Letter #100
July 26, 2015
Area: Baytown
Companion: Hepworth
It has been in the 90s and 100s these past 2.5 weeks and it has
been pretty humid, but I think Texas broke me, it doesn't feel hot
anymore, I just am sweating a lot... We are still without a car and
biking a lot, just waiting for news on the car.
This last week has been really amazing, rough at times, but
amazing overall. We were blessed with so many miracles that I can't even
count them all, but they all led to the progression of our
investigators! I personally have been doing a lot of reflection this
past week on my service in the mission and especially how I am finishing
it, and so far I have found a lot of peace and comfort and I am
determined to keep going strong until the end. I don't know if I told
you this before, but for a long time in the beginning of my mission I
was looking at everyone else and the success they were having and
looking at myself and the lack of success that I had seen. It was really
a struggle and I felt like I wasn't doing enough and I felt like I was
doing something wrong. I had come to the conclusion that I really didn't
care how many people I baptized, I was just going to leave every area I
worked in in a better state than I found it and make it so they could
baptize within the transfer after my departure, which I feel like wasn't
the best thing, but it kept me going strong and pushing as hard as I
could. I have always been determined to baptize, but I was struggling
inside. I remember clearly one night that I was on an exchange with
Elder Anderson, one of my former companions, in Broadway, we were
talking and he brought that concern up. He really motivated me that
night to be the best missionary I could be and that the success would
come in the Lord's due time. Then shortly thereafter, president moved me
into Liberty and told me that he put me there because he knew I could
baptize there, and I did. I am extremely grateful for that inspiration
that he received to have me put in Liberty, and now here. Here in
Baytown, on Saturday, we should be baptizing Hermana Galvez, 4 years
after she originally started investigating the church, 2 years after her
son went out on his mission, 4 days after her son comes home, and 3
before I go home. Something I also realized in my reflecting as well as
talking with Elder Syrie this last Preparation Day, I have played a role
in the baptisms of many people. If I remember correctly, I have played
the role of finding and/or teaching at least 12 people who have been
baptized, when I originally felt like I wasn't doing anything. Now the
Lord is blessing us with another baptism in this area. I feel so blessed
and I now realize what the Lord means when he says in D&C 18:15-16:
"15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in
crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto
me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you
have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be
your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!"
This week was great though, we did a lot of finding, knocking,
etc, but we didn't find much luck in that. We did find out that a less
active that basically ran away from home for 2 weeks came home, and he
is still really desiring to come back to church and activities and
everything. He came to church and had a great time in our Branch
Conference learning from President Howard, the Stake President. We also
got back in with a couple of our investigators, Luis and Ida, who are
already friends with a couple in our branch, we were able to bring over
the couple and teach the family about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and
answer some of their questions. They are really starting to think about
our teachings and they are really interested in learning more. Their
desire to follow the restored gospel is really growing! We also have had
a lot of success with Ulises and Andrea, who are very curious about the
church and the teachings. Those two couples are the only two that I
know that are so curious that they have been wondering where God came
from. Obviously we have those answers, but we have had to simply explain
the plan God has for us and help them come to the conclusion for
themselves. We have also had success with Mario and he came to church
again! He still isn't reading, but he is taking steps in the right
direction.
I love you guys,
Elder Stanley Scott Dye