My new area is Elizabethtown
Pennsylvania! My new companion is a kid named Elder Logan Dixon. He is from
Olympia Washington and he has been in the area here for only 7 weeks.
Elizabethtown has a Dove chocolate factory in it so it always always smells
like chocolate..haha so it's pretty good. The hardest part is biking. I have
biked up and down these Pennsylvania roads for a week now and it has been super
hard. Haha I've had a car my entire mission and then boom... no car and 2 new
bikes. My legs are sore but I'm a firm believer they are getting bigger
already. Every night we come in from the humidity and rain and wet sweaty
weather, and I’m just soaked. From head to toe the humidity is just killing me.
Haha you would think that during the day it’s hot and humid and at night it
would cool down.. Nope! It feels like all that changes is the light and dark!
It’s still hot and humid during the night here! Elder Dixon has been out only 4
and a half months and was in the MTC for general conference. That's how new he
is! Haha the members here are awesome. There is a family called the McBrides
and they are legit. They are taking us to the fair today and we are going to
have a good time! No worries.. We will not be riding any rides..haha
Well!!! The week is here! My YEAR MARK is this week! And I cannot believe it is half over. This last year has had its ups and its downs. I’ve had some really hard times, but I’ve also had a lot of really good and happy times. I’ve come to know that the Lord allows us to experience and suffer the hard times and some of the trials so that we would be able to really cherish the good times. Through the trials and sorrow I've felt this past year, it has given me a testimony of something that I will cherish forever. Because of the hard times we are given in this life, we are able to see a glimpse of the pain the Savior felt for each of us. We are able to recognize the Saviors healing touch as we understand that he felt all that we feel on a daily basis. I have come to understand that everything, trials, pain, and sickness we receive in this life is allowing us to appreciate the Atonement on an even greater level. On my mission so far, as I have looked at the trials I am given in this way, I have come closer and closer to my Savior Jesus Christ. Because all that I go through now, he felt 2000 years ago.
I'm so happy I decided to serve a mission. The experience I have gained and the testimony that I keep gaining of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ are of highest value to me. And I will forever be grateful for the Opportunities I have been given to grow and learn myself.. but to also help others around me find the light of the Gospel. What an opportunity! But most of all I know with all of my heart that this is the true church of Jesus Christ on the Earth today. And I know without a doubt that Joseph Smith truly was a Prophet of God who was chosen since before the world was to restore and bring back the truth that was lost years ago. I love this church and the peace of heart it brings.
It still blows my mind that I only have about 365 days left. At the beginning of my mission I thought this day would never come. But it came way faster than I thought. It has been crazy. These last 6 months especially have flown by!! I'm excited for what the next year will have to offer!
Last night while it was raining and windy and humid, we were riding our bikes through E-Town and decided we would get off and walk because the humidity was killer. So we begin to walk and we decide we would stop by and try and visit a potential investigator. We walk up to the door and see that he lives in a locked door apartment building. Which means we have to get buzzed in to get in. But Elder Dixon decided to be bold and test the door and he grabbed the handle and it was unlocked… strong Faith we had I guess ;) so we walk up these stairs and knock on the apt.
Well!!! The week is here! My YEAR MARK is this week! And I cannot believe it is half over. This last year has had its ups and its downs. I’ve had some really hard times, but I’ve also had a lot of really good and happy times. I’ve come to know that the Lord allows us to experience and suffer the hard times and some of the trials so that we would be able to really cherish the good times. Through the trials and sorrow I've felt this past year, it has given me a testimony of something that I will cherish forever. Because of the hard times we are given in this life, we are able to see a glimpse of the pain the Savior felt for each of us. We are able to recognize the Saviors healing touch as we understand that he felt all that we feel on a daily basis. I have come to understand that everything, trials, pain, and sickness we receive in this life is allowing us to appreciate the Atonement on an even greater level. On my mission so far, as I have looked at the trials I am given in this way, I have come closer and closer to my Savior Jesus Christ. Because all that I go through now, he felt 2000 years ago.
I'm so happy I decided to serve a mission. The experience I have gained and the testimony that I keep gaining of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ are of highest value to me. And I will forever be grateful for the Opportunities I have been given to grow and learn myself.. but to also help others around me find the light of the Gospel. What an opportunity! But most of all I know with all of my heart that this is the true church of Jesus Christ on the Earth today. And I know without a doubt that Joseph Smith truly was a Prophet of God who was chosen since before the world was to restore and bring back the truth that was lost years ago. I love this church and the peace of heart it brings.
It still blows my mind that I only have about 365 days left. At the beginning of my mission I thought this day would never come. But it came way faster than I thought. It has been crazy. These last 6 months especially have flown by!! I'm excited for what the next year will have to offer!
Last night while it was raining and windy and humid, we were riding our bikes through E-Town and decided we would get off and walk because the humidity was killer. So we begin to walk and we decide we would stop by and try and visit a potential investigator. We walk up to the door and see that he lives in a locked door apartment building. Which means we have to get buzzed in to get in. But Elder Dixon decided to be bold and test the door and he grabbed the handle and it was unlocked… strong Faith we had I guess ;) so we walk up these stairs and knock on the apt.
door. A man opens and we ask if he was John.
He says "No I'm actually Chris. John moved out before I was here." So
we ask this guy if we could talk to him about Jesus Christ and he looks at us
for a second and says "Well.. ehhh maybe not tonight. I'm kinda
busy." Then he looked at us for a good 30 seconds and there was an awkward
pause. Haha he looks us up and down again and says.. "Well.. actually come
on in and talk to me." So we go in and have the coolest Restoration Lesson
ever! After we finish he turns to us and says " it's funny that you 2
showed up today. Because just earlier in one of my classes we were learning
about your church. I had so many questions about it." So it was quite the
miracle here. He even told us he wanted us to come back. So it was littttt!
Anyways I am so thankful for the opportunity and call I have been given to be here at this time and in this place to serve my Heavenly Father. 1 year down and another to go. This one will go a bit faster so buckle up everyone. Haha but I love and miss you and thank you for all you have done for me this past year. I truly appreciate all of it. I love ya!
Love, Elder Welling!
Anyways I am so thankful for the opportunity and call I have been given to be here at this time and in this place to serve my Heavenly Father. 1 year down and another to go. This one will go a bit faster so buckle up everyone. Haha but I love and miss you and thank you for all you have done for me this past year. I truly appreciate all of it. I love ya!
Love, Elder Welling!
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