March 26, 2018 - Hard Work Pays Off

So at this moment I'm still trying to figure out what to make this mass email about because honestly I have no idea. I'll just start typing and we'll see where it goes. The spirit always makes it go where it needs too. haha.  This past week Elder Rogers and I finally are starting to see the fruits of our hard work. In our area book (the thing that holds all the people we teach or see), there were a ton of potential investigators or people who said yes but haven't been taught anything yet. We have been walking to their homes and talking to them and finding out if they are really interested or not. Most of them were not but in the process, we talked to a lot of people on the street. And we have found some new pretty solid investigators who really want to figure out if this is for them or not.

A man named Terry, who has been investigating the church for a long time, told us that he doesn't understand why people tell us no all the time or avoid us. He would have done anything to find missionaries and talk to them about God. That made me realize what kind of a society we have now days. Most people believe in an upper being but don't know who or why it is there, or what the upper being really does for us. We talk to people all day long who say they would die to know who that being is or what it does. Yet when we say God or Jesus, they are automatically turned away and want to fight it.

It's really sad to me. God works the same yesterday, today, and forever. There is a living Christ who wants to help us in our lives but people want new, they want different. New and different isn't always the best though. Jesus performed the atonement for every single one of us because he loves us so much. The atonement of Jesus Christ helps to relieve guilt shame and sin. It was the biggest single act that changed everybody's life. It was all part of God’s plan. People look for guidance or help every single day but when it is put straight in front of them, it is almost too easy so they don't take the help.

We have so much guidance and help in our lives today. We have the Bible, the Book of Mormon, prophets and apostles who lead and guide this church, and so many other resources. If we all realize what we have and used it to the fullest potential, imagine where we would be at. I don't think we could comprehend it but God can. He knows all and what will help us the best. He has a plan for each and every single one of us, we just need to figure it out.

Sorry for the little rant haha. I know that this is the Lord’s church though and that he loves each and every one of us and only wants the best of us.

I'm doing great out here in Tillamook and am loving it. I learned how to cut my own hair now and am figuring out life and how to live in this crazy word haha. I've gone long enough now so here's some pictures.

1. Hike from last p-day at Cape Lookout. We saw some whales!
2. Picture from like 2 minutes ago so I could send out more than one picture
Other info from Tyler this week:

• Today we went to the cheese factory and I bought the green sweatshirt in the photo (with some of the cash that I had). Its so soft and comfortable and has big foot on it! We went to the cheese factory and we weren't going to get ice cream. Then some people yelled and said hey elders come here and i'll buy you ice cream. So we ran over and they were members from Idaho there for spring break. I just got chocolate peanut butter but it was really good.
• Members travel like 30 minutes to get to church.
• I kind of splurged today and bought dr pepper and doritos. whoops 

HAIL! and funny video Tyler saved:) ENJOY!