---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Elizabeth Montgomery <elizabeth.montgomery@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Sep 2, 2013 at 8:00 AM
Subject: Letter #22 - 9/2/13
To: Christine Montgomery <chrismont9@gmail.com>
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From: Elizabeth Montgomery <elizabeth.montgomery@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Sep 2, 2013 at 8:00 AM
Subject: Letter #22 - 9/2/13
To: Christine Montgomery <chrismont9@gmail.com>
Very exciting week to tell you about... :D
Lena is getting baptized! On September 14th! Ahhhh! She came to church last Sunday, we had a lesson with her about the Plan of Salvation, we met again Tuesday and talked about the gospel of Christ and invited her to be baptized, and she said yes! I can't even tell you how amazing of a woman she is... she's such an example to me. We still have a lot to teach her before next Saturday, but she's receptive to everything and she wants to embrace the fullness of the gospel of Christ, starting with baptism. I'll let you know how things progress... I'm so excited for her. :)
Also, we had a rockin awesome lesson with a man named Vasile. We met him on a bus (he actually called me over to him to chat -- doesn't happen too often here), and we met later outside and taught him about the Restoration. He's not the most receptive right now, but I could tell that he's really searching (even yearning) for truth, and I know that the gospel can help him find answers to the questions of his soul. He wasn't able to come to church yesterday because he was sick, but he wants to come, and he wants to know more. I loved that lesson with him... I think I just liked hearing all these soul-searching questions and knowing that, thanks to the restored gospel, all of them could be answered and satisfied.
We had kind of a cool experience Tuesday night. We planned to meet with a less active but our lesson fell through, and all we had as a back-up plan was contacting in our area on our way home. Neither Sister Cromwell or I were very excited about it because, for whatever reason, the area where we live is not very "fruitful" for contacting as opposed to different places in our area. But instead of wallowing in our own self-fulfilling prophecy of failure, we got down on our knees and pleaded for God's help to know where to go and what to do.
As Sister Cromwell was offering the prayer, I thought of a specific street in our area, so afterward we headed there and had a great conversation with a young father who, though closed at first, asked for our brochure by the end of our conversation. Later we contacted a man on a bench who gave us his number and was interested in coming to church. As we were getting home, I laughed and said, "So what was that about this area not being fruitful?" Looks like it just needed a little watering from heaven. :) I love how God teaches us as missionaries the exact same thing we teach our investigators: blessings come from obedience and diligence. "And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you" (3 Nephi 18:20). Trust in the promises of the Lord, "for he will fulfill all his promises which he shall make unto you, for he has fulfilled his promises which he has made unto our fathers" (Alma 27:17).
Lastly, if I could give y'all any kind of commitment or invitation or whatever, it would be this: go find somebody in your ward who might be struggling and befriend them. Recent converts especially need support, and those who are less active obviously need that support too. We as missionaries try to help these people, but it's really the responsibility of the members to support the other members. "Remember, the worth of souls is great in the sight of God" (D&C 18:10). Do your home and visiting teaching, and look above and beyond to seek out those who need your friendship or service. I promise that blessings will come to both them and you! God wants His children to be taken care of, so please, do whatever you can, wherever you are, to make that happen.
*K, stepping off my soapbox... ahem* Have a wonderful week! I really do appreciate all your support and prayers and everything. Love you!
-Sister Montgomery
PS -- Here's a pic of Sister Cromwell and I in case you'd like to imagine the person I'm with 24/7 for this transfer. She's great. :)
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