Familia!

Salutations Family! Things are going great here in the North.. part.. of South Carolina.. Though I actually have very little of an idea of where I am on a map right now. Somewhere near the ocean is really all I know for sure. Well let me tell you, callings are tough!

I never knew that I would actually have callings while on a mission. I didn't know that was a part of missionary work! Serving as a district leader, over 4 companionships (including my own) is a responsibility.. President McConkie has taught that we are "Bishops of our Districts".
Recently for the first time in the mission we had a Leadership Conference, where all of the zone leaders and district leaders met. We were given packets created by President McConkie which out line in about 15 pages, the reality and divinity of our call as District leaders. We now are being held more accountable and are expected to serve in a higher capacity then perhaps some district leaders before had thought. President taught that we as District leaders are the backbone of the mission.. It is an enjoyable and difficult calling making sure I am doing all that I am called to do and then going beyond the mark as well. Anyway just wanted to say that hard work can be hard work that's for sure..

Well about 2 weeks ago after talking to one of my Zone Leaders, he encouraged us that even though we were working hard, that we could add faith to that and pray for miracles. I thought pretty hard on that as I got ready for bed and thought at some point, "Of course! We might be working hard but our hard work won't help us baptize as much as the Lord would help us baptize." So I committed Elder Esplin and I to pray for miracles the next day.. That afternoon we received a phone call from a non-member telling us about how she was concerned for her sister who just lost her 20 year old daughter and her unborn baby to a violent crime. The phone call somehow made it to our phone because her sister(the one who lost her daughter) happened to be a member of the church and she wanted us to check on her and see what we could do. We finally made contact with her after a couple of days and have been helping her become active in the church again. She was actually baptized in the Dutch Fork ward about 10 years ago but went in-active at some point and moved to Mt. Pleasant and her church records were never received here. Sister Nelson(the one who lost her daughter), the in-active member who was going through all of these difficult times has a son named Braxton. Braxton is the man! We're teaching him right now and the miracle is that he is nine years old and wants to be baptized! 3 of the Southern states had stake conference with a broadcast from Salt Lake yesterday it was awesome. Anyway we taught Braxton and his mom right after the meetings and showed him the baptismal font and committed him to be baptized next weekend and he accepted! It was such a spiritual lesson and his mom bore her testimony and looked at him and said "I [remember] what it felt like when I was baptized, and I want you to have that too, ok?" Every time his mom talked he looked at her and smiled so big! I have a testimony that miracles happen when you pray for them! Anyway, that was just an awesome story I wanted to share! So things are going great!