Email August 24, 2015

Hello family! Well, what can I say? Just another week in paradise! Although, it is a little smoky here. But that's okay! We still do great here in Anderson. We had a couple good lessons. One of them was with an 8 year old boy who is the nephew of one of our bishops and his other nephew who is 14. We taught them about who Heavenly Father is and what prayer is and how we do it. It was a great lesson! And at the end, the 14 year old said the closing prayer and it was an amazing prayer! They might have to go back down to their mom soon, though, and she doesn't nearly go to church anymore. So we are hoping they don't have to go back because they have a really rough life down there with her in SoCal. Another awesome lesson that we were blessed to have was with that deaf investigator! We had the lesson during church because their usual teacher was gone, it was super awesome! Sign language is so powerful. As we reviewed the First Vision, he told it to us in sign and the interpreters interpreted for us and it was just incredible. He said he knows the First Vision is true and that as he was taking the Sacrament he finally felt the Spirit. It was so awesome. The Spirit isn't bound to language! And that is phenomenal. We had a lesson with a man. It was sweet! We talked about repentance and the Atonement and how we can have those restarts when we truly want them. He said he's not quite ready to give up his earthly desires, but that he wants to. It was kinda a weird paradox, but ultimately he ended up to agreeing to read 1 Nephi 1 and asking us to send him scriptures at other times during the week too. It was a powerful lesson! The a Spirit was so strong as we promised him he could be forgiven! It was hecka sweet! We met with another less active who wants to start coming back. He's 25 and a great guy, but has had bad luck for a while with sickness. But he wants to start coming back because he sees a difference since he hasn't been coming to church. It's amazing how big of a difference the gospel makes! And last lesson we had with a guy where we testified of how the gospel can bless his family. He has been talking with some of our members and saying he wants to do,e to church and give up some word of wisdom issues, and so we are going to go over next week and start teaching. We are really hoping he and his family are ready! Please pray for all of these people! I know the gospel is true. As I have reflected in my mission I know I have seen God work miracles. Not just for others, but for me too. Sometimes it's not even something big. Usually miracles are brought to pass by the small and simple acts we choose to do every day. By small and simple things are great things brought to pass. I know this is true. Never worry about choosing to do one small right thing not being enough. That could lead to another. And then to another. And soon enough, you've got a lifestyle of righteous living. And righteous living produces miracles. Why? Because we are always acting in faith! And God works by faith! Remember to always act by faith, and not by sight! The Lord is on your side whether or not you see Him. And my quote of the week: "Sin is always weakness, but weakness isn't always sin." Have a great week! I love you guys! Love, Elder Cevering