My last letter from Nebraska!

Familia y Amigos,

It's been a crazy week, and this is now the last e-mail that I will be sending from Nebraska...I can't believe it has been 2 years. And it has been the best! Through the hard times, sacrifices, blessings, tears, and long prayers, I have gained a stronger testimony that this is the Lord's work and that He cares about us individually. I feel such great joy as I share the gospel with others and feel and know that they understand it. I'm so grateful that I was called to serve in the Omaha Nebraska Mission and be so spoiled! I'm grateful to have been called to speak Spanish, the celestial language. I'm grateful for the Spirit I've felt as I help others, and I'm grateful that the Spirit can change our hearts! I know that I am weak, but with God I am made strong. This work will continue to move onward. Christ is our Savior. God loves us. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It brings peace to the soul! I'm so grateful for each of you and all that you do! I'm going to miss the people I have met on my mission, but fortunately they live close enough that I can come back and visit! This church is true! I love it!

Really quick, I want to mention a few great last miracles I have experienced this past week:

I got to go to North Platte and do an exchange with Elder Hadfield from American Fork. I was touched by his strong testimony and the great work he is doing there. I had a few experiences with him that I won't forget. I don't have much time so I'll share one of my favorite ones. We were reading the Book of Mormon with a less-active brother and the Spirit was so strong. This less-active man had such a strong spirit and desire to come back to church. He understood the Book of Mormon and you could sense the feeling of peace that rushed through his spirit during that visit. As we read with him, Elder Hadfield received revelation of someone he felt we needed to visit. It was another less-active family that the Elder Quorum President in his ward had been trying to meet with for weeks. We immediately went over there and they were home. They let us in and we had a great visit about the power of Christ's Atonement. I know that it's real. I'm grateful that we each can receive personal revelation and that as we act upon what we think is revelation, then we soon receive the witness...after the trial of our faith. The Book of Mormon is a powerful book because it contains the words of our Loving Heavenly Father. He wants to help us and we can get His help as we read that book.  

Unfortunately we were outside of our area for about 1/2 of this past week so that we could serve other missionaries and go to a few meetings. Well, a few weeks ago, one of the Assistants to the President promised us that if we would do two exchanges a week and serve the other Elders around us that we would be blessed in our own area. Elder Wells and I have been doing that and this last week we really saw the fruits of it. We were outside of our area for three days and we had some of the most success in our own area than we have had so far in our time serving together. This last Sunday there were two investigator families and another investigator that came to church. And I know that this was a promise fulfilled from the Lord through another missionary. This church is true! I don't know exactly how God does everything that He does, but He does it and He does it well!

 

I love you all! Keep living the Gospel! I will see you soon! 

Love,

Elder Vawdrey

This morning's countdown status...TWO DAYS!!!

Church Tour!

Buenos dias a todos que leen este E-mail! (Translation: Good day to everyone who will read this message!) Summer is starting to hit and it is still tornado season here. Thankfully nobody was hurt this past week from tornadoes in our zone. There were a few tornadoes that touched down and caused several companionships to hide in their basements for a few hours. But don't worry, no damage was done to anyone or anything...the Lord protects His missionaries, that is for sure!

Do you remember last weeks letter when I said we found those families out in a little town like in the middle of nowhere? Well hey, great news! haha They came to church yesterday and were warmly welcomed to the branch here! We were really excited to see them come, and they shared some great comments in their classes!

We also had a church tour with L and P's family, along with one of their friend's and her family. We showed them all the paintings in the church building, the chapel, and the baptismal font. It was another incredible experience. P was crying when we entered the chapel. We invited them to take a minute and to pay attention to how they felt. We then sang "How Great Thou Art" in the chapel and that was really powerful! And then when we showed them the baptismal font, and they committed to be baptized on the 29th of June. We are so excited for them, and I'm grateful for the great spirit of peace that is found at the church. There is power in dedicated buildings!

We were able to see several other little miracles this last week which was really exciting. I am so grateful for the privilege I have had up to this point to serve the Lord full-time in Nebraska. I have never been so happy in my life as I have served others and invited them to come unto Christ. I know that God lives, Jesus Christ lives, that this is their true church, and that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God. I'm grateful for each of you and the great influence you have on others! Hope you have a great week!

Love,

Elder Vawdrey