Elder Mower Letter #9

Hello everybody!

A great week has gone by here in Eagan! Today we had transfer calls! I cant believe i am done with my first transfer already (There are 17 transfers for English missionaries here). Time flies fast in the field. It really does. So President Clements called us and apparently my companion, Elder Baker is now our district leader! but we are still together! This week has been so awesome!!! President Clements came out with a new mission goal: To invite 1000 people TO BE BAPTIZED. I'm not gonna lie I'm still very scared about this goal because that is a pretty bold thing to do. He even counseled us to ask people out on the streets. That's pretty gutsy. My companion who has been out for a year, is also very scared about this challenge. We haven't invited anyone yet but we are making it a priority to invite many to baptism in Eagan this upcoming week. This week will be called BOLD WEEK. We are very loving with those people we come in contact with but we aren't as bold as we should be. We'll see how bold week goes!

So here is the missionary work in Eagan this past week: I had my first baptism last Saturday!!! Dylan Gunter, 17 years old, entered the waters of baptism 2 days ago and received the Holy Ghost yesterday during Sacrament meeting. Of all the baptisms I have been to, the Spirit was very different in a very good way. It was stronger as I came to the knowledge that Heavenly Father worked a miracle in Dylan's life through Elder Baker and I. He was so happy after he was baptized. He said that he felt light. It was amazing. We know that he will be a great missionary someday. We had an AWESOME miracle yesterday! We went to a members house to have dinner. The mom hadn't even started dinner yet because she was out visiting teaching. Well, unfortunately we ended up staying MUCH longer than we should have. Then we go to visit some of our potential investigators. We went to Paul and Barbs house. They answered the door and said that we can come in and teach them a lesson. The amazing part is that they said that they just got home. The reason that we stayed at the members house longer was because the Lord made it possible for us to meet with this couple to teach them. The Lord really is causing miracles to happen. Anyways they are a Catholic couple. We taught them about the Restoration, Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, and eternal families. Barb said that her daughter believes that marriage is only in this life. She really wants to believe that she can be together with her husband and children forever. She said that It doesn't make sense that Heavenly Father would give us families to grow close to them and then just rip them away from us. Heavenly Father wouldn't do that. So we have a great feeling the the concept of eternal families is what will really draw them to the gospel. We invited them to read the Book of Mormon and to pray to know if it is true. They are very busy for the next few months but next time we meet with them, we will extend a baptismal invitation to them. We know that great things are in store for Paul and Barb. We taught Sister Briggs just last Wednesday and another BIG miracle happened! She was having trouble knowing that Joseph Smith was a true prophet and that the Book of Mormon is true. We were working with her since the beginning of the transfer and just this last time we met with her, she finally told us that she KNOWS that the church is true. If the church is true, then the one who restored it today (Joseph Smith) is truly called of God and that the Book of Mormon is true, it being the keystone of our religion. That was so wonderful to hear her say that. She couldn't be doing any better. Now she is trying to get her husband to hear a message from us. He read a little bit from the Book of Mormon so far. I'll keep you all updated on what happens. Not much has happened because it has been a hard week but we have had miracles happening in Eagan! We couldn't be happier!

Here is the spiritual thought of the week: Doctrine and Covenants 103:36: "All victory and glory is brought to pass unto you through your diligence, faithfulness, and prayers of faith." I also read in preach my gospel this morning that faith is a principle of power. With unshakable faith, we can do all things and perform many miracles, just like Jesus Christ. Faith precedes miracles. I know that miracles will continue to happen in this mission and throughout the work as we, the defenders of the faith, will continue to be faithful, obedient, prayerful, and bold but loving. The church is SO true. I'll talk to you all later!

Love
Elder Mower