Another awesome week out here in North Carolina! The weather has been beautiful all week which is awesome because it was bike week! I got the brakes fixed on my bike so I can actually stop now which is nice. Last p-day we played basketball for a solid 3 hours. Sometimes basketball gets pretty aggressive but it makes for a good time.
Kristen ( the lady we have been teaching with the twin boys ) is doing awesome! She had to cancel our appointments this week because she has been sick. But she texted us that she has been reading the Book of Mormon and receiving lots of answers to her prayers!!!! We are super stoked for her and we are meeting with her in an hour and we are going to extend a baptismal commitment! Hopefully she keeps going in the right direction, I know she has felt the spirit and she is so ready. The Lord has really been placing people in our path.
We found two solid new people to teach this week which doesn't sound Like a lot but it's a pretty big deal. One of them is Terry, and he came to church with us yesterday!! He's a super cool dude and he's going to read and pray about the book of Mormon. He might be moving across Durham and he wouldn't be in our area anymore but he will be moving into our zone leaders area which is awesome.
We also found a guy named Jeremy and we are meeting with him again tonight at 7. The Lord truly has placed these people in our path and it's been awesome to get to know them and teach them.
We did quite a bit more service this week. We dug a 40 foot ditch on Tuesday at the Smith's house, we also mowed about 3 hours worth of lawn, and did quite a bit of mulch. Service is awesome and it really catches people off guard when they see 2 missionaries all dressed up they immediately think we are just trying to convert them. They're always like, "we already have a church" and we always say , " that's awesome, we are actually in the community looking for service opportunities today. Is there anything we can do for you." Its hilarious because their jaw drops every time and it really let's us gain they're trust and open up opportunities to teach about the gospel.
We were in a sketchy apartment complex in downtown Durham at dusk the other night trying to contact a guy named Marquis. When we pulled up on our bikes a drunk guy came over and was talking to us. He was pretty crazy but long story short he wanted us to pray with him. So I said a prayer and then he wanted Elder Cook to say a prayer. Well he thought Elder Cook was racist or something and in the middle of the prayer he started screaming at Elder Cook saying he wasn't praying from the heart. So after a couple minutes we got him calmed down and then we went and knocked on Marquis door and he wasn't even there hahah. Sometimes that's just how it goes.
We had zone conference this week and we got to learn a lot from President Holland and the APs. We've been putting a lot more emphasis on working with members and planning more. It had been awesome and the members in our ward are awesome. They are so willing to help and whenever we bring someone to church, they make them feel loved which is awesome.
Nothing else really happened this week, but we have seen some awesome miracles and the Lords hand in this work.
Overall it's been a great week, we taught a lot of lessons and contacted a lot of people. I'm learning a lot, Elder Cook is a beast and we've been having some good times. One thing I've been learning about is patience, it's not always easy to be patient. Especially as a missionary you're not always going to get a long with everyone and some people will try to slow you down but you can't let them get to you. In Alma chapter 26 it says:
27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.
I can testify that when we are patient and persevere through our struggles the Lord will bless us. He's there helping us every step of the way. The Lord truly does hear our prayers and he wants us to succeed.
Thank you for all the support, I love you guys so much!!!
Elder Forrest
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