January 23

Mission Photo from when Elder Ballard came to the mission

We were sending in a video of us teaching and Elder Sheraton popped up.

Dear Family!

There have been tons of amazing things that have happened this week so I hope to capture the larger part of it within this email

Ever after the conference with Elder Ballard, Elder Mullen and I have been trying to talk with everyone that we see. This paid off pretty quickly as we were out on Tuesday. As we were sorting through our potential investigator list we contacted a few people on the street that were interested in learning more. Most of them were pretty repulsed by us wanting to share a message, but then we told them it would help them stop smoking and they were gung-ho for this plan! We talked with a man named Charles who was within that category. Saturday, As we went back to his address he gave us it was incorrect, but I noticed mail that was on the floor with his name and the right apartment number on it.

We also got to have a great lesson with Brother Walker! He was previously on date to be baptized so we went to go see whats been happening. He gladly let us in and we taught him the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even though he is going through financial troubles he loves meeting with us and using his gas to get to church! We pushed his date back three weeks so he can have the time needed to prepare for the baptism.

Following him, we went to Brother Stanek's home. He is an eternigator (which means he doesn't progress but comes to church) I decided that this was to be no more. We found out that smoking has been holding him back from being baptized so we have tried to establish daily contact with him. Wether that be us reading a chapter with him, or giving him a call. He seems to be trying so we will keep him in our prayers! I was pretty bold in that lesson but it wasn't overbearing. He looked and saw I was seriously trying to help him so he was glad to receive it.

Our ward Mission Leader Brother Barnes is on fire.  He met us for splits Tuesday night to go out and contact YSA members in the ward. He has been working hard at his new calling and defiantly has been magnifying it. We got out and just went through the list and ended up finding out the ones we got to had mostly moved out.

Wednesday after our studies, Elder and Sister Vogel (A senior couple in the ward) too us to Vivian's for a lesson. We started to teach the commandments so we can help her progress towards her date in a week. The Vogel were on fire as they stepped in to help teaching. Their testimonies were strong and you could tell they touched Vivian. Afterward they offered to take us to lunch so of course we didn't decline that! They let me choose and we had Chick fil a! 

Our dinner that night was pretty great. The reason it was was because the members we had it with live on Andrews Air Force Base. So Brother Hill picked us up at the church and got us into base. We can only get in if invited so that's why! It was cool to see the base and to have dinner with them.

Shortly after dinner we had an appointment with the Jacksons. They are Baptist so at times it can be hard to teach. Something we have tried to do well is to use scriptures in the Bible to complement the principles we are teaching so they cannot question it. They are great at asking questions and Brother Jackson even takes notes as we talk so he can study them afterward.

The last miracle of the week was when we had our appointment with Jennifer. We just so happened schedule our meeting the same time as Stake Conference Saturday night. As we were waiting for her to arrive we were chatting with Sister Johnson and told her about the appointment we were about to have. When Jennifer arrived we went straightway into the lesson. Brother Barnes and the Bodmers sat in for the lesson to assist in the teaching. It was a very strong, smooth sailing lesson in which the Ward missionaries were able to teach parts. At the end we invited her to be baptized and she accepted! We will get her to church so that'll be official.

It's been a great week and I really have had the chance to see the hand of the Lord in the work. I know that through the Atonement we can better our lives and the lives of those around us.

Love,

Elder Bentley