These weeks just keep going and going and going. Oakland is a great place to be, especially now that Spring is bringing in warmer temperatures and clearer days.We had a busy week here.
We're primarily busy preparing for Aris's baptism on Saturday! It's exciting, but coordination with the sister missionaries serving in his new ward has been a bit of a hassle. I will be grateful to see everything culminate on Saturday. We taught him a lesson on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and he showed us he has very sound doctrinal understanding through answering our questions. We hope he understands the power of repentance. Ive learned kn my mission how important that principle is, and that its given to us for our benefit. Im grateful fkr the chamce we have to change and improve each day. We hope Aris now understands it a little more as well. Saturday will be a great day for all of us.
We also met with Lisa Sun, and we taught her The Plan of Salvation. She loves the scriptures, so we taught her each point in the lesson using a different verse in the Book of Mormon. She really seemed to connect more to the discussion, and she really enjoyed the lesson. She had a lot of questions about The Fall, and we were able to help her to realize why it's a positive thing. God needed his children to understand What it was like to disobey Him, so that they could experience the sorrow and guilt that comes from as a result. This would allow them to want to find happiness that can only be found through obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Commandments. I am grateful for what the Spirit taught me as a result of that lesson. We invited Lisa to be baptized, but she doesn't feel ready, unfortunately. We will still utilize the scriptures as much as possible to teach her, and help her grow in her Faith.
Though we reside in Oakland, we hardly spent any time there this week. We were busy contacting potentials and tracting all across the neighboring cities in our area: Walnut Creek, Concord, Martinez, and Pleasant Hill to name a few. Its been a busy week of finding for Elder Carns and I, but I have found it to be more enjoyable than I have in the past. I've come to the conclusion that attitude is everything. Changing my perspective has helped me to be more willing and even excited to get out and find. Of course, some days are better than others, but we are trying.
I also had the great opportunity to return to visit my first area on my mission, in order to give a baptismal interview to a Chinese man there. It was such a great experience reuniting with the Union City 3rd Branch members. It was very special, and I felt like I was coming home. I am grateful for the lasting relationships that we can have, and that those relationships are strengthened as a result of the Gospel.
I am grateful to have spent another week as a Missionary. I am grateful to have support from people like you. I am grateful for my loving Heavenly Father. I know He lives, and that His Son died for me. This Gospel is SO true!
Have an amazing week, and shoot a prayer or two up for Aris if you can! We will need heaven's blessings coming up!
谢谢! 我爱你们!
Elder Butters/包长老
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