June 2, 2010

Hey guys,

Sorry im a little late in writing this week. With Memorial day Monday and yesterday we had Zone Leader Council as well, so i was in meetings all day. But Man that is so crzy to think that those guys are already home and everything. Man that is intense! Man i cannot imagine what they are feeling right now. As my time in the mission is winding down i can only think of how much i really dont want it to end. Those guys have finished there two year time and on with there new mission for the rest of their lives. Crazy. i dont even like to think of how much time i have left. It just isnt really important, many missionaries think at the end of their mission's that they can kind of slow down and not work AS hard as before. But this is the time where im truly at my best, i MUST finish strong and endure and fight till the end. It is too important to give up. The enemy has really been working on us and our zone but something that was comforting was told to us was that me and my other Zone leader companion was that we were the only missionaries that could handle all the things that had been going on in our zone, he knew that we could be diligent and loving and knew how to handle and help these missionaries. The enemy has been trying to slow me down, telling me im tired and that i should slow down, i have been tried and tested in different ways so much lately, that ive just been left pondering why? But i know that this is all for my good. Just like in the 122th section of the Docrtine and Covenants the lord tells the Prophet Jospeh Smith that all will be for his good. The Lord knows what i can handle. My companion is a stud, not because he is super funny or because we get along well.(which all those things are true) but because he has a testimony, he KNOWS why he is out here. He has that firm desire to share this. We have had lesson where the spirit is very strong, just because we both want this for these people here. I have learned what it truly means to be "brethren in the Lord" I know that many times i may fall and many times i may doubt myself, but in Him i can do all things. We had a man named Victor stop us this past week as we were knocking some doors because he wanted to ask us what church we were from and we told him, and he said " I have been searching for your church, i went in North Carolina for almost two years, and i found missionaries here in Greenville and gave them my address but they never came by" So we try to set up times to see him but it never worked out. Then Sunday comes around and we give him a call to invite him to church and he says he is going to try his best to get there. Then right as they are saying the opening prayer they end the prayer and i look up and he walk in! He loved church and said that it helped him alot because it talked alot about how Father's play such a big role in the home and that they must be a guide and example for the rest. He said he needed to do better at that. We went and taught him on Monday for a short bit and today we are going to try and commit him to be baptized. What a miracle and blessing. The Lord put us in his path, to find him and help him. I love this work. Tell Tyler Homewood congrats and that i love him, Tell him sorry for not writing back. Im just really bad at writing. I havent written a letter in MONTHS...... haha I just use Preperation days for other things, more mission worthy things than letters.... But i figure they understand. Im trying to stay focused. I can tell them what its like when i get back right? haha Thanks for all the prayers and support. Keep us in your prayers still P.s. Ash my companion says hi... haha He thinks your Cute. I told him he needs to focus when he told me that. haha Thanks for all you o and the great examples you are for me. Thanks Mom and Dad you guys made me into the person iam today. Your the very best parents i could ever ask for. You are saints, the most Christlike people i know. Love you all so much. Share your love for the savior always.

Love always,

Elder Riding