I am so grateful this week as i have witnessed many miracles that have strengthened my testimony. i am sorry if i dont get the chance to write you each a personal letter but know that i am reading your letters and do enjoy them. time is the only thing that keeps me from responding to each of you with a personal letter. Forgive me.
I didn't get the chance to e mail yesterday because we had interviews in Norwich (town about an hour away) with president as a Zone. What a great experience that was. We received training's from both sister And President Jordan. They are truly inspired people who have the spirit with them. You can feel the love within them as you speak with them. What a blessing it was to have attended that meeting. Just a few thoughts that i took away from that meeting. We know that Jesus is the Great Shepherd. He gathers his sheep for they recognize his voice. He has instructed us to feed his sheep thus making us an under shepherd. We have a choice as to what type of under shepherd we can be. We can look to the Savior who is our ultimate example and do as he would do. or we can be a hireling. Someone who is hired to do a task and agrees to do a job because of the profit involved. As we read how Christ gathers the sheep we read that he leads his sheep for they know his voice and he knows each of them by name. This is what we are to do. As we gain a testimony of the gospel we are able to taste of the fruit that it bears. As we taste of its fruit it becomes our desire to share it with others so they too can see that it is great. As we follow the spirit and teach about the gospel, and we all have the responsibility to teach in our various capacities, weather it be by example or a more formal setting, the message will seem familiar to that person. It makes sense deep within them. As we continue teaching them they realize why this message is familiar. They lived with Christ before this life. We were sent down to gain a body and be tested. Christ literally took upon the sins of the world so that we may return to live with him in Celestial Glory. Without this sacrifice it would literally be impossible to return to live in the presence of our father. We are all imperfect but through Christ, as we take part in the repentance process, our sins are remembered no more. We are able to be clean from sin thus allowing us to be happy. What a great message we share. What a blessing it is to know these things to be true. I know how the gospel has blessed my life. For that reason i am out here sharing this message to show that we can achieve greater happiness through Jesus Christ. The Gospel is Universal yet so personal. Every person needs it in there life. The Lord has prepared and continues to prepare hearts to feel of this joy. i have witnessed changed hearts for myself.
quick update on some of our investigators
Maria: she will be baptized this Saturday. She is 35 years old from Portugal and excited beyond belief. I told her that the church only asks one thing and that is that she will sing a solo at the service. her face dropped. after i told her i was kidding she started laughing and told me that if that was the case she was pulling a no show.
Ian Brown: He has had the Book of mormon for about 2 weeks now and is almost into Alma. He has built my testimony so much. When we began teaching he was right next to Atheist. He wanted there to be a God but since all the bad in to world thought that there was no way. He kept committments and agreed to Church, Prayer, and Reading. As he did this a change came over him. Overnight he went from trying to drop us, exclaiming that we were wasting our time, to a full believer in Jesus Christ. He continues to read from the book of mormon and prays to know if it is true daily.
Amlica: more of a funny story than anything as he is simply investigating for his theology course but we meet with him about once a week anyways. He needs the gospel just as much as anyone. so he tried to criticise us saying that we don't read from the bible at all. after getting a little frustrated with him and explaining that we do in fact read from it and believe in its words he came back with the only response he could think of. he looked at us with a blank expression and with his strong British accent, he hesitantly stated so simply "well...if it aint the bible than its gotta be voo doo."
we have many other investigators but my time is limited here. Family know that i love and appreciate each of your letters. keep them up! i pray for you all daily specifically. I know that this gospel is true and blesses life. it changes lives. With Christ nothing is impossible. Please send family pics, or any pics. i love them. If i was homesick i would say otherwise for they might be hard to see but regarding homesickness..."aint nobody got time fo' dat."
All my love
Elder Evans
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