Lighten the Load

Buenos!

Well, we had another great week here in Lenoir City. Most of our week was filled with service opportunities. We did a little bit of everything. We helped put up a fence, worked at a food pantry, replaced a water heater, did some yard work, and moved a desk. And the fun doesn't stop there, this week we'll be going back to finish the fence, as well as helping two people move. It's kept us busy, but it has also helped us develop better relationships with the members. It is so great to provide service when you do something for someone that they couldn't do themselves. It just goes to show that, "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."

We also had a great lesson with MJ this week. We decided to go back and re-teach some things from the Restoration to help her understanding of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. The spirit was really good, and we were able to answer a lot of her questions. We brought up baptism with her again, and she said the only thing holding her back is her smoking habit. So, we are going do everything we can to help her quit, and hopefully she'll be baptized soon! Also, the branch mission leader, Bro. E, has been doing a lot of searching to find a new place for her and G to live, and he was able to find something this week! So, we are hoping they can finally move sometime in the next week or so.

Thursday was a fun day. We had Zone Meeting, along with interviews with President. But, it also marked one year since Elder C and I white-washed into Cookeville. Wow, time absolutely flies on the mission. It's hard to believe how quickly time has gone by. This week will mark 19 months as a missionary. Absolutely crazy.

My ponderizer this week is 2 Nephi 9:41 which says, "O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it liethin a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the, Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name." Jesus Christ is the keeper of the gate. He will be our judge. He asks that we follow His example. The way is narrow, and the path straight, and sometimes we will make mistakes. But, if we will make those daily course-corrections, we will one day stand before Christ and he will mercifully allow us to return to our Father in heaven. I hope y'all have a wonderful week!

Love,
Elder Mitchell