"Fasting is a very strong feeling"- Primary Child

Hola hola!
Thanks so much for your email, Dad. Its incredible to hear about recent events in worldwide missionary efforts. Four thousand applications?!? That's incredible! Jessi, you should join the team when you can :) I was in somewhat of a slump this week but I was thinking just this morning about how a main purpose of the mission is to help you become more like Jesus Christ. And to help others become great disciples as well. You can be an instrument of the Lord for the greatest good in the world. 
So happy late Halloween! We spent 8am to 4pm reading in the New Testament and then from 5 to 9pm we had to be in our apartments. It was a pretty refreshing day and studying in the New Testament really helped me appreciate more the words of the Bible. At night we managed a few prank calls to other missionaries :)
So in one of our lessons earlier this week with a recent convert, we were talking about God's plan for us and he asked, "So when we die we won't be like this anymore? with our bodies?" - "Sorry, Michael, but no we won't." - "Auhhhh!" It was actually really funny. But he seemed so disappointed to have to suffer a time without our bodies. It made me appreciate more the good news of a resurrection.
So we had some troubles with our progressing investigators this week. We found out that our investigator with a baptismal date is still struggling to quit smoking. And  the other couple progressing toward baptism is having a hard time making the decision to get married or to separate in order to live the law of chastity and be baptized. Our mission president made a promise that if we contact a certain number of people a week that our investigators will continue progressing toward baptism. So as of Saturday morning we still had a lot of contacts to go to reach our goal, and it looked pretty daunting. But Saturday night after dinner we starting our fast, hopped on bikes, and went to visit an investigator that we haven't been able to contact for a few weeks, but that was at first looking to be the most promising. He lives 2.5 miles from our house, and over that distance we managed to talk to 55 people! That was huge for us! God just kept putting people in our paths and several of them actually seem like good potentials. So by the time we were approaching our investigator's house, it was pretty late, and the owner doesn't want us knocking on the door. I really didn't know what we'd do. But biking up to the house, our investigator was just walking out into the yard. I think my jaw dropped. Miracle to find him! We ended talking for about 15 min, although we seemingly had no idea what to say. He's really struggling and has given up a lot of hope to change. But God guided our words and we set up a return appointment. Both Elder M and I know that the blessing of finding that investigator again came because of our fast and faith. When we got back to the house, my companion said, "It's kinda freaky seeing God's hand so clearly." I don't know if I explained it well, but it was a great testimony to us of the power of fasting, and as well as how much God is involved in our lives.
I love you all and pray for you. Thank you for everything. Get well soon, Mom, and good luck with the new program, Dad. Have a great week!


Elder Joshua Gathro