November 25, 2014

Hi Family! 

I can't believe I won't be spending thanksgiving with my family for the first time ever! It's crazy and I'm going to miss you guys like crazy! But know I'm thinking about you all and I'm thankful for each and every one of you and the impact that you've had on me! Kids, good luck in the turkey bowl, but it's going to be a tough one this year! Hopefully you guys can keep a winning streak alive for the kids! I'll be rooting for you from the Duke City!! Thanks to Annie, Bam, and Bar for the video, and Puppy Boo is getting uglier and uglier hahaha;) I wish I could send you guys one back but these computers don't let us send videos:/ Thanks to Danny for the video also, it was awesome! Hope the golf game is doing well. I can't even describe how much I miss golf! Dad that is awesome what President Strong said about repentance, I've never looked at it that way. We actually had a zone conference this week and Elder Corbridge of the 70 came and gave a talk! It was super good, and one of the things he talked about is that the reason people say no to baptism is because they don't understand. They don't understand how important it is to be forgiven of our sins, to be free of all guilt and shame and everything that sin brings, and to have eternal life after death! Once people know the importance of all of that, how could you turn that down? It hit me really hard and I'm trying to change my teaching to help people understand the importance of the Atonement and the impact that it has on us. this week was pretty good. Not too much happened but we met with Randy a couple times, and we also got a new investigator named Evete, she is a 60 year old lady who says she's "Trying to get back to Jesus" We were like, "We can definitely help you with that one!"  We taught her the Gospel of Jesus Christ lesson and invited her to baptism at the end of it. She was debating it and kinda said a prayer out loud to Heavenly Father, asking him if this was what she needed and she said yes! So we got another person on baptism date which is sweet! We met with Randy on Tuesday Friday and Sunday, and on Friday he was in a ton of pain because he is disabled because of his back. That was sad to see him like that, But on Sunday we went over after church and had a lesson about reading the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon, and it went really well! He said he would and he also said that we just have to be patient with him, and that he is truly trying to quit but it's going to take some time. He said he wants to get baptized a ton and that we were the best thing that's ever happened to him in his entire life! It was so humbling to hear that, and it made me so happy and thankful to be a missionary! We love Randy and we know he will get baptized! I'm so blessed to be a seeervant in the Lords vineyard right now! This work is the best work that any of us could do, at this time and I'm loving it! Thanks for all of your support and for everything that you do for me! I love all of you guys, and I miss you! Let me know how the turkey bowl goes!

Love Elder Summerhays