Email November 25, 2014

Heya family! So we had a zone conference this week and each of the zones had to prepare a musical number. So Elder VanLeeuwen, Elder Lofgran, Elder Dunn, and myself (they're all missionaries in the zone, not my district) literally threw together, the night before, an amazing (for a one night trial) arrangement of High on the Mountaintop. It ended up going so well. It was awesome! Honestly, however, I can't really think of a lot that happened this week. We had a few lessons and we're starting to get members to them which is super exciting! Especially with Heather and Megan, they're progressing slowly and the lessons we have with them are VERY distracted, but they are good. They read the scriptures we leave with them and they understand them. It's getting good! We're going to follow up with them on reading Ether 12 this week and then the next chapter will be 2 Nephi 31, the gospel of Jesus Christ chapter. That's when we're going to invite them to be baptized. It's going to be super exciting, keep them in your prayers!!! Brad was super intoxicated when we went over on Saturday. It was interesting. We had a very abbreviated lesson and left. The ward council here is encouraging us to drop him so we're going to have what the missionaries call 'the talk.' Just basically to see if he really is interested in learning about the church or if he is just wanting to teach us about his 'holy books.' So yeah, we probably will be dropping him soon. Along with Gary and Katie. We don't think they're committed so we are also going to have the talk with them. If those two people drop, we'll have basically no investigators besides Heather and Megan. I love those two and they have good potential, but I want more. The fireside we had last night went really well, so hopefully the members will be more able and willing to invite people to meet with us. We had a member recently do that for us and it has been great!!! Even though the investigator, Marian Salcedo, doesn't live in our ward boundaries, she has accepted the invitation to be baptized if she comes to know the Book of Mormon and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. And when the member found out Marian's boyfriend was in the hospital she asked Marian if she wanted a priesthood blessing by the missionaries and she said yes! Not even knowing what it was, she said yes. So we had a quick lesson about the Priesthood and gave her the blessing and it was really great. I'm so sad that we're most likely going to have to pass her on to the Nevada City elders. I'm okay with it because I know that they'll do well with her and she'll most likely end up baptized whether or not she's in our ward, but I'm sad that I might not be able to participate in most of the teaching. But hey, it's missionary work so I'm not too sad. Doesn't matter where in the church, a baptism is a baptism and sins remitted are sins remitted. So yeah, I'm excited for her wherever it is. :) Well, that's about it. Sorry I don't have any crazy stories from this week. But I do have to say this: in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I want to tell you all how grateful I am for you all. Your support is so amazing! I couldn't do it without you guys. The emails, the letters, the packages. I truly am grateful for your support. It means the world to me!!! I also want to let you all know how thankful I am for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the restored church and the Book of Mormon. I legitimately don't even know where I would be without it. It has changed my life, made me so much better than I could ever be without it. It has encouraged me to be the best that I can be, to choose things that will keep me safe and healthy, and to learn and know of the incredible gift that I can receive a remission of my sins and relief of guilt and sorrow, shame and embarrassment. I am so grateful for the knowledge I have. I know this church is true!!! It is the greatest source of happiness in my life because without it I wouldn't have the blessing that I do. I love you guys! Have a great week! Love, Elder Cevering