Elder Dallin's letter 1/26/2015

Dear Family, 

     Thanks so much for the letters and pictures!!!! They were awesome!!! I was just pondering about you guys this week and I just couldn't help but smile and be full of love for you guys. You guys have done so much for me and continue to do so much for me that I wish I could repay you all for. But the truth is is that I can't, but what I can do is trust that Heaven will bless all of you for the things that you are doing for the Lord's servant. My mission presidents have always said, "The Lord loves His missionaries, and the Lord loves those who love His missionaries." I find that to be true whether the missionary is a grandson, cousin, or son. Thank you all SO much. 

    Anyways!! For this week, we had a family in one of our members home to teach them there, because the Spirit can be a lot stronger in a home that is a covenant-keeping. But the father, I think he was just out of his comfort zone and it bothered him a little. But while the rest of the family was talking about how hard it was to hear answers to prayers, I felt impressed to ask them what questions they would want to ask God if He were right there. The father had no desire to talk, hold a Book of Mormon, read, or participate. We had the member extend the invitation to come to church with them and sit with them, and promised that he would fast for them to help them to know that this church is true. So I did as well. So they committed to coming to church finally!!! And while we're waiting for them with two rows saved for them we text them to see if they were close and the father texted back saying "We going to our regular church." I was heart-broken. So much so that I forgot that I was asked to give the opening prayer and had a little bit of a delay getting up there, but it wasn't too bad. We are kinda lost as to what to do with them as of right now, since even though both the mom and the 14 year old daughter know the church is true, they still won't do anything. But we'll keep at them! One of these days, it will just click. 

  My companion is doing a little bit better, but Dad you really nailed it when you said that it being around someone who is only loosely committed to being there may make it much harder to be diligent and as fully engaged as you otherwise might be. It does, but I know that we were meant to be together for a purpose, so I will just keep on him and keep the spiritual blood flowing in him. He really is such a strong missionary when he wants to be and I love him dearly. He had really improved and doesn't want to go home any more, now it's just fine-tuning his obedience and charity for others. He's just such a stud!! 

   Dad I loved what you said about the sacrifices about the good Samaritan. Such a powerful parable. That list of sacrifices included some that I had never before thought about! 

  So after talking to some bishops in the zone, the common denominator with what they all had to say was loving the members. So what I did for my training was had an elder carry a piano bench with 4 ping pong balls on top and set them on a table. He couldn't do it, so I asked for a different elder to do it, but this time giving him a small can to put the balls in so they didn't roll everywhere. On the bottom of the can, I had written "LOVE" and on all the balls, I had written things like "member trust", "Team ups", "Dinner Appointments" and stuff. I taught that as we have love for our members, everything else becomes easier. 

     But I'm out of time!!!! I love you all so much!!!!! I'm so glad you had such a great time in Las Vegas!!!!!!!!!! Give everyone my love!!! :)

-Elder Judy