August 24, 2009

Dear Family,

How are you doing? Man Happy Birthday Jr and Heather! Sounds like you had some good birthdays. Kelli only has 6 more weeks!! Wow that is amazing! It went by so fast. I remember that it just seems like yesterday when i was at home and Kelli was talking to Mom and like whispering and being quite trying to tell Mom that she was pregnant not thinking i would here... haha but i heard. Not too much gets past me. haha Man now little Landon is almost here! I definitely want that pic of kelli's belly. Man now that song that i always used to sing to kelli about her having a big belly really applies. haha So your all moved in now? sounds great! and Dad that is exactly right though. What you said about 20% do 80%. This week was so amazing though. We had a companionship inventory last week and i just tried to motivate him, the Lord has really been blessing me lately to put words into my mouth to help motivate or help invite the spirit. He was motivated and wanted to work, this was our best week yet that we have had together. Because we pushed and always focused on goals. I just kept reminding him of our goals and what we wanted to accomplish, and what we needed to do to get there. And we just kept on going! We found lots of new investigators, and taught a record in lessons. This last week was stake conference so its kinda hard to get investigators there cause usually its far, but we didnt let that stop us, we had 6 people saturday night that we were needed to find rides for, we called people sunday morning and noone was answering but we kept trying, we went to this recent convert that is hispanic that usually helps us out with rides, but he was asleep but we kept knocking his door and his dad opened it we went to wake him up, he at first didnt wanna come, but he then decided to come, then he remembered that he had promised someone he was going to help them, so he agreed to just help uys with rides, so we get ready to go, his car starts but it wont change out of park!!! haha we look at what is wrong, Remember we are dressed in like our white shirts and ties, and suits, i take off my jacket and tie, i dont know anything about cars by the way... we look at everything, but cant figure out what is wrong he then gets out and shuts the door and locks his keys inside!!! haha so we look for anything that could let us get inside... i finally have the idea hey check the sun roof, luckily we could get in there so i climb up on top of his car and think i got long arms i can reach down in and open it, put i cant reach so they give me a hanger but it was strong enough, but luckily my companion is like 130 pounds and way small. so he says wait i can fit through there! so he squeezes through and unlocks it, we still cant figure it out, we were then thinking man we gotta go, we were already late for stake conference and two of our investigators we were supposed to pick up had called and were waiting, so we were gunna go get them in our car even though its against the rules but we needed to get them there somehow so the Zone leaders called us and were like hey where are you guys!!? we said what was going on and they sent a brother to come help us and we went and picked up everyone that we needed! then the family that we had been teaching Frankie Rosa and Debi also all came with there kids.! It was quite the morning, Satan was really trying to stop us, but we did all that we could we were trying everything, that is what the Lord requires of us, is all that we have, we must lose oursleves in his service. After all is said and down we must have nothing left because we have wasted away our lives in the service of our fellow man. We are focusing alot on Debi alot now in teaching her, she was born in the states in Texas, her Mom is american and Dad mexican but Debi is married to a hispanic, but we teach here in english. We taught her on saturday and i learned that night just how powerful a testimony truly is. We taught her a little more about Joseph Smith and i had felt prompted earlier to teach them about the priesthood, Frankie really enjoyed this and wants this blessing in his life, debi has really been reading alot and preparing herself for our visits. She is really funny, she always jokes around with us and calls us her little brother. She calls me big brother though cause im alot bigger than them all. haha But just at the end i just bore testimony to her that my soul was just burning withtin myself, and just really how blessed i am to have the gospel and i dont remember all i said, but i testified with all that was inside of me i shed a few tears, i have been doing real good and i dont cry haha im tough but the lord has really softened my heart and i know how much im blessed and this gospel is so close to my heart, we showed love to her just as the savior would himself if he were there that night in by extended her the commitment to be baptized, we are hoping for this weekend. She came to church sunday so we will see how this week goes, we need to make the very most out of each visit and make them feel the spirit strong each time. My challenge this week is to strengthen our testimonies this week, make them more and more powerful, that we will always want to share them. Also we had like a District Development meeting this week, where we get together with another district and have trainings and stuff. I got to give a training as well as my companion and the other district leader. I taught on prayer, it was really good, it helped me alot because i had been realizing i need to do better with my prayers, its a sacred time, we need to make it special. its a time to learn, I have really been blessed this week in just trying to make my prayers better. Some things i said were. To Be honest with the Lord, he knows our desires, be open with him, In the scriptures it talks about pleading with the Lord and praying with all energy of heart, at times we only do that when we need blessings, but we should pray with all energy of heart in showing our gratitude as well. Give thanks with all energy of heart, also show love for the lord, show love for others if we have no love for others ask for it. Be courageous to act on the answer that we get from the Lord like Joseph Smith he was courageous and acted on the answer he got and stuck with it cause he knew the Lord had answered his prayer, and also tone of voice, speak with him like we are really speaking with him, like speak with a loving tone, because he is our loving heavenly father, we would not speak real fast, or blunt or loud show love through your tone of voice, and make our prayers a special time with the Lord, i have learned to pour my heart out in ALL that i do, even in little things like a training in a meeting cause this is the way of a disciple we are disciples of christ, we need to take up our cross and follow him, i love you all so much. Give all you have to the Lord he has truly molded me and formed me into a man, and something i never thought i could be i do not fear for i know he is by my side. This church is true. We have a great calling as his people, we are in his fold, bring others into the fold. Take care you all, Tell everyone i love them! Grandma i love you!

Love always,
Elder Michael Riding