoming very political. His family went on a trip to Utah at that point without him and found the Mormon church to be true. They were all baptized except for him. His friends that helped him lead the congregation accused him of teaching Mormon Doctrine, even tho he didn't even know what that really was. He told his 
congregation that he needed to take a break and do a little soul 
searching for a while. His best friend that was his counselor on the 
stand, then walked up to the pulpit, and in front of the whole congregation 
said, "Dennis Cato is under the influence of Satan." From that point on, he's 
never been back. Matt really was impacted by his conversion story, and 
related very well to it. President Cato seemed to say everything he needed 
to hear to help him take that leap of faith that has been tough to do as he's 
met with missionaries over the years. President helped him realize he 
already has gotten his witness 

Making cookies with some members!

that it's true, and that he now has a responsibility to act on that witness. President Cato promised him that God has great things in store for him and his wife and two cute little girls. Matt whole-heartedly agreed to everything he was saying. President committed him to pray with his wife and have a date he wants to be baptized by our next visit. We gave him a Priesthood blessing of comfort and guidance as well to be able to tell his mother about his decision without her freaking out. He listened and seemed to feel something like he never had before.
Finished Ballard's book, Our Search for Happiness. It's a good one for
sure! We've been getting in with a crazy amount of less actives. We're
taking advantage of the fact that they feel bad for us walking around
in the 5 degree weather haha. We met with a less active named Lindsey,
who just recently quit smoking for her daughter. We shared Alma 36:
12-21 with her. These are up there for some of my favorite scriptures
in the entire Book of Mormon. It was so powerful reading these things,
about the power of His Atonement, and the infinite reach of his love.
I invite all of you to read those verses!  She got emotional and
shared how she wants that peace back in her life but feels she's
messed up too much. Some of my favorite opportunities on my mission
are testifying to people that they CAN get that peace back. Whenever
they want it, if they come to Him. I love that promise, I've felt it
countless times in my life.

Visiting during an Ice Storm!

Played and sang "Be Still My Soul" at our zone conference! After the meeting we all walked across the street to the temple and did a session! That was my 4th time going, 3rd time here. It was probably my favorite session. I wasn't worried about messing up or anything, but I decided to just focus on just listening and feeling the spirit. I got far more out of it by doing that.

We met this kid Ryan at Thanksgiving dinner, he was really into film and knew of devinsupertramp and Parker. That was cool to be able to talk to him! He wasn't planning on a mission, but we were able to talk to him about how the mission is the greatest thing you can do for your life at this time, and all those other things will be there  =when you get home. We got a call from his Aunt that's in our ward, and she said in tears that he's working on his papers, and that our conversation with him was pivotal. He's an awesome kid.

Mom, the weather seems to be pretty similar to Utah out here. Only
difference is we get ice storms, that make EVERYTHING shut down.
Including missionaries. President told us to stay in and not drive
because of the ice. My clothes are keeping me nice and warm! I have
not opened your package yet!! Dang. I was thinking you wanted me to open it
on Christmas!! 
 
I'll be praying for the Parkinson's. Wow, that's tough...
 
Dang, dad was the best Gospel Doctrine teacher alive. His lessons are
what kept me at church haha.

Love you all,

- Elder Townsend

PS.  Two random videos that Tanner sent this week:
Tanner test driving a guy's wheelchair and
Elder Reber throwing a rock into the water?