Great News!!

My Beloved Brethren,
I so miss being in your midst, but the work is going forth so amazingly! It's great to see what happens when we let God use us to do His work. Let me explain:
So, on missions, you will do what is called a "companion-exchange", or exchange for short. Well, my companion went to a town called Wahoo for a day or so, and my District Leader's Greeny that he's training, came to Lincoln with me. Well, in recent Mission Trainings, we had talked about following the promptings of the Spirit. We talked about how promptings can come as 1)Feelings, 2) Impressions, and 3) Thoughts. I have always struggled with recognizing promptings that come through thoughts alone! I have always second-guessed, saying, "Was that really the Spirit, or was that my own thought?" How about you?
Well one Elder who is currently the Assistant to the President, told me about an experience he had with a Greeny when roleplaying teaching with him. The Greeny just stopped, and said, "I can't do it." The Elder asked, "Why not? What's wrong?" The Greeny responded, "I thought the Spirit told me to bear my testimony here, but it didn't make sense to me, and I thought maybe it was just my own thought." The Elder responded, "Now Elder, there are two forces that can put thoughts into our minds--Satan, and the Holy Ghost. Now tell me, would Satan ever tell you to bear your testimony?"
Hearing that story, I decided that while I was on this companion exchange, and running the show, I would put this to the test. We were walking down the street, when suddenly I got the thought, "Go knock that door", right as I was passing the house. Now, door-knocking is usually a last resort, and most people don't respond well. I remembered the training on following thoughts. I did so, after all, would Satan ever tell me to knock a door? So with a vocal, "Fine! I'll do it!" the Greeny and I marched to the door, and knocked on it. A woman named Justina came out, and though it as sort of awkward at first (her reaction, and our lack of comfort in the situation), she told us about how she was currently reading a book about the purpose of life, because she wanted to know so badly. She as well was confused about who to worship? She said, "Is it God, or Jesus that we worship?" We explained a bit, and she said, "I've always wondered why there are so many churches out there!" She is golden.
Well, we've since taught her, and her husband, twice, and will continue to do so. As well, on that exchange, I was instructed to knock more doors. We did so, and nothing happened at first. Then, as I was walking down the street, passing a house, getting ready to turn the corner, the Spirit said, "Go up the stairway at that last house." I again, agreed with a vocal, "fine!", and marched up the stairs. Before we got all the way up, a man walked out of his house, and said, "Hey! Nobody lives there!" I got it, the timing was perfect, and if I hadn't knocked all of those doors, and marched up the stairs, we would have missed him. We would have been around the corner long ago. He's a man named Justin who we hope to go back to teach.
Again, the same day, we kept walking to find people on the street. As we did so, we caught another man on his way out. His name is Max Antwon. He was so nice to us, and told us we had to come back to talk to him. Since then, we've gone back, and met his wife, Kellie. We taught them both the Restoration, and they really liked it. They came to church last Sunday, and brought their kids--two of which are baptism age. The kids loved church, and want to go back. Max told his kids okay, they would come back next week! Again, the timing was perfect to catch Max, when we likely would have passed him up had the timing been wrong. God directs his work.
Now last time, I left a lot of scriptures about putting all of our trust in the Lord. Now, this is not something I have ever really been good at in my life. Putting God first is something I've never been good at in my life. I put many things first, in fact. Brothers, why is this thing so important that we put God first? Because cursed is he that puts his trust in the flesh, and not in God. As much as we hate to think about it, we never know who will be there tomorrow. Our loved ones could be gone! All our possesions could be gone! One moment, you believe somebody is there for you, and the next they aren't! But God is faithful, and will never leave. Only you can separate yourself from God--and you do this by loving sin more than Him. He loves you more than anyone does! He will be there for you always, and if you trust and obey Him, He will not let you face a terrible destruction, but will give you everlasting life. Think about it. Ponder this all a lot, and know He is your perfect Father who wants to communicate with you! He wants to answer your prayers, and talk with you! He will never let you down.
Now, I have to go, though I wish I could say more. The last thing before I go, is great news!
For all of you who remember Becca, Dallas, Ty, and Daisy Jones, we have more good news about the Jones family that I taught back in Omaha! Their mother was already a member, and they were baptized just a bit ago--but now their Father has been baptized! Their entire family has been baptized! They are on their way to the temple, where they can be an eternal family in the kingdom of our Father! I love you all!
Love, Elder Chris Petersen