IW'm sad to leave Dayton and Winchester is known among missionaries to be that area people don't want to serve in. But I love it here! I get to bike again. And our area is huge it covers three counties. It's the second largest in the mission. Because the area is so big and there is so few members for such a large area that most people have never heard of God restoring his church or the love God has for us to call and have continually prophets and other leaders that are assigned by inspiration to minister to them personally. I have seen so many miracles. All I can exclaim is how great is our God!
For Example
This week we received a referral to stop by a house down the street right by the river in Sardinia(a small town in the middle of our area) far from our apartment. When we stopped I had one of the most awkward contacts I have had in a while as I talked to a young girl newly in high school who had never really experienced anything religious. That conclusion of the conversation was to come by tomorrow when her parents would be home.... as we drove over the next day I felt very strongly that we should pray and my companion agreed. We both worried over what we going to happen after such a strange contact the day before. In that prayer we prayed very specifically that "God would allow us to teach with the spirit and power. So that these people could be helped. And if not that we would be led to those who would receive us. And as we walked up there long driveway the mom walks around from out back and says my daughter said you were coming, we have our religion get off our property and she left.
But we continued up the street and Brian just Got home from is trip. He has been around and tried many churches but has found no church that has a real God they all say he is a great God yet they act as if he is some mysterious creature and not realistic. We shared his God has called prophets on the earth today and he has revealed another ancient record of scripture as evidence of it. He was very excited to receive a copy and he even came to church the next day(Winchester has not had a non member at church in while).
On another occasion, we stopped by a LA member of the church. She has not been fir many years, she is older and unable to stand for long periods of time. She wanted nothing to do with church but we persisted to try different approaches about the church to soften her heart, and finally when asked about family history, she got flustered and tried to shut the door on us... but in a flash if energy we stopped her. She then went on to share how a storm years back got her computer wet and and she lost many valuable pictures that only she had and that things like this had happened over and over to her as she has tried to help her ancestors so she had decided she us just too old no use in trying anymore. We shared how God has inspired new technology that allows us to do it on our mobile phones. And that she is not alone in this but that the church has provided very specific individuals to help with these concerns. And it was if we had just ignited a campfire in a dark and stormy night. A light and a since of hope entered her, I am very hopeful that through this small window we will be able to fellowship her back to full activity.
Another miracle, when I got here my companion was very unenthusiastic for the work because he had been here for a while and he had never seen anyone at church. Not only was it a miracle to change his heart but, I taught him how to knock a door and we ran into Blake. Blake is someone we would never meet. His life right now is baseball, he coaches baseball and he plays baseball. And by his stature he us probably pretty good. Well he has not Grown up religious but has been wanting to be, he knows God is there but has been confused on where to go. He tries to go to a church as often as he can wherever he is but they he hasn't had any good experiences so far that fit what he has read from the bible. Then we show up. He was distant from us at first but as we talked the spirit touched him about the truthfulness of our message and his is enthusiastic to read the book of mormon.
Lastly in the spirit of Father's Day. I am very grateful for my father he has set a great example for my no Matter what the circumstances were.
At any holiday my father would always tell me that he wanted a happy family. I never understood that, I mean why would you want that, you could choose this that or another and he would always chose the one thing I didn't understand how to give... I
mean in church we always here about the Gospel blesses family or in my interpretation the gospel blesses every family but mine.
I learned in personal study this morning I was wrong. God will bless your family as you seek the gospel individually but you also need to realize, Satan greatest attack today centers on destroying the home.
But because of the Gospel that all of you have been, are currently apart of we can be protected from his relentless attacks even though at times it seems all is lost. The battle is not over and because of the God who loves us already knows how it will end.
Love y'all
Elder Jarvis
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