December 4th

On splits with my MTC Companion!

Well! This week was a rollercoaster! On Monday night, I had exchanges with Elder Murray. On Tuesday, I was in his area. We visited some of his investigators, did some contacting/tracting, and had a really great lesson with an investigator named Ginger. It was about the importance of gaining a testimony of the Book of Mormon, and everyone really felt the spirit. Elder Murray and I became quick friends.

On Friday, we had a really great District Meeting. We also got the news that smartphones are coming to the mission, which I'm not really sure how I feel about. We will be a Facebook mission. Not sure how that will work, but I'm sure it will. After all, there are plenty of safeguards and habits that can be formed to truly make smartphones a tool for the work.

Two of our investigators, Jasmin and Luis, are getting married (hopefully) this week. After that, Jasmin can be baptized, which is exciting (Luis is already a member). Also on Saturday this week we are having a baptism for another two investigators, Tonya and Antonio Luna. They are both extremely ready to be baptized, and we're VERY excited for them.

On Saturday, I went on exchanges with one of our Zone Leaders, Elder Anderson. He's a 6'5" mountain of a missionary, but he's a really great guy. He's probably the one I look up to the most right now in the mission. The day I was with him, we determined to talk to absolutely everyone we saw with no exceptions. The blessings we saw from that experience were LEGENDARY. We contacted 22 individual groups of people that day, most of them non-members. We handed out 17 #LightTheWorld cards, and got 4 return appointments! That means there are 4 new investigators for that 1 day in the area. It was truly an incredible day.

One of the experiences I had on Saturday was very special. As we drove down the highway, we saw a man backing a truck full of couches into his driveway. We drove to the house past his and waited until he was done backing up, then we got out and offered our help moving the couches in. The man was probably in his late 20's, and after explaining to us very clearly that he wasn't interested in our message or even religion, asked if we still wanted to help him move the couches. It was interesting to see the look of shock on his face when we quickly replied that we would still help him. He was absolutely amazed that we were willing to help him. He explained that he was moving his girlfriend in, and had no idea how he was going to get the couches in by himself. After unsuccessfully trying to get the couches in through the back door, we managed to squeeze them both through the front door. I'm pretty sure there were angels there helping us, because it really didn't seem like it would work. When we had finished moving the couches, we went inside and shared the #LightTheWorld message with him. He told us that he really hadn't considered the LDS church or even religion before, but he agreed to let the Elders come back and teach him the following day at 10 am. The lesson they had with him the next day was really spiritual, and he agreed to meet with them again this Saturday! What an amazing experience it was to see how such a simple act of service softened someones heart so much. How great a blessing it is that Heavenly Father placed him in our path. I testify that our Father in Heaven works through us to bless his children.

Saturday night and Sunday morning we had stake conference. On of the members of the 70, Wilford W. Anderson was there, and he shared with us that there are 3 parts to powerful prayer. First, we must put our faith completely in Christ. Second, we must conform our will to the Fathers. Lastly, we must ACT. Our Heavenly Father will not do things for us. We must be willing to do our part as well.

For everyone at home, I encourage you to share #LightTheWorld with all those around you. Please, refer your friends to the missionaries, and push forward the most important work in the world. I love you all, and please make sure you do your part to Light our World with the most perfect light of all, even the Light of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

Godspeed,

~Elder Quiner

P.S. I got a haircut this morning. Looks good.