August 21, 2012

This was a great letter as it was a little longer and more newsy. I was so touched by his experience with his companion that shows that Jared is alive and well and that Heavenly Father is already using his very kind and caring spirit and his strong testimony to touch and bless others... "...First, I'll start with my companion...he is from Gilbert, AZ, and he is a "bro". Ask Christy if you don't know what bro's are. The first couple days were extremely rough for him. He changed the rules to fit how he wanted them to be, or sometimes just wouldn't follow them at all. He sort of was the perfect example of the careless high school boy. Things started to change though Friday night as we were going to bed. I was already lying in the bottom bunk, and I just had the impression to tell him thanks for being my companion. Right after that though, it felt like an elephant had sat on my chest. It was almost impossible for me to speak. I finally gathered up the strength and courage to just say, "Elder ____, thanks for being my companion." He then looked down at me from the top bunk, crying, and asked me why I said that. I replied, as he then told me that he felt terribly alone. He missed his family. He missed his friends. He missed his home. He was praying to God trying to feel better when he had the thought, "At least I have my companion." Just after that is when I spoke up. Since then, things have gotten better, and are continuing to get better, He asked me to give him a blessing the next night which our whole district participated in, and then yesterday we fasted as a companionship for him to really recognize why he is serving a mission. He studies now, and we do companionship study now where he participates a lot. The spirit was so strong this morning as we studied. He's doing great. Something that I'm sort of surprised by is just how many missionaries here don't know why they're here. Or another thing is how SO many don't know how to study scriptures. For me personally I wouldn't even serve a mission if I hadn't read the scriptures and developed a relationship with Heavenly Father. Maybe I should respect them for that though?" Then he goes on to give some news about his P-day, and that he's convinced the MTC is just out to fatten the guys up cause they feed them stuff like doughnuts and then they're sitting around studying and all and he can't wait to get out in the field and get moving! The MTC is packed, which is awesome; I guess summer really is prime time for missionaries to head out. They have 6 missionaries in their room with 2 dressers and 2 desks...fortunately there are 3 bunk beds! He asked for our prayers, which we of course always will be sending his way...yours are welcome too!