Wake Forest - Week 18 (Training Week 11)

Hey y'all!

Last week was way good but it was super exhausting! It was week 11 of training, that is the week when the trainee is supposed to completely take over the area (planning, teaching, finding, etc). Elder Bleckner did great! At the start of the week he was really struggling with having the confidence to lead and now he is solid. We had a lot of conversations that went like this:

Bleckner "Elder Harper what should we do?"

Harper "Elder I have no idea."

Bleckner "No really, I have no idea what to do."

Harper "You say that like I am supposed to know."

Bleckner "Okay, does ____ sound like a good plan?

Harper "....................... :) ......................."

It was way fun because he knew what to do the whole time, he just needed to trust himself.

We had a miracle come to pass this last week. There is a medically less active in this ward named Bro. Larson. He has been sick for almost 5 years now. He is one of the most spiritual people I have ever met and he loves to do missionary stuff, but because he is sick he isn't able to do much. On Monday we got a referral from some other missionaries and we went to contact the referral on Tuesday. Turns out it was right across the street from Bro. Larson. After we talked to the referral, whose name is Joe, we went to tell Bro. Larson and sent up a lesson at his house for Thursday. It went really well and Joe is a very open minded person and said he would read the Book of Mormon. During the story Brother Larson shared this story about Faith.

There was a man who had climbed to the top of a mountain. As he overlooked a large cliff at all the beauties of the world, a strong wind gust caught him off guard and blew him over the edge. As he fell he was able to catch on to a tree root. As he held on for his life and not knowing what else to do he pleaded with God to save him. As he prayed a voice came to him and asked, "Do you believe that I created all things?" He responded, "yea, Lord, I believe." Then the voice asked, "Do you believe that I created all things that thou canst see?" He responded, "yea, Lord, I believe." "Do you believe that I created the mountain that you climbed and the wind gust that blew you over the cliff?" He responded, "yea, Lord, I believe." "Do you believe that I can create a wind gust strong enough to blow you back to the top of the cliff?" With a little hesitation, he responded, "yea, Lord, I believe." Then the voice came to him again, "then let go."


I loved this story because it illustrates how, I'm sure a lot of people have felt in their lives. Everything seems to be going just right, then some trial or hardship comes and we feel like nothing can save us.  As we trust God he will always catch us, often in ways that may feel like we are being carried by the wind. Love y'all!

Love,
Elder Harper