The Inspired Cat!

Familia y Amigos,

Hello once again! This last week was really busy for us and really good. We have seen several miracles happen each day and it just amazes me.

On Tuesday, we had interviews with the Mission President and then afterwards we had zone meeting. It was a very spirit-filled day. As Elders were going in and out of interviews with the Mission President, Elder Morgan and I had the opportunity to meet with each companionship in the zone and talk to them about their areas and about how things are going. It was really cool to get to know the Elders better and hear of the great things happening in their areas, seeing their desires to help others, and also to hear of the trials they're facing in their areas. And it was great to be interviewed by President Weston too. He told me: "You are in the right place at the right time." I do feel that this is where the Lord wants me. I'm grateful to be here in Grand Island and I'm loving my time here.

In our zone meeting, we gave trainings about how to teach with convincing power... and really it all comes from two things: 1) The Spirit (which is gained through Obedience)  and 2) The Word (which is gained through studies). We focused our trainings on #2 and as I have applied what we taught, I have seen a great change in our power as we teach and in my love for others. Probably the greatest conclusion that came out of the meeting was that we can teach with convincing power as we study with the intent to help others! True revelation is received when studying on behalf of others. I love the scripture in D&C 63: 9-12. We talked about how as missionaries we see this potential of who we can become and we want it so bad. Sometimes we feel like we are doing all that we possibly can to reach it, but it just doesn't happen. And what I have come to realize is that the reason why it doesn't happen is because our desire is for ourselves. We are demanding spiritual gifts for our own benefit...to gain the praise of men. God doesn't give men the Priesthood to give themselves blessings. Therefore, God won't give us any gift if our intent is just to glory in ourselves. For example: Joseph Smith getting the plates. God wouldn't give him the plates until his intentions were to glorify God, not to get rich and show off to other men of the brass plates.

Elder Morgan trained about how in life: hope is the destination; faith is the power that moves us towards the destination; and charity is the motivation. But, if charity isn't our motivation (for the benefit of others) then we won't be able to reach our hope. I think this takes a lifetime to understand and apply, and even then we won't understand it all. But, I'm trying to understand it better each day.

And real quick, as for a quick miracle that just happened yesterday. After church we went to go stop by a less-active member's house, and when we knocked nobody answered the door. When we got back to our car, we were trying to get warm for a second as we were figuring out who to see next, and then I saw a kid at the neighbor's house peek his head above a bush and looked right at us. At first I was like what the? haha and then I realized, he looked just like one of the kids that lives at the house we just knocked. When we watched this little kid for a bit longer, we realized he and his little sister were trying to catch their cat. haha. So we got out of the car and tried to help them catch their cat. After a while of chasing it down, cornering it, and it running through our legs a few times, we finally got it. haha. And because of that cat, we were able to talk to these kids and they told us that their family was going to come to church but slept in and didn't want to show up late. Then, he told us that they would be home on Tuesday at 3:30 so we are going to go back then and see them. So, we are grateful for that inspired cat that led us to those kids so we could schedule an appointment with this less-active family.

The work is going well here. We have been blessed with a lot of people to see and some members brought a non-member family to church yesterday. And they're Cuban! haha But, a big problem we are facing right now with our investigators is that like 5 different families we are teaching all need their parents to get married. So if you wish, so you can keep that in your prayers!

I hope you all have a wonderful week. Thanks so much for your love and support!

Love,
Elder Vawdrey