Electrifying.
If there was one word to describe this week it would probably be hasteful, meaning full of haste, meaning the Lord is definitely hastening His work and His church. It's been a miraculous experience to go around and visit different Technology Trainings to introduce smartphones to the missionary work here in the Alabama Birmingham Mission and then to hear the changes that are taking place in the Lord's kingdom.
Like I said this week was busy. We left on Tuesday evening and headed up to Huntsville for a Technology Training on Wednesday; drove to Madison and had their Technology Training on Thursday; then we drove to Tupelo and finished with their Technology Training on Friday. In the middle of all of those we were able to go on some blitzes with awesome Elders in Weatherly, Florence (whoot whoot), Hamilton and Haleyville. Even though we got home late on Friday night it was still a very effective week of missionary work. Thank goodness for Technology and Facebook which kept us on contact with Theresa, her boys, and Chad. Some off those calls were made in the parking lot of McDonald's but hey, if we've learned anything this weekend it's you gotta do what you gotta do to bring others to Christ!
Speaking of Theresa, she's doing great! Still praying to know when she should be baptized but we have an awesome lesson with her and the boys about personal revelation. President and Sister Sainsbury joined us for the lesson and bore awesome testimonies--not that I expected anything less. They also had her over to their home for breakfast and the morning session of General Conference on Saturday. In addition to that she was messaging us and watch at least pieces of all the other session. Heck even some members of the church don't do that! But anyways, good news there.
In the midst of not being home we still found a few potentials. Quez, a nice guy who is looking for peace and truth in church was one of them. We actually met him a little bit ago along with a lady named Krista and of the two of them we figured Krista would be solid. But, typical of Heavenly Father once we thought we had it figured out He switched it. Another kind older lady named Booba was an investigator we found. Since then she has moved to be more of a potential but that's okay. We had a little bit of time between sessions on Saturday and so we found a neighborhood and knocked a door. Miss Booba answered and let us in and was the sweetest lady ever. She offered candy and the whole bit. We went back yesterday evening but things came up and we were able to teach her. Hopefully she'll be on the radar.
On one of the exchanges we were able to teach a guy named Vernard and a lady named Anne. The only reason I share this one is because during the lesson I just had one of the more powerful witnesses of the truth of the Restoration. Every time I've shared the First Vision and every time I've taught anyone on my mission I can say that I've felt the Spirit. However, there are some moments where its stronger than others. This was the case with Vernard and Anne; I know it's true. It's all true.
After we knocked a door and the guy told us he wasn't interested for the billionth time in that complex I threw my hands up like, "Oh well." Elder Canty quoted a talk we listened to a few times this week: "[When you're faced with trails] just force a smile, look heavenward and say, 'I know what this is Lord, a time to prove myself isn't it.'" We laughed about it but it might have just been because we were tired.
- Speaking of tiredness when we got home on Friday night we laid down on our beds and fell asleep in proselyting clothes. I woke up at 4:00am but didn't have the desire to change so I rolled over and went back to bed.
- We were racing with Sister Sainsbury when setting up the lunch tables each Tech Training.
- I sang a Happy Birthday solo in the Tupelo Training.
- We played Frisbee with some of the members and their friends and invited all the other missionaries from around here. They wanted to go missionaries versus non-missionaries. We won.
- Everyone was hiding Easter Eggs this week, haha! #ABMEggHunt
- I got to ride my bike again!!
- Stake President Johnson got called to be an Area Seventy, and so did the former (before President Hanks) Mission President for our mission so that's cool.
- When we were sleeping over in Madison Elder Canty reached over me to grab his phone for something. I made a unique noise and then from the other room Elder Stanger yells, "We don't do that in this mission!"
To finished up, conference was amazing. It's been a great weekend of a solemn assembly and changes to the work of the Lord. Several times there was reference to the hastening of the work and something that I've learned on my mission is that the work will move forward with or without you-so don't take a break! It was wonderful to be able to hear President Russell M. Nelson address us so many times to make announcements and to speak. His talk about receive personal revelation answered all of my questions that I had going into conference. The Brethren are really emphasizing a relationship with God and our fellow men, the first two commandments. The way we build those relationships are the answers we've all know for a long time: pray, study the scriptures especially the Book of Mormon, attend the temple, do family history work, participate in missionary work, keep the commandments, and follow the Spirit. "If we follow the commandments of Jesus Christ, we will be okay." I testify that President Nelson is a true Prophet of God. I bear witness that Jesus Christ guides His church and that those who spoke to us were inspired by Him. Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father live. The Son, crucified for all of mankind, rose from the tomb; it is empty. He and His Father have Restored their church through Joseph Smith and they continue to restore it today. How blessed we are to be a part of this historic time and the hastening if His great and marvelous work!
Love y'all, and hope you have a blessed week!
Much Love,
Elder Milius
- 2 Nephi 25:26
"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."
- James 1:27
"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."
- D&C 88:72-73
"Behold, and lo, I will take care of your flocks, and will raise up elders and send unto them.
"Behold, I will hasten my work in its time."
--
Godspeed,
ELDER MICHAEL S. MILIUS
ALABAMA BIRMINGHAM MISSION
"Behold I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of Him to declare His word among His people, that they might have everlasting life." ~3 Nephi 5:13
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