Week 58 - September 5, 2022

  Go Gators!

 Hey, everybody!  Hope you're all doing good.  This week was great.  We found a lot more people to teach through our contacts and have been setting up lessons with them.  We have three people right now that have received all of the lessons but are hesitant to take the step of being baptized. They are waiting for a huge sign to be shown to them which is tough because that's usually not how it works.  It's through consistent prayer and showing our faith that we receive answers.  But slowly but surely, they are getting closer.

Throughout my mission, it's been especially hard for people I'm teaching to take the step of being baptized because in 3 of my 4 areas, I've re-opened areas that haven't had missionaries for a certain amount of time.  But as of lately, I have realized that most of the work that I have been doing is planting seeds to new people.  Talking and teaching people that have never seen or spoken to missionaries in their lives. It's a big responsibility because if I don't make a good first impression to these people, then they will never want to speak with other missionaries down the road.  So, what I've tried to focus on and teach my greenie companion, is that it's important how people view us as missionaries and see what we do because one day when another missionary goes up to talk to them, they are going to think about us, and how we talked to them, and the type of people we were to them. 

In my first area Panca, two people have been baptized there that me and my comp found and started teaching while we were there.

In Nahuala, one Hermana has been baptized who me and my comp started teaching there.

And just this week in Patalup, a family of five were all put on date for baptism, who are a family that we contacted and started teaching as well. 

I know that the same thing will happen to the people here in Chicorral.  I've taken time this week to look back and see how much "seed planting" I've been able to do, and I'm thankful that I'm able to be in these areas where I can be a first impression to someone, and maybe one day they'll come unto Christ like some already.  I love finding and teaching people.  I love being a disciple of Christ.  I love being a missionary and trying as hard as I can to build up his church.  I know the Spirit is guiding me every day and I can feel it. 

Also, started reading The Book of Mormon again this week and I'm already in Mosiah.  Reading The Book of Mormon is my favorite part of the day.  Go read it!

(Also, prayers for Elder Robinson, as his Utes couldn't make it out of the swamp ;)🐊)

Love you and miss you all!

 - Elder Copeland