Monson, 4-18-11
I’m La-Monty

Hey fam!

This week I have gained a personal testimony of what dad has always said to me as long as I can remember. Dad you always said, "Always remember that the blessings come AFTER our biggest trials" (or at least that’s how I remember you saying it). And it’s true! This week was the trial, almost the whole week long, and then Sunday came the blessing. I can’t explain all that happened or everything I felt, but I do know God blesses us for the work we do.

The biggest part of the trial was probably the baptisms we didn’t have. We had 4 planned, like very well planned, and they just all fell through…one by one; and it wasn’t just like they all fell at once. One by one the week just got worse and worse. I couldn’t believe it! The baptism for all 4 of them was planned for Saturday at 7pm and we believed God would bless us with a baptism right up till the end. We had everything ready for the baptism: hymns, prayers, talks, musical number, Baptismal INTERVIEWS, clean chapel, chairs set up, baptismal clothes washed and ironed. Just lacked the water in the font (which we were ready to start). BUT, Saturday afternoon we had to cancel everything. The dad, who was our last hope for a baptism and at the last moment said, “no, and no baptism”. The hardest part was that we had been told by a seventy that a real dedicated missionary can baptize every week of his mission. I believe him, I just haven’t baptized in like 5 months.

So that was the majority of the trial. Now for the blessing part, at least what I can share. It all happened yesterday (Sunday) which are usually our hardest days. At church I had the most edifying experience of my life. That was the best part of the blessing but also the hardest to describe. It was in sacrament meeting while listening to the talks. I felt the spirit so strong, as if I was in the MTC again. I think as missionaries we have got to know the ward better than anyone else and when the members talk and share experiences they are just more special for us missionaries because we understand the background. I love this ward and all the members so much!

We also had 4 investigators in sacrament meeting again!! (Used to think it was impossible) We would have had 5 but one had to leave after the first two hours. One investigator we had not only came (which is asking a lot as it was) but also brought a friend who recently divorced (and her X-husband took everything from the house - you know, just one of those types of trials) and she loved church. Also a dad, who isn’t a member but all the rest of his family are and have been for like 15 years, came and stayed for all 3 hours for the first time in his life! He sure didn’t come because we invited him (because we have done that plenty of times) but because his nephew, who he has watched grow up and finally got baptized this last year and has been making a complete change in his life, invited him. Did that make sense? His recent convert nephew invited him and so he came, Finally!!

That is only to name a few. Also, we had members at every appointment yesterday and they all went great. We have yet to have members drive us to an appointment and stay to help, but yesterday we did! It changed the whole lesson…. instead of the common routine lesson where we commit them to do things and then they don’t do them, the members gave their personal testimonies and could relate to the investigators and told of personal blessings AND offered to pick them up in their car for church on Sunday (they are one of only 3 families in the ward that have a car, so that’s offering quite a bit). That NEVER happens!! I loved it.

It has just been awesome. I love the mission. I love being able to learn so much because we get to give our full time to the Lord. I might be even crazy saying it (and my companion also said the same thing yesterday) but the blessings were worth all the trials! Woo-who!! I love you all!!

Elder Tryon