Why I Believe

 

Bridger playing at the "Why I Believe" night.

 

 

 

Dear Family!

It definitely is getting a lot colder here in Maryland! It's been in the 50's most of the week but Saturday and Sunday night it was getting down to 33 degrees. It definitely makes me excited for the winter because it's a cold I've never really experienced before. The members have been feeding us a lot this week, we think it is mostly because Archibald leaves in a few weeks so they want to pamper him, but it is really enjoyable! We were fed 8 times this last week. 

On Tuesday I was able to go on exchanges with one of the Zone Leaders. Elder Collins and I had a couple of great experiences while we were out tracting that night. We pulled up in the car and parked in a cold-a-sack, when we climbed out of the car a little boy runs up to me and starts talking with me. He asked how I was and what we were doing. He was talking with us for a couple of minutes then asked if we wanted to see his dog. He walked over to his driveway and picked up his little puppy, we started talking to his mother and shared our message of the Book of Mormon with her. It was a great contact because it was because of the little boy that we were able to share the gospel with her. 

The next house we knocked on was this really nice lady who talked with us for a few minutes. She told us that her mother was very nice to the missionaries down south when she was a little kid. Because of her mother she wanted to do the same for us as well. She works right by the temple to we were able to invite her to go to the events that happen there every month. She told us to come back sometime so we will stop by and see how she is doing. 

On Friday we were able to finally go to the temple to go through a session. This was the first time since I came into the area and it was a great experience. The temple workers are so very nice to us and you cannot but feel like you are home and loved. The smiles on their faces when we go to the temple are priceless. Since that was what we had planned for the day we were able to spend time pondering, reading, and praying. The connection to our Heavenly Father is so much more powerful, especially as a missionary. 

Our lessons with investigators have been really scarce, we had only had one appointment this last week. There are many factors that I think play into it. We had an appointment at the end of church with a man who wanted a Book of Mormon. It was very nice because we were able to teach him a lesson with the same drop by on Sunday. Tonight we got fed by a family named the Phillips. Their oldest daughter is 7 and found out that I play the piano and has really taken a liking to me because of it. She drew us all pictures and we thought that was very sincere. Sunday night was also Why I Believe, which Sister Cooke had asked me to play for it in light of the following speaker. As I started to play, my fingers just started to play themselves. It was faster than I anticipated but overall I did well. The best I could have done in a weeks notice. It was lots of fun to play on the Steinway and sons piano. The speaker, Vai Sikahema afterwards thanked me for my music and that he thought it was amazing. That really started to boost my spirit.

This week has been a great week and I am even more excited to go out this next week and find those elect children of the Laurel area. 

 

Love, Elder Bentley