A Week Of Miracles!

I wish that I could explain all that happened this week and tell you just how merciful the Lord is to his children and to his servants, but I would have to write a book on it, that's how greatful I am!

Wednesday we had an exchange with the zone leaders and to be honest, that 24 hours changed my mission. I was with an Elder named Elder Hirschi and he is such a good example to me of diligence. That day, we made a goal of talking to literally everyone and so thats exactly what we did. If people were in their cars, we knocked on their windows, if people walked inside, we went and knocked on their doors and we literally saw miracles!

One person we saw (her name is Suli) walked into her house so we knocked on her door, and she told us that she would definitely be interested in learning more and that we could come back to next day. Miracle enough right!? It gets so much better! The next day, we finally contacted this referral we received about a week ago (Erika Hernandez) and she said that we could come back and then proceeded to give us her address. Her address was exactly the same as Suli's! We tracked into our referral!!!

We also were able to find a couple families this week and one of them (the Gomez family) even came to a baptismal service for other missionaries this last Saturday. The service was in English and none of them speak English so we hooked up the headsets and translated the baptismal service. It was pretty stressful getting everything set up, and we kind of ran around like chickens with our heads cut off all day, but in the end, it was so worth it. The Aunt Maria even asked us after the baptism, "why do I feel so much peace right now?" and we were able to teach them about the Holy Ghost. What a life changing experience!

I wish I could tell you all the miracles we saw this week, but there were just too many. And alas, just as the area is booming, we received transfer calls. Elder Hale has been here about 5 months and I've only been here for 2, so we thought for sure that I'd be staying, but I guess the Lord has different plans. Tomorrow I leave for Rockford IL, arguably one of the most dangerous cities in the USA (I'm totally kidding) but I'm told it's a lot different! I was so excited and I still am, but then I realized that I have to leave Bloomingdale. I really have grown to love the people here, especially the members and it feels like I'm leaving my family all over again! 

It's kind of scary and a lot to take in, but what I want to share today is that no matter what happens, it is God's plan. My testimony of this has strengthened so much this week and for that I'm eternally grateful! I know, without a doubt, that our Heavenly Father has an individual and personal plan for each and every one of us and that, even though it's hard...haha it is so incredibly, unrealistically hard sometimes to know that you have absolutely no control over something, it is all part of His wonderful plan for us. I love each and every one of you and I am so grateful for this gospel and the hope it brings into each of our lives.

God has a plan. And so long as we cling to the faith that we have in Jesus Christ, everything will work together for good, to them that love God, and trust in him.

Best wishes and congratulate my mom for her unfailing love for all her children, especially the brand new baby boy! I will have it known though, I was and will always be the biggest baby...

Love ya!!!

Elder Arkoudas

I love these people with all of my SOUL!

Oh, and it was 37 degrees today!!! We literally walked outside and had to take our coats off it was so hot!

I am adding his personal email to me this week because he has great news about his transfer..

Mom,

 I'm so glad, ecstatic, relived and a million other feeling rolled all into one to hear how well everything went! I prayed like crazy for you this week and I'm glad that those prayers were answered.

I'm glad to receive the news! I made a goal to not check my email until Monday so I didn't even find out until this morning and what a great surprise to wake up to! I don't even really know what to say because it hasn't really hit me yet. I would love to call you, but we'll just have to wait a couple months for mothers day.

This week has been such a boost for me, one that I desperately needed. We did so much work this week and it all comes from talking to everyone. We really did see miracles this week and I am so grateful for the week that it has been. We had one experience where, after days of working our tails off, we decided to have a lesson with the Gomez family after the baptism. As missionaries, you're not allowed to be in a room with women unless there is another man there, but Elder Hale and I were so gung-hoe about working and baptizing that we just kind of forewent that rule and had the lesson anyway. I didn't feel the spirit the whole time and I knew why too. I knew that we shouldn't be doing that, and the whole time I could just hear the words, ''I can do my own work'' over and over again in my mind. Finally, I asked Elder Hale to step outside with me for a minute and we talked about it. We were able to call some members who said that they had actually taken a wrong turn and were heading towards the church anyway (I know right) and so we were able to finish the lesson with the Spirit. It was a huge testimony builder to me of what I'm actually here to do. I'm not here to convert these people, I'm just here to learn to forget myself and tag along while the Lord does his own work. He has ALLOWED me to tag along, and in all honesty, I realize that now, so long as I do my part...as much as I can...the Lord will consecrate my efforts for the good of those around me.

The next email you get from me will be from Rockford IL and I am so excited! Elder Hale told me I had to tell you and so I guess I will, only because I'm kind of freaking out a little bit. They called me to be the District leader up there and also I'm training a new missionary. He's been out for 6 weeks already so he's not brand-new, but still...that means out of the two of us, I have to be the one to speak all of the Spanish, but such is life.

I love being a missionary so much and I'm looking forward to meeting baby Hyrum in about a year and a half. He looks really cute (and a little like me) and I'll be praying for you both.

Love you Mom!!!

Your son,
Elder Arkoudas