Teaching with the Spirit and New Companion!

Hey everyone,

Allright!!! The blog for today!  We had a new missionary come in from Sacramento,  California, who’s missionary spirit has made a big difference on our tri-companionship.  We took him to a lesson of a less-active member of about 14 years, and his prayer made him tear up.  He later told us that he has only cried with four other people in his life… It was a very touching experience… There’s such a lesson to be learned how when you come out of the MTC, your love for the people, your desire to change their lives, is more powerful than any amount of experience or knowledge.  The spirit touches hearts, and gives that chance for them to start their own change, with the truth they’ve received.  It’s incredible how much we can learn from these new missionaries coming out!

We had a great lesson with a man named Mr. A out in Spring Lake, who’s been out and about here and there and hard to get a hold of… We just asked him, “What are your thoughts on preparing for baptism?” which enfolded into a great conversation about how we all have a mountain of tribulation and trial to go through and get over.  Only through trusting the one who’s been to the top and back, who sees the green valley on the other side, who can successfully overcome all of our trials.  He really took it to heart, and the spirit was strong .

We’ve also been teaching another man who’s been great from the beginning!  We had a lesson on the gospel of Jesus Christ, and towards the end, we had a good talk on the hope that he feels, and what drives him to learn more, and take part in this gospel.  We’re able to identify it as the Holy Ghost, , and are making steps towards helping him be baptized on August 10!  He’s already given out a Book of Mormon and wants to have his friend over for a barbecue with the missionaries! That should be good! We’ve also got these fired up new senior missionaries in our area named the Reinharts, , who have been so good to us in just the last couple weeks. In the twinkling of an eye, they’ve come to our aid, and have taught a couple great lessons with us already!

We had a pretty neat experience with a less active member.  We went and talked to him ,and as we did, we decided hey, we have some investigators near by, let’s bring him along to go teach them!   So we convinced him, and sure enough, he bore his testimony ,and expressed his concern for smoking,  just like the investigator, and we were able to see the spirit strengthen and edify all of us from that great miracle!!  Ahh wish I had more time but I have to be going. The assistants are coming down tomorrow morning with my new companion, another new missionary , and I’m moving back into Fayetteville with him!!!  It’s been a crazy couple of weeks, and I can’t wait to learn and grow with this new companion! 

I love y’alll!! Take care!!

Love,  Elder Langford

Great Members, Trials, and Training Again!!

Hello everyone! 

I hope y’all are staying warm over there, because it's been pouring rain down on a day to day basis!  We’ve been blessed to have the car however, because we’re now covering two areas, we get it every week!  It’s a blessing and a burden… The bike’s been missed, and I do feel a bit heavier without it… 

We taught a lot of lessons this week! We really tried to get out there as much as we could, and tried to work together with members!  We’ve been able to grow some good relationships with members out here for a while, and we’re grateful everyday for their services towards us. There’s a member that does our wash every week and brings us by food here and there. She’s so kind and generous to be so thoughtful in the things she does! We really love and appreciate her!!….

I might as well just be a little honest here, these last two weeks, have been pretty low! In fact, the lowest of my mission!  If I could give some advice to everyone, it would be to forget yourself, by putting yourself to work!   I realize no one's perfect and the savior recognized this from the very beginning. He realized that we would mess up, and really fall  on our faces sometimes, in doing some of the stupidest things!  He provided us with the way, to use his gift.  Our enabling power, to progressively become like him, and to feel happy and successful in this life. Through his gospel, he has shown us the only way, to allow that power inside all of us to grow, to become more influential, and beneficial to our fellowman. The Gospel literally gives us the enabling power to be successful in this life, today!! It gives us happiness today! HE promises us that if we just come unto him and give his gospel and his way a shot, that we’ll be healed!  I’ve felt healing every time I’ve taken the sacrament. I feel and remember how I’m supposed to feel to be happy. If anything this week, I’ve gained a testimony of the importance of living the gospel, and keeping your faith strong!!  Never give up, and keep diligently pressing forward!  Always  keep going with a smile on your face!  You’ll never get out of it, until you back track, pray unto the Lord, and humble yourself. Accepting that broken heart and contrite spirit he desires us to posses. This is the only way, that we can be healed. We are lifted by his love, as we show we are trying to do his will.  

I would invite all those who are struggling for whatever reason to sacrifice something, for someone else. The smallest and simplest of things can make the biggest difference. I love all of you. I testify that the atonement is felt so powerfully in our lives, because of the sacrifice he made for us. His act of love, was and is the ultimate act of sacrifice. I know, as we sacrifice our selfish desires (this is pointing at me mostly), that we’ll feel the peace and the joy that we are promised, because we are accepting of the greatest sacrifice as we do so. We need to give love to be loved!  I need to give everyone my best self, sacrificing my idle pursuits, and doubts on the altar,so that I can truly follow the example of our Savior,  in demonstrating what love really means.  Next week, is going to be so much better!  I can already tell!  It’ll  be better because I'll be training in a trio :D so we’ll see how that cookie crumbles!  I’ll have a great opportunity to  apply and relearn the process of sacrifice and love!  Thank you so much for all of your prayers! I really, really appreciate them! God bless you all.

Elder Langford