Dear Family and Friends,
If this email sounds a little scatterbrained, please forgive me, because I have a hundred things going on in my head right now. We had Zone Conference Wednesday, which was a lot of fun, and a very spiritually uplifting experience. Then I got sick that night, and was down until Saturday with the flu (not fun at all), then sunday we finally started to get things working with the bishop, who we have dinner with tonight. Then this morning we find out that we're both being transferred out of the area, and missionaries aren't coming back for a while, and there's some boundary changes being made in the mission, so we have to pack and clean, and we can't tell the ward, and I'm about ready to lose my mind. It's so hard because I love the people here so much, and I want them to know, but there's nothing I can say or do to change what the Lord wants, and I would never try that anyways. And, we just found out who our new Mission President is going to be. So needless to say, things are pretty exciting/confusing/trying right now, but I'm sure we'll get through it all somehow. I would like to share with you my witness that the Lord's hand is in all things, I know this with all my heart, and I absolutely know that nothing happens by chance in this life, God is the ruler of all things. I leave this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Love,
Elder Hughes
Monday, February 28, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
A Note for the Week
Dear Family and Friends,
As I have pondered this week, I think I'm beginning to see the workings of the unseen forces around us. I feel as though I can literally see the power of Satan working overtime to stop the work of Christ from going forth. But, with the opening of the Temple coming up, it makes sense. His power in the South is about to be strained, and with the power of the Spirit that the visitors will feel, a lot of people are going to want to know what they were feeling as they toured the Temple. It's amazing to me to see how the Lord puts things in place to thwart the adversary, but we have to be in tune enough to see it, and we need to do all we can to make sure the Lord's will gets done. We had the priviledge this week of being taught by Elder Peiper of the 70 this week, and it was a truly special day. To see and feel his love for the Savior and his work was just amazing. He taught us some very valuable things, that I hope will help us to elevate ourselves to where we need to be to accomodate the Revelation that President King has received, that the Windows of Heaven are beginning to open on this mission, and the vision of the South is about to unfold. As I have pondered these events, I feel it important to urge all of you to consider your readiness for the coming of the Savior, because it is not far away. I feel that we have a very short time left before he comes. We need to be prepared, and I testify that if we have the Faith, and are willing to follow the Lord's commands, he will help us to be prepared. We must ask ourselves if we could stand before the Lord, and tell him with an honest heart that we are worthy to return to his presence. I would also like to speak of the shortness of this life. In the vast expanse of eternity this life is but a small blip on the map, and yet it is one of the most important sections in that expanse, for it is what we do here that determines what we will spend the rest of eternity doing. We cannot afford to waste this life, or take it lightly, we do not have time to spend idling away while the Lord is trying to prepare the way for his coming. We must be anxiously engaged in the work of the Lord, doing all we can to help his work roll forth. I urge you to carefully study the words of the Apostles and Prophets, and follow their counsel, because President King feels, and I believe that Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet who's calling is to gather scattered israel to prepare the earth. I testify that he is the Prophet of God chosen today to lead us in this time. I know that we can be instruments in the Lord's hands if we will submit our will to his, and I know that this work will go on until the Great Jehovah shall say it is done.
Love,
Elder Hughes
As I have pondered this week, I think I'm beginning to see the workings of the unseen forces around us. I feel as though I can literally see the power of Satan working overtime to stop the work of Christ from going forth. But, with the opening of the Temple coming up, it makes sense. His power in the South is about to be strained, and with the power of the Spirit that the visitors will feel, a lot of people are going to want to know what they were feeling as they toured the Temple. It's amazing to me to see how the Lord puts things in place to thwart the adversary, but we have to be in tune enough to see it, and we need to do all we can to make sure the Lord's will gets done. We had the priviledge this week of being taught by Elder Peiper of the 70 this week, and it was a truly special day. To see and feel his love for the Savior and his work was just amazing. He taught us some very valuable things, that I hope will help us to elevate ourselves to where we need to be to accomodate the Revelation that President King has received, that the Windows of Heaven are beginning to open on this mission, and the vision of the South is about to unfold. As I have pondered these events, I feel it important to urge all of you to consider your readiness for the coming of the Savior, because it is not far away. I feel that we have a very short time left before he comes. We need to be prepared, and I testify that if we have the Faith, and are willing to follow the Lord's commands, he will help us to be prepared. We must ask ourselves if we could stand before the Lord, and tell him with an honest heart that we are worthy to return to his presence. I would also like to speak of the shortness of this life. In the vast expanse of eternity this life is but a small blip on the map, and yet it is one of the most important sections in that expanse, for it is what we do here that determines what we will spend the rest of eternity doing. We cannot afford to waste this life, or take it lightly, we do not have time to spend idling away while the Lord is trying to prepare the way for his coming. We must be anxiously engaged in the work of the Lord, doing all we can to help his work roll forth. I urge you to carefully study the words of the Apostles and Prophets, and follow their counsel, because President King feels, and I believe that Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet who's calling is to gather scattered israel to prepare the earth. I testify that he is the Prophet of God chosen today to lead us in this time. I know that we can be instruments in the Lord's hands if we will submit our will to his, and I know that this work will go on until the Great Jehovah shall say it is done.
Love,
Elder Hughes
Monday, February 14, 2011
Georgia Happenings
Dear Family and Friends,
This week has been full of sick people. My companion was sick, a bunch of ward members were sick, and they told us all kinds of stories about everyone being sick. It is definitely the flu season around these parts, and I'm grateful I haven't gotten sick yet (knock on wood). We had to postpone our baptism this week. We met with our investigators father for the first time, and of course he'd been exposed to some very farfetched ideas that happen to make sense in our line of Doctrines, but he was very resistant, and rather unopen, so we decided it would be best to postpone the baptism so we didn't cause any problems with the family. I feel terrible about the situation, because as we were sitting there both the kids were with us listening, and when the father told us that he didn't want his son being baptized until he learned more, I saw the exitement drop out his sons face, and when we talked to him later, it was as if the light of the Spirit had left. I felt terrible afterwards, and I prayed long and hard. In my heart I felt like someone had just stuck a dagger right in me, and it strengthened my resolution to never let that happen again. As I pondered the situation, I realized how much I've come to love the family over the course of the time I've been here, and it amazed me. I'm glad the Lord is the one in control, because I doubt I could even attempt to fix what happened. We had Stake Conference this week, and it was funny because we didn't expect President King to come, but as we're standing there waiting for the family to show up, in walks President King. As he was walking by, he asks me: "How does it feel to serve in one area longer that the rest of your mission?" I told him I still wasn't sure. It was a good meeting, and the Spirit was very strong. I've really reflected this week on the importance of the Spirit in our lives, and I want to testify to you all, that it is the key, the very KEY, to the Lord's work being done by his servants here on earth (which is all of us), and we need to strive to do all we can to have it's companionship always. I know the Lord loves us, and will help us if we ask him, and do our best to be obedient to the subtel promptings of the Spirit, I know God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, our Savior and Redeemer. I know Joseph Smith was God's chosen Prophet who restored the gospel to the earth in this the final dispensation, and I bare you my witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
This week has been full of sick people. My companion was sick, a bunch of ward members were sick, and they told us all kinds of stories about everyone being sick. It is definitely the flu season around these parts, and I'm grateful I haven't gotten sick yet (knock on wood). We had to postpone our baptism this week. We met with our investigators father for the first time, and of course he'd been exposed to some very farfetched ideas that happen to make sense in our line of Doctrines, but he was very resistant, and rather unopen, so we decided it would be best to postpone the baptism so we didn't cause any problems with the family. I feel terrible about the situation, because as we were sitting there both the kids were with us listening, and when the father told us that he didn't want his son being baptized until he learned more, I saw the exitement drop out his sons face, and when we talked to him later, it was as if the light of the Spirit had left. I felt terrible afterwards, and I prayed long and hard. In my heart I felt like someone had just stuck a dagger right in me, and it strengthened my resolution to never let that happen again. As I pondered the situation, I realized how much I've come to love the family over the course of the time I've been here, and it amazed me. I'm glad the Lord is the one in control, because I doubt I could even attempt to fix what happened. We had Stake Conference this week, and it was funny because we didn't expect President King to come, but as we're standing there waiting for the family to show up, in walks President King. As he was walking by, he asks me: "How does it feel to serve in one area longer that the rest of your mission?" I told him I still wasn't sure. It was a good meeting, and the Spirit was very strong. I've really reflected this week on the importance of the Spirit in our lives, and I want to testify to you all, that it is the key, the very KEY, to the Lord's work being done by his servants here on earth (which is all of us), and we need to strive to do all we can to have it's companionship always. I know the Lord loves us, and will help us if we ask him, and do our best to be obedient to the subtel promptings of the Spirit, I know God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, our Savior and Redeemer. I know Joseph Smith was God's chosen Prophet who restored the gospel to the earth in this the final dispensation, and I bare you my witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Mail's Updated...
Dear Family and Friends,
This was a rather long week due to a 3 day meeting we had with President King, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10am - 4pm. It was long, but very good. We spent the time learning about the fundamentals of Preach My Gospel, the new missionary teaching curriculum, and working on improving our teaching skills, and it was very spiritual, and believe it or not, a lot of fun. This week was a very special one for me, because 2 of the most touching moments of my mission occured. Friday night we saw a family we've been working with since I got here, and we set a date with the son (12) for the 19th of February, which was very exciting. But then on the way home, I asked his mom how she felt about the church today as opposed to 7 months ago, and she told me that she believed it was true. Then 45 minutes lated while we were at dinner, she called to talk to me and told me a story. She said that recently she'd been kneeling beside her bed praying, and she started asking very specific questions for some reason, and she was amazed at how quickly her answers came to her mind. I wont quote the things she heard, but in short the Lord told her that this is his church, led by a Prophet, having been restored through Joseph Smith. As she shared the story with me, it touched my heart. Then Sunday I was sitting up on the stand waiting my turn to bear my testimony, and she came up and bore her testimony after I did, and again I was overcome with gratitude and love. It was so neat to see that one of Heavenly Father's children has been brought back to the fold. As I've been pondering this week, I'd like to remard about how much Heavenly Father wants to help us. When we meet the conditions laid out by Moroni in the final chapter of the Book of Mormon, Heavenly Father will answer our prayers so quickly that it will surprise us, and in ways we wont expect. For example when Joseph was in the Sacred Grove, he fully expected an answer to his prayer, and he had Faith, and as soon as he truly called on the Lord in sincerity, that instant he was delivered from the power of the adversary, and the Father and Jesus both appeared to him personally. We do have a loving Father in Heaven, and he does hear and answer us, of these things I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love,
Elder Hughes
This was a rather long week due to a 3 day meeting we had with President King, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10am - 4pm. It was long, but very good. We spent the time learning about the fundamentals of Preach My Gospel, the new missionary teaching curriculum, and working on improving our teaching skills, and it was very spiritual, and believe it or not, a lot of fun. This week was a very special one for me, because 2 of the most touching moments of my mission occured. Friday night we saw a family we've been working with since I got here, and we set a date with the son (12) for the 19th of February, which was very exciting. But then on the way home, I asked his mom how she felt about the church today as opposed to 7 months ago, and she told me that she believed it was true. Then 45 minutes lated while we were at dinner, she called to talk to me and told me a story. She said that recently she'd been kneeling beside her bed praying, and she started asking very specific questions for some reason, and she was amazed at how quickly her answers came to her mind. I wont quote the things she heard, but in short the Lord told her that this is his church, led by a Prophet, having been restored through Joseph Smith. As she shared the story with me, it touched my heart. Then Sunday I was sitting up on the stand waiting my turn to bear my testimony, and she came up and bore her testimony after I did, and again I was overcome with gratitude and love. It was so neat to see that one of Heavenly Father's children has been brought back to the fold. As I've been pondering this week, I'd like to remard about how much Heavenly Father wants to help us. When we meet the conditions laid out by Moroni in the final chapter of the Book of Mormon, Heavenly Father will answer our prayers so quickly that it will surprise us, and in ways we wont expect. For example when Joseph was in the Sacred Grove, he fully expected an answer to his prayer, and he had Faith, and as soon as he truly called on the Lord in sincerity, that instant he was delivered from the power of the adversary, and the Father and Jesus both appeared to him personally. We do have a loving Father in Heaven, and he does hear and answer us, of these things I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love,
Elder Hughes
Last Week's Mail (that I just received)
Dear Family and Friends,This last week has been a good one, we had a lot of good opportunities to work with less-active members. We also had a good opportunity to talk with the entire ward about Mormon.org, and making profiles. I would encourage all of you that read this to make one, because it is the church's new direction with missionary work, and you could help someone become converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ through what you say. the ward is giving us a lot of resistance, and it's frustrating, but we all need to understand that this is direction given from the Prophet that he received through Revelation. Anyways, things are going well, and hopefully we should have a double baptism in February, so I'm pretty excited. I would like this week to share with you my thoughts about obedience. The entire plan of Salvation is contingent upon our obedience. God has given us a lot of guides such as Prophets, Scriptures, the Holy Ghost, Families, the Church, but all these things don't mean a thing if we don't choose to follow the counsel we receive. I would ask that we all please evaluate how obedient we are, and find areas where we can improve, because that is the very key to happiness and protection in this life. God has made so many promises, and the blessings are ours but we have to choose to keep the associated commandments. I testify that this is true, that God loves us and is waiting to shower down blessings upon us. Please follow the Lord, he is the key to joy, true everlasting joy. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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