Last week in Durham

Wow what a great week in Durham!

I started out this week on exchange with Elder Crapo who came out in the MTC with me. We had a blast together and did a lot of service. We were able to mulch someone's yard, chop vines with some machetes, and help someone move all in one day.

Unfortunately Elder Steffensen and Elder Elder Conry didn't get a long on their exchange so that made district council pretty tense but that's all right.

The rest of the week was fantastic! We found 4 new people to teach. The 2 that are most noteworthy are London and his wife Gabriela. They were a Bible request from Temple square. Brother Newman took us over there for a lesson and we taught them the restoration! They were super excited to read from the Book of Mormon, and we are meeting with them again tonight.

We did a lot of teaching this week and made a lot of great progress in the area. Unfortunately Terry's progress has come to a halt, as he cant stop smoking, but he is still coming to church. We are doing everything we can to help him.

We had a record this week of 4 people at church. Terry was there, Alec and her son Jennifer, and Naomi. Naomi was someone that we had previously taught but she wouldn't read or come to church or do anything. We were in her neighborhood on Saturday night and we stopped by. She told us about all the hard things she has been going through and I kind of went off on her and called her to repentance. We told her she needed to start showing the Lord that she wants to be helped if she wants things to get better. We told her she needs to come to church because we care about her, the ward cares about her, and God cares about her...and he cant help if she wont let him. She said she would "try to make it" and then that's when I really went off. I told her that everyone always say they will "try" and they never come. I told her that it's either yes or no and if there is a will there is way. She said she would be there, and she came!!!! The ward took her in and she felt the love. She said she wants to start coming every week. We were super glad she came, and hopefully this is a turning point for her.

Overall this has been a great week and a great way to end my stay here in Durham. Tomorrow I will be transferred, I'm not sure where I will go, or who my companion will be but all i know is that I'm leaving the Durham 2nd ward. I'm really going to miss it here, I have grown to love the people here and I hope they continue to grow closer to the Savior and his Gospel. Looking back on when I first got here to Durham I have grown so much. I am grateful for this opportunity to be a missionary, this has been the most rewarding and greatest experience of my life.

Something that stood out to me in my studies this week was the story of Abinadi. He was so courageous and he did what the Lord told him to and ultimately was burned to death. Only one person listened to what Abinadi said, the prophet Alma. Alma repented of his sins and he started to teach the Gospel that Abinadi preached. He had to do it in secret at the waters of Mormon because king Noah was trying to kill him. In Mosiah chapter 18 Alma established Jesus Christ church and baptized 450 people before they had to depart into the wilderness to flee the king and his army. All this came about because one man followed the commandments of God and prophesied even until he was burned to death.

1 person can have a profound effect on generations to come.

I love yall and hope you have a great week. Thank you for the love and support.

Elder Forrest

2 cute puppies!

Last day in da hood. Sportin their doo rags.

stomping on Elder Stephenson's cookies

Swinging on vines