Family, Trials, & Endurance

Hello Family & Friends,

Everyone is proud of their family. Yesterday I saw a picture of Elder Calls (senior missionary couple here) family and when I asked him about it he immediately came over to talk to me about it. I think about Grandparents and how they always like to talk about their grandchildren and children, and then I think about our Heavenly Parents and about how much they must love their family! I think about families that have lost children or the children have left or wandered and how much pain that can cause. And then I try to imagine what it is like for our Heavenly Parents. These are things that we sometimes have to go through. I sometimes wonder why some people go through different trials and why we go through our own trials. The only thing I do know is this life is JUST, but why does that person need that experience? What is the point the Lord is trying to make or teach? Sometimes we can see why the Lord gave us that trial or why the surgeon made that cut. And then sometimes we can’t, but what is important is that we know that our Heavenly Father is the teacher. He is the surgeon and he does know us best. He loves us all. He is proud of us and knows our potential. He is waiting for us at the finish line. I know these things are true. I know sometimes during a trial we need to pray for the strength to endure a particular trial. (Not for the Lord to take it away) I love you all and want the best for you and I keep you in my heart. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen,

Elder Stephens

Pic 1. A cookie from a Chinese restaurant. They went after Zone Conference with the Senior Missionary couple. It says I love you in French.  I am assuming that this pic was for meJ The lady at the restaurant said they would not be able to eat all the food they were given. He said they did!

Pic 2 & 3 The gentleman Preston baptized Saturday.  

Yummy Food

Hello everyone this week was good we will be having a baptism on Saturday I am very excited for that! This week was like most others but on last Monday we went to a Family home evening and afterwards they prepared endole (the green in the picture) and tomato sauce with chicken it was so so so good. On Sunday we were combined with the other branch for conference and well the spirit told me that morning I was going to be giving a talk but I said nah my comp said that the branch president said it would be next week……… well we gave talks all four of us all unprepared…. Luckily there was not a ton of time but it was very crazy so I talked for 5 min after my comp and then the others followed me at 5 min each. I am so grateful to be serving here. I feel blessed in many ways. Don’t forget to read your scriptures it will bless your lives.  

Elder Preston Stephens

Conference

Hello!

This weekend we were able to watch conference. It was really good and I really enjoyed it! We haven’t got to watch the Priesthood or Relief Society yet. We are going to watch them next week after sacrament meeting. I really liked when Elder M Joseph Broughs mother told him “Mom I can discipline my children how I would like.”  And she said, “Yes I can too” Haha it was funny! I also really liked Elder Rasbands “act when you feel impressed” & “follow the 1^st impression”

This week I met the couple who are going to get married in a couple of weeks. Then they can be baptized! Things are progressing here and we have a baptism scheduled in two weeks. The 22^nd. There is supposed to be another woman baptized too but she stopped coming to church so I don’t know we are going to go talk with her. On Sunday when we were watching conference the last speaker and it started POURING rain.  So when conference ended we couldn’t even leave. We aren’t allowed to go out in the rain because lots of Elders get soaked and don’t dry properly and get sick.  So that’s why we aren’t allowed too.

I’ve almost finished the Doctrine & Covenants. It was one of my goals for this year. Then I can get back to the Book of Mormon. I love you all and hope you have a great week.

Elder Preston Stephens

Grateful to be a Missionary!

Hello Everyone,

This week was good we were able to get a list of all the members in our branch but there is no record of their phone numbers or addresses in the computer. So we passed a list around to get them and we got a lot. Now all we have to do is just ask all the members if they know someone else on the list like less actives so that we can then go and talk to them. Sunday night we were able to go visit a family of members, recent converts, and investigators. It was so cool to see even though they are all grown up how every week they meet up together. Another cool incident last Sunday a member from Paris was in our branch. She’s from here but she called us to come talk to her parents because they are not members. We talked with them and are going to do our best to work with them. I know this gospel is true. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I am so very grateful for my opportunity to be a missionary!

Love you all,

Elder Preston Stephens

Pictures are a bunch of us together to play soccer.

Me

My companion