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Alma 29:9

I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.



Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Tornado Warnings

This week was a good week.  Elder Wagner will be in our tri-panionship for a week.  We will  cover Laurinburg during that time.  Elder Brinkerhoff and I are staying together for one more transfer, but he is being released from being district leader.  This is my first time not being with a district leader on my whole mission.  I will be with him till the end of his mission.  We will see if I see Taylee when she gets here.

Yeah, out here we get a lot of tornado warnings. But I have been safe.  I don't like freaking you out, but tornadoes are more common out here.  I had one in Jacksonville and one here, both were really small that did next to no damage.  

Yes, I do want the primary songs, Elder Roberts had their primary stuff and I really liked it and it is rather spiritual.  I would also like some beef Jerky.

I like that thought from President Eyring (“Raise the Bar”).  A very common saying in this mission is you can't lift higher than you stand and you can't convert beyond your own conversion. We help motivate people to do missionary work, by helping strengthen their own conversion.  I actually gave a talk yesterday about conversion and how to be converted.

I'm doing good and I will email you again next week.

Love, Elder Lakey

Monday, April 21, 2014

Easter

I had a quiet Easter, but I enjoyed it, I read a lot of Jesus the Christ on that day.   The Cantata went well, hundreds of people showed up!  We even ran out of places for people to sit!  I did not sing in it.  We also ate Easter dinner with a member.  I'm glad to hear that the #BecauseofHim Easter video went viral, many missionaries tried to get the video out there.

This past past we got to go to the temple, which is always great.  We found out yesterday that a missionary in the next area over, finally got his visa to go serve in Brazil.  He was here for almost a whole year!  He should leave next week and his companion will come and stay with us for a week until the next transfer happens.  I should be serving in tri-companionship covering two areas for a week that should be fun.

I'm glad Jonathan was able to pass the sacrament.  It's normal to be nervous at first, he will get used to it.  That is crazy that the 3rd ward split once again! Does that affect our boundaries and ward?  I should see Taylee in the mission sooner or later.

Thanks for the package it was well appreciated! I don't mind candy but I wouldn't mind some variety and also other snacks. I also would like more Inside Out Acapella and a CD from Handel's Messiah.

I like that message from President Uchtdorf, I believe that the Gospel of Jesus of Christ is the most powerful force in the universe. Why? Because I know of no other force that will change a person's entire life for the better in a drastic way without compelling the person to change.  Nations can't do that, nor armies, nor rehab, nor jail, nor any self help book. And that Gospel can be found in General Conference.  You can feel the Christlike love radiating from the speakers.

I love you a ton!! And I will email you again next week.

Love, Elder Lakey

Thursday, April 17, 2014

#BecauseofHim

I am glad to hear from you. This week was a much better week than last week. We found some solid new investigators.  One investigator was one we discontinued actively teaching in the past and then last sunday he randomly shows up to church, and the other was a relative of a member (everyone is related around here) and she has already read half of the Book of Mormon and wants to do temple work.

We have an Easter Cantata on Saturday and we have been inviting a lot of people out to it.  Also we  have just received word today, that the Church has requested we share an Easter message with everyone we can reach online.  On Mormon.org there is a video called "Because of Him" it is about the Savior's atonement.  I want you to look at it and post the video to your facebook page and put #BecauseofHim.

I am glad to hear that Jonathan was able to receive the priesthood today!  I also glad Rob is still scoutmaster for Jonathan. I thought we finally thought he got out of Young Men's!  I think that is funny that the missionaries asked you for a list. We tried that as a mission a while back and a lot of members got annoyed at that idea, so we abandoned it pretty quickly.

Thanks for the package and I will email you again next week.


Love, Elder Lakey



Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Grateful to be on a Mission

General Conference was great!  I like it a lot more as missionary than I did before my mission.  We invited some investigators out, but some of them forgot and didn't show up.  We had a lot of members trying to invite people to church as well.

On a mission we set two different types of goals. We have numerical goals, for example how many people we want to come to church next Sunday,  And we have action plans. Which simply put is plans to do certain things, like what you are planning on doing. I find action plans to be more effective than numerical goals.

I can't believe Jonathan is going to be a deacon that is so weird to think about!  I am sure he is happy to have a Wii U and I am happy to hear that he is getting the priesthood.

I really liked President Uchtdorf's talk on gratitude.  I never realized it's not about being thankful for all the blessings you have received in life, but rather that there is a loving God who gives us blessings.  And the biggest blessing of all, the Atonement.  I am grateful to be on a mission and I wouldn't trade it for the world. It is tough, and frustrating, but worth it.  I don't give out much details about my mission, because a mission is filled with setbacks and disappointments, and I don't want to fill the email with negative things.  But a mission is the greatest experience in the world!

I hope you loved General Conference and I will email you again next week.

Love,
Elder Lakey