Happy President's Day

A couple of "Bentley's!"

Our District

Dear Family!

This week has been a great week here in Upper Marlboro! The most exciting thing that happened would've had to been the killer Valentines night that we had. This has been the biggest miracle of the week hands down. Tuesday we got a text from a member who is dating one of our investigators saying they wanted to have us over for a little dinner that night. Even though we already had a dinner appointment for the night we set this up we need to take every shot that we have. We got there and had some subs while discussing thing that have been happening in Will's life. Sister Huss had already contacted us about keeping our lesson focused on helping him quit smoking.

We got into the lesson and moved straight into repentance. We decided to approach it through the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we daughter repentance and keeping the commandments for strength, that's when we brought it up. We talked about how his lack of obedience to the word of wisdom is holding him back from blessings from the lord. Then after strong testimonies were born, we committed him to stop smoking for 1 week, and the good news is that he has stopped! The hard part of over, now he just needs to fight over the mental aspects of the addiction. His body however is no longer addicted! We knew he was doing well especially when we saw him in church yesterday!

Wednesday we went with Elder and Sister Vogel to the Pinkard family house to teach them. We had been stressing over what to teach them in the family home evening, but when we got there two Mormon messages came into mind to show them. We had a pretty good lesson with them, but they seemed to be distracted by their youngest son, we will keep working with them. 

Thursday I was on exchange with Elder Wach. He came to see how things were going and if there really was anything he could do for us. While we were out and about we got to go to an area where we had a few cool things happen. We ran into this home that had a Bentley parked outside their home, I knocked the door and the Indian family thought it was way cool I was a Bentley! They invited us back so we will get back to that area! There was also a Ukrainian lady who's door we knocked onto. She knew hardly any English, because she was living with her daughter who was at work. Before we left though she ran inside and grabbed us some yummy Ukrainian chocolate which was way nice with her.

That night we had a great appointment with Deea. She was taking the lessons to learn how to flip her life around. There was good news and bad news though. The good news was that the spirit was strong in the lesson that night, the bad news was she texted us the next morning dropping us. We were so devastated about that. I felt a strong sorrow for her decision to drop us. Just her circumstances would improve if she really knew the fullness of the gospel.  

That didn't kill our day though, the Smith family had us over for dinner that night. We have gotten word that their oldest daughter is 8 and they are wanting her to get baptized. They are just waiting on the uncle to fly out to ordain the father and to be there for the baptism. She will turn 9 before he gets out here so we started the lessons with her. Brother smith made us a nice Texan meal. Steak and potatoes with stuffed jalapeños wrapped in bacon. Melissa the daughter has an English accent because her mom is from England. It was hilarious watching her enthusiasm about things in America, especially 7-Eleven.

Saturday night we got to visit the Jackson family. They are baptists and are pretty strong in their faith. The interest in the church is our ability to answer their questions that have been on their minds for months that their 17 year old son asks them. We had a great lesson with them as we taught the restoration. They invited us for dinner so we ate as we taught. They had some great cornbread! The spirit was very strong and they committed to reading and will come to church in 2 weeks! Sister Jacksons brother passed away the 15th so it was good timing for us to be there. 

Other than that it's been a quick week! We have transfers this Wednesday so we will find out if one of us leaves. I don't think I will, but there is a small possibility that Elder Mullen will be leaving.

Love,

Elder Bentley