Dear Family,
I am doing well. We are still really excited to see Eddie baptized
on Tuesday night. It should be really good and I am so excited to see
this son of God become a Son of Christ. At church yesterday he seemed so
comfortable. Enough so that we left him alone and he was fine having
some "yarn" with the other members. He is so excited to be baptized and
has really shown immense effort as he has quit smoking and stayed off as
well. Many times he has been tempted, but overcomes it. He is such an
example to me in how the gospel can changed people's lives when they
feel the Spirit, and have baptism and the celestial kingdom as their
goals. On Thursday, he passed his interview. We were really worried when
we came in because we could see smoke and noticed a couple of mugs of
coffee, but it turned out that those came from some friends that saw him
earlier. The zone leader, Elder Thomas, who interviewed him even smelt
his breath, and he was clean. It was a great relief and I am glad that
this his finally his time. Sid also came to church amazingly. It was a
great feat for him to go. On Saturday we were teaching him about the
importance of church attendance from Moroni 6:4-6, 9. At first he was
reluctant to go, but after reading these scriptures, he was determined
that he needed to go. He even pulled out his "glad rags," his suit as he
called them, to wear to church. Then that night he was feeling very ill
and had a legitimate excuse not to go, but he said to himself that he
needed to go. So he did and he enjoyed himself and was quite
fellowshipped by the ward, especially those from his neighborhood
who knew him as he was growing up. This week were also able to teach a
lady named Carmina. He is Cuban/Irish, and her husband is from Fiji (he
is in the military and away in the middle east right now). She is really
good and already lives many gospel principles. She is planning on
coming to the baptism as well. On Friday we went to do some service
again at Tools for Soliditary. This time we were taught how to make the
wood boxes that they pack the tools in the ship to the places they want.
It was quite easy especially since we used a nail gun. I liked doing it
and it was relieving and soothing at the same time. On Tuesday we had a
zone conference in Dublin. It was really good as they spoke about
family history and how we need to teach our recent converts and less
actives about it because it can really solidify them in the gospel after
their baptism. It gives them another goal to work towards-the
temple-and if they take their own names, it becomes more personal. They
also spoke about improving our teaching skills so that we can teach by
the Spirit more powerfully. President Griffiths echoed over and over
again how we need to simplify, clarify, testify, and verify.
I would be more than happy to be Matt Doxey's roommate next year. I
also help him in his class selections as well. For my birthday I would
like some more butterfingers as well as a few homemade or costco rolls.
My companion is doing very well. He knows the area quite well now. I
am really starting to let him take more control in planning and
teaching-especially in starting out in every lesson. I have gotten on
with all of my companions. Never have I lost my temper and I can say
that I am friends with most of them. I love you all and hope that I have
great news to to tell you next week.
Love,
Elder Buxton
No comments:
Post a Comment