To the Rescue

Dear Family,
It's starting to get toasty down here, almost in the 100s already. But every day is sunny and gorgeous. There's always people out and about; it really adds to the enthusiasm of our zone and gets us eager to work. The missionaries down here are terrific. We work hard and have fun.
So we got to visit a lot of families in the branch this week. It was mostly just first visits and we haven't gone to many for a second appointment but it's picking up. Some seem challenging but others that we are visiting seem like they are hungry for more. We had a really awesome experience last night for example. We set up an appointment earlier this week with a father and his kids for Sunday. Well the dad wasn't there but we asked if we could still come inside. It was our first time visiting them and we knew we better make it good or the 2 teenagers won't want us to come back just to be bored again. But boy did God give us some help. We went in and got to know them and tied in what they said with a scripture in Mosiah 5:2. After teaching a bit more and testifying, the 18 yr-old said, "While you were reading that I was thinking how it describes me. Just while I'm trying to change too." You could tell the Spirit was there during our visit, and we left them with a small section to read and asked when we could come back, they said Monday (today). The son even volunteered to offer the closing prayer. And while we were leaving he said, "I hope you guys come back tomorrow. Our family really needs this. We need something to help us out." It was incredible. There's not a feeling quite like the one you get when you know that you've done Father's will. And earlier yesterday we were talking to the ward clerk and we told him about the new assignment. He said that while we were talking to him he could feel and he knows that this is exactly what the branch needs. He was excited and grateful and filled with hope. It was remarkable.
We had an extra good lesson on Saturday with a 16 yr-old kid that we meet like 2 weeks ago in an apartment complex. It was actually really fun to teach him because he was asking so many perfect questions, and I felt like the answers were coming out simply but with power. It was really neat to see a youth who's dropped out of high school and kind of a punk still be really interested in doing what God wants. One of the coolest things was to notice how the Gospel could answer every question he had. God's plan is flawless. It's almost too perfect. Sometimes I think about how even super heroes, as good as they are with all the special powers they possess, even they have at least one weakness. And we're so used to dealing with people that have weaknesses. But Jesus Christ is perfect, no weaknesses. Any "it would be cool/perfect if" statement, is realized in the Savior and His Gospel. It's the best thing that can be.
Well, we'll see what this week has in store. I love you all. Good luck with everything. Enjoy life!

Elder Joshua Gathro