Hey Mom,
sounds like a crazy month. sounds like you guys sure had a good time. If i would have thought about it you could have met up with Elder Gibbons family at the stadium of fire. i just found out a couple seconds ago that his family was there too.
i sure miss our family vacations. there isnt alot that is more fun.
our tracting on that day (July 4th) didnt go very well but yesterday we did really well. you kind of cant predict tracting. it seems like its a hit or a miss every time. on the 4th we got about 1 address i think and yesterday we got 7. about 1 in 20 addresses or people who express interest in meeting with us turns into a new investigator just to help you understand addresses. when i say we are doing checkbacks i mean we are checking the addresses of people who have expressed some interest.
this week was pretty exciting. we didnt find any new investigator which was a bummer but we did set a baptismal date with henry. we taught him the gospel of Jesus Christ lesson and it was amazing. the Spirit was really strong. i had already tried to set a date with him so it was Elder Gibbons' turn. last zone conference we were taught about baptism and lots of things about it. one of the things was that we were to ask in a specific way. we say "will you follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized by someone holding the Priesthood authority of God? then whether we get a yes or a no we are supposed to ask "we will be holding a baptismal service on ___. will you prepare yourself to be baptized on that date?" so the Spirit was really strong and we had just heard on awesome story from our fellowshipper about baptism since he wasnt baptized until he was 40 and Elder Gibbons asked the first question. henry started talking about his catholic baptism and it was looking like another no. i have been with Elder Gibbons long enough to read what he was thinking and i know it was difficult for him to finish what we had been asked to do. we could just take a no and not bother him any more but Elder Gibbons forged ahead and then henry started to talk and then he paused for a second and the Spirit filled the room. he said that he would be baptized on the 29th of next month. now we just need to get him to church.
chris er* missed church this week but he is still commited and we had a member come with us to give chris information about lds employment services. hopefully with all the help we have given him he can make it work. the ward council is starting to give us some subtle hints that they want us to baptize him anyway but they dont know him like we do and every missionary who has been part of this situation feels like he shouldnt be baptized until he gets sundays off. so we will do whatever we can to help him.
we did some service at dan's this week. we have been helping him to dig out this enclosed garden area. no breakthrough's there yet.
casey, the guy who invited us over with two pastors at his house had decided that he wants to meet with just us. no small miracle there. that wont be till monday though. we have lots of investigators that have been difficult to see. i think that is pretty much it for my week. its been a good one.
Candice: it is odd how many pastors live here. but they are always nice people. glad that you guys got to have fun in utah. i deffinately miss our utah vacations.
Grandpa: i didnt know that you knew Elder Bednar. he was completely different than i thought he would be. but i guess now it makes sense because he was just a geniunly nice guy and he went through a lot of effort to make sure that everyone felt like their comment added to what we were talking about. he is really funny as well. it is to me a testimony boost in itself that an Apostle is so light hearted. sure missed you guys since i wasnt able to be with you this summer. glad you had some fun.
to Grandma: im sorry that you were sick this week. sounds like fun, going to alaska. deffinately looking forward to the package.
Love your favorite missionary,
Elder Taylor Barron
4 comments:
Another amazing week, Tay! Stick to your guns about Henry, he will be more apt to stay active if he can get to church--you are so right! Congrats on your good work, we love you!
Candice
Love reading your emails. Your attitude and dedication is always supreme! Just wanted you to know that I sent you a small package with some things I think you'll like. Today is Friday, the 10th of July, so it should get there Monday because I sent it Priority Mail. Of course that is to the mission home so I don't know how fast they get it to you. Just know it's on the way.
We have been busy trying to catch up after all the traveling and having company. I know your Mom is doing the same thing. She said the grass was knee high. We don't leave for Alaska until the 23rd. So we have awhile to get ready.
I love your pictures. It looks like you are able to relax and have fun some.
We are praying that you will find more people to teach. I know that is something you want. Good luck with Henry and as Candice said, you are right to make sure he is totally ready.
Well, take care Elder and we will be excited for your next post.
Love ya, Grandma Sue
Love the pictures. That is a cool story about Henry. Do you go tracting every day? Some days? Also, I was wondering about how many Books of Mormon you give away on average each month.
We love you and pray for you. You are doing good work.
Great photo of the two of you and the packages. So who had the biggest, baddest package? Looked pretty close to me, but I thought you had the edge. Also great cake you baked. I'm impressed. The work on the icing, well, that's just amazingly creative and shows wonderful technique and mastery. Would you bake one for me when you get back home? Maybe we could just eat a piece or two over a glass of milk and just talk for awhile. I'd like that.
Summer seems to be passing way too quickly. Before I know it its going to be September. I've got a lot of hustling to do to get all the work done I was intending to finish this summer. You're probably feeling something of the same thing.
I've been working with a writer for the Ensign magazine helping her put together a story about LDS Philanthropies and our role in the Kingdom and how important charity is in our lifes. Along the way I got to thinking that the gospel is meant to be experienced. It isn't something you just study or talk about in Church. For it to take root in our hearts it must be experienced. That's how you get a testimony of each of the various elements of the Plan of Happiness. Faith. Repentance. Baptism. Missionary work. Temple work. They must all be experienced to fully understand them. Just like the seed of faith that Alma talked about, you've got to try them. Experience them. Then, you'll know they are true principles and that they indeed do bring happiness.
How's that for today's thought?
Love you, son. Keep up the great work. The Lord is with you and has His angels watching over you as well.
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