You look like Justin Bieber???

HEY FAMILY! :)

It's been a good and busy week.  I'm exhausted.

Food Report:

Monday: Steak

Tuesday: Cheeseburgers

Wednesday: Tacos

Thursday: Tilapia

Friday: Lasagna and Roast Beef

Saturday: Corned Beef (St. Patrick's Day)

Sunday: Pulled BBQ Pork

Wow...I am really tired. I don't even feel like typing.  If I don't say much in this e-mail...Just know that it is because I am tired.

Investigator Report:

S : lHad dinner with him on Monday.  He's doing good.  He started reading the Book of Mormon Sunday night.  We read 1 Nephi 1 with him as our lesson to continue with his reading.  Unfortunately he is out of town for a bit so he didn't get to come to church or meet again last week.  Hopefully he will be home soon.  He said he will keep reading the Book of Mormon while he is traveling.  I hope he does!

E: Taught Lesson 2.  Doing great.  Set to be baptized on April 14.

C, C, K: They were gone last week, but we get to teach them part of Lesson 3 tonight.  They are still set to be baptized on April 7.

J, A, N: Taught Lesson 2.  N is so awesome.  He is only 11 but knew a lot of the Adam and Eve story and he even knew a little bit about the Kingdoms of Glory because his member friend told him about it before.  A was the only one to come to church.  She said she had fun, so I hope she keeps coming and that they all come this week.

John: He was at the lesson with the Es (J, A, N).  He is so awesome.  He got so excited about the Plan of Salvation.  I was wrapping up and giving my closing testimony and I could tell that he wanted to say something so I looked at him and he said, "Can I say something?"  He said, said that he really liked the Plan of Salvation especially the part about the Spirit World because it makes so much sense that God would give everyone the opportunity to hear Christ's gospel.  It was so cool to hear him get so excited.  Then, that night, John texted saying, "It was really good to see you guys today.  I will pray for you and your travels as well.  You two are really moving teachers. :)"  It was so great to hear that.  Then, I texted back saying that if he had any questions, just to ask.  He replied saying that he did have a question and asked, "How do I repent?"  Isn't that awesome!  What 14 year old is thinking about repentance?  It made me so happy to hear!

A: We officially started teaching A this week.  He is great.  The first lesson went really well and he had a lot of good questions.  He went to the Mormon Prom/Formal this last weekend with a member and had a great time, too.

J: He is 8 years old but we are teaching him the discussions because the family he lives with is less-active.  We are preparing him to be baptized.

Small World Stories:

1) So, Uncle Arthur and Aunt Martha used to be in the Ward before the boundaries were re-organized.  That being said, you can pretty much just assume everyone in the ward knows them because they do.  Too many people and names to write down every week.

2) We had dinner with the B's on Saturday evening.  They invited two other families from two other stakes as well.  Well, it turns out I am distantly related to the Bs haha.  Grandpa's Mom is a Reid (right?).  And Brother Bs Mom is a Reid, and it's the same Reid family.  Brother Bishop (his friend that was there) is in Todd's ward.  Brother L (his other friend that was there) used to be in Young Men's Leadership with Jeff.  So funny to make all those different family connections in one place.

Oh, I went on splits with one of the Spanish speaking missionaries in my district this last week.  That was an adventure.  It was fun.  We taught a lesson and one of the kids said to me, "You look like Justin Bieber!!"  Obviously he is confused because clearly I look nothing like Justin Bieber haha.

Spiritual Thought:

I always learn something new while doing the New Missionary 12 Week Training Program.  In Preach My Gospel, it states that we should invite people to repent in every lesson.  I started to think, "What does that mean?"  I realized that repentance means "a change of mind," and it is a "turning of the heart and will to God," ("Repentance," Bible Dictionary).  Then, I realized that every commitment invitation we extend to investigators is an invitation to change: "Will you go to church?"  "Will you pray?"  "Will you read the Book of Mormon?"  "Will you be baptized?"  All of these questions are a personal invite for the investigator to change his or her thoughts, actions, and beliefs to align with God's.  That is repentance.  We should all continually be inviting people to repent.

Well...I love you all so much!  Thank you for the mail and the support and prayers!

LOVE,

Elder Sean Edwards