Christ Changes Men

letter # 10 (corresponds to 10th week in mission)
October 28, 2013
Area:  Broadway 3 North
Companion:  Thomas

     This week wasn't as rough as last week, but we still only taught 3 lessons up until Saturday.  The past few Saturdays, we would head over to Raphael to help with some yard work.  He is a kind, old man that called out to us one evening to offer us some punch to drink.  We saw yard work to be done, so we asked him if we could help.  He willingly accepted.  While working with him, he was really interested in the Plan of Salvation so we started talking about it with him a little before the English elders could have a chance to go over.  They finally were able to come by for a visit, so we turned Raphael's teaching over to the English elders..
    This Saturday we had a really good lesson with Liliana and we set a baptismal date with her. She also came to the church party with her kids. The party was great. The sister missionaries put together a game of 'pin the tag on the missionary', which the kids really liked.  Liliana seemed to enjoy herself and said that she was going to come to church, but sadly they didn't come. But, all in all, we ended our week with 8 lessons and a lot of potential for this coming week.

       In the words of Scott's mission companion "so we didn't have anyone at church, and we didn't have any baptismal dates, but we can only keep looking forward for this week. . That's what's so great about missionary work. One day can suck so bad but there is always something to keep the smile on my face. The Lord is changing me so much, and has been the biggest blessing in my life and I've only been here for almost 8 months."  Note: as a mom, you can only thank Heavenly Father for watching out for your only son, and ask that he be led and trained by someone who is serving for the right reasons and loves the Lord as much as Scott.  I'm thankful that this companionship is learning to trust in the Lord, and allow Him to work with them...turning each missionary boy into a spiritual man that will make a difference in the area in which he serves....Ezra Taft Benson, shortly before becoming the President of the Church made this statement: "The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. . . . The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment" (Oct. 1985). I am thankful that my son,  Elder Stanley Scott Dye, and Elder Thomas, are allowing Christ to make the necessary changes within each of them in order to become stronger, more patient missionaries.  Their challenges are only making them more ready and eager to share the truths of the Gospel of Christ and their testimony of their Savior, Jesus Christ.

The following are responses to questions that family members asked, and each give a little more insight into the life of Scott as a missionary:

1) do you have pictures of Christ in your home? yes and no, they give each apartment a picture of Jesus to put in the window, but I would like more.  (note--mom has already sent more).  I have a pass-along card with Christ leaving the tomb on my desk.  But my favorite Christ picture is the one hanging in our livingroom at home.  "Lonely No More" [artist Greg Olsen].  I also like the one with Christ knocking at the door that has no handle on the outside--(He stands always ready to enter, but we just need to let Him in!).

2) what do you eat for breakfast?  I eat cereal like frosted flakes and lucky charms, eggs, buttered toast, or if I have time the night before, I'll make french toast and then heat it in the morning because I don't have enough time to make and eat it in the morning.

3) dinners with members?  we don't get many meals from members, usually 2 or 3 a week.  This week we got 4, so that was good.  Helps save money, so that it will last the whole month.

4) got more pictures for me? yeah, i have more pics, I just didn't have time to send them last week, and that was the only time I had the camera cord.  I do want more pictures of family, especially of my nieces and nephews:)

Until next week,
Elder Dye