Email June 1, 2015

Hello Everyone! This week was pretty sweet! I hope you're ready because there is a lot of info! Starting off with one of our investigators! He hasn't talked to his family about his baptism so he's not officially on date for June 20th, but every time he and his girlfriend talk about it it's only a positive thing, so that's a good sign! And a cool thing about them is they are trying to start a clothing line and they were showing us pictures last night before our lesson and they were kinda cool. They're gonna make some for Elder Jones and I and give them to us for free! He and his girlfriend are so cool, haha. Right now they just have shirts because they are barely starting, but they're planning on extending to more. The shirts are a regular shirt that's either a solid black or white with a patterned pocket sewn on. It's really simple, but kinda cool. I'm excited to get mine at the next lesson haha. Lesson-wise, we taught about the 10 Commandments, the Law of Chastity, and Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. They had some good input and we had fun learning the 10 Commandments with the funny little hand signs! But really, those hand signs are life savers. I wouldn't have been able to learn the 10 Commandments perfectly in order without them. They're stellar. He is going to talk to his family about baptism into the church the next time he sees them, so keep him in your prayers! One of our investigators came to church again and, as far as we know, had another good time! She's asking such great questions too! She's going to Sunday school with the youth her age and the teacher is just fantastic at answering her questions! Although he feels kinda bad because he's supposed to be teaching a specific curriculum to the class but wants to answer all of her questions too. But he said she's a golden one and we completely agree. Keep her in your prayers, she's super awesome and really is golden! She even attended the baptism of another family this week and had a great time there too! She feels the Spirit, but doesn't recognize it yet. She said she feels like the church can give her hope and boy did we agree and testify! Haha. Her mom had her heart soften some, thanks for the prayers! She wants to learn what we believe, but doesn't want to come to church until she knows more. But we are just excited to know that she does want to learn what we believe! And she almost came to the same baptism and to church also, but didn't end up coming to either one, it's just a matter of time, though! The only contact we have had with another investigator recently is just a brief conversation as she was heading out the door. She still does want to be baptized, but she doesn't think June 6th will work and to be honest it won't anymore. She has just been incredibly busy and stressed because her autistic child has been acting up lately and it's causing lots of problems. Please keep her in your prayers! Another couple we’re teaching just need to come to church! Haha. We had an awesome lesson with them on Saturday and they said they want to come to church really badly and basically promised they would be there. Their daughter was really sad they haven't come yet and said that she really wants to. We set up a time that we would come see them Sunday morning before church to make sure they're coming and they agreed. Next day (Sunday) rolls around and we get a text from them saying that their daughter is going to be with her dad for the morning, but that they will both make it to church in time! We ask them if they still want us to come by in the morning and they said no need to because they will be coming. Then they don't show up. We get a text halfway through the Sacrament saying the daughter was still with her dad even though they shouldn't have been that long and that they won't make any more promises to be at church but will come when they come. We are going to stop by and talk with them about it. Keep them in your prayers that they will come to church soon! They now have two Book of Mormons on their house and they're excited to read them and they'll be praying too! They said that the "Mormon Church" feels the most natural or all of the churches they have tried, and they haven't even come to church yet! Woo! Another investigator is doing well! She hasn't broken the Word of Wisdom these last two weeks and she sold she doesn't even have a desire to anymore so that's awesome! Unfortunately she's having some big medical problems at are causing a lot of pain. But it's funny because she wanted a blessing to help her stop drinking coffee so we gave her one at a dinner appointment we had with her at the Summers' home and that night her medical problem began, which caused her to not be able to drink coffee or else she would experience a great deal more pain. Blessing in disguise? I think yes! She came to church this week finally! And she should still be able to make her baptismal date on June 6th, this coming Saturday! We are just making sure some of the people she wants there can make it and it'll be set. Pray that it'll work out!!! We had a lesson with another investigator, don't know how much I have told you about her. We picked her up as a potential a few weeks ago for the YSA Ward, but this week became a new investigator! She has asked us some good questions and we have taught her about the Restoration and about the principle of repentance and baptism, how it's a complete restart with a clean slate. She really likes that idea and wants to have it in her life. She is super golden as well! At a lesson this week she said that she has felt more connected with our church than she ever has with her own, Greek Orthodox, and she has only met with us for an actual lesson two times. Holy cow. Pray for her, she is super awesome and golden as well! Well, Elder Jones goes home next week! Tuesday the 9th to be exact. So my next companion will be here then! I'm excited but also a little worried. Haha. Transfers are always exciting! Speaking of going home though, as of Friday I started what's known as the Doctrine and Covenants countdown! Which means at 138 days left, you start reading he Doctrine and Covenants backwards! It's a countdown, but it's the scriptures too! And honestly the four sections I have studied so far I have gotten a lot out of. It has been awesome! And this is for my mom: I'm on section 134, so I've got 134 days left! Hahaha I hope you guys have a great week, things are going really well out here! I know the Lord has a plan and though we might know completely understand it, I have a firm testimony that we will look back someday and know that what happened was for our own good. It's hard in the moment, I know that for sure. But I promise you that there is a reason for everything and that there is a plan in play. There is a method to all of this madness! I love you guys! Have a fantastic week! Elder Cevering