Hey family. I didn't know if I'd get an email off today. Our day is pretty busy. The new missionaries are coming today and we're taking the 9 of them to go out proselyting tonight. I'll be with 2, Elder Davis will take 2, and the rest will be a couple other missionaries in their areas. And we have a bunch of other stuff going on. Not to mention I still have to pack.....
But I had a quick minute and wanted to send something short.
I love the Savior Jesus Christ and I love His gospel. Whether we know it or not, or whether we are striving to live it or not, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is why we chose to come down to earth. And once we see that, everything changes for the better and life is sweeter and more fulfilling.
In Elder Bednar's talk from the last general conference he talked about this: "God blesses us with a testimony of these things, and as we work to strengthen our testimonies and act on them, we become more and more converted unto the Lord. A testimony is spiritual knowledge of truth obtained by the power of the Holy Ghost. Continuing conversion is constant devotion to the revealed truth we have received—with a heart that is willing and for righteous reasons. Knowing that the gospel is true is the essence of a testimony. Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion. We should know the gospel is true and be true to the gospel....... Conversion is an offering of self, of love, and of loyalty we give to God in gratitude for the gift of testimony."
In the past 2 years I have learned a lot of new things. Things I needed. But learning things in studies and trainings isn't enough unless we act on it and share it with others. Actually going out and helping other people is how we become better people ourselves. I definitely have a long ways to go, but I've become a better person than I was 2 years ago. I'm still me, but I'm just more converted than I was before I left. And hopefully 2 years from now I'll still be moving in that direction.
The Gospel life is the good life. And life's been soo good in the hood! I'm going to miss everything out here. Thankfully we've been really busy these past few weeks so I haven't had a chance to dwell too much on it. But as much as I'll miss all of this, I'm excited to see you guys :) Just another day and a half or so. Crazy crazy.
Thanks for everything you guys do. I love you guys!
For the last time with this name,
Elder Lamb
Monday, November 26, 2012
November 19, 2012
Last week in the MDM
Hey! I probably will get an email out next Monday, but I'm not sure how busy we'll be that day, so this might be the last email home. That's weird to think about.
This week has been pretty busy. We had 4 days of Specialized Training. Elder Davis and I instructed on the role of the Book of Mormon in conversion, it turned out good so we were relieved. So there was a lot of focus in the meetings on that as well as working with members and wards/branches more effectively. It was a really productive set of meetings, I think things are going to raise to a new level in the mission if we can all act on the things we've been taught.
This Friday night we went to the temple with the Baldassarras! It was their first trip to the temple for baptisms. It was a great trip. The other set of elders in the ward also came with one of their recent converts for her first time too. And to top it off, I ran into someone else at the temple. Elder Clark and I baptized a guy named Dave Martin about a year ago in Flint, and I haven't seen him since I left - but he happened to be going through the temple for his first time that same night and was in our same session for baptisms. So I got to catch up with him and be there for his first session. It was so cool. It was a simple tender mercy of the Lord, little things like that are nice reminders that the Lord is aware of us and wants us to enjoy this life.
I'll try to send something short next Monday. If I can't...then the next time I talk to you guys will be in person! :)
I love the Savior Jesus Christ.
And I love you guys.
Elder Lamb
Last week in the MDM
Hey! I probably will get an email out next Monday, but I'm not sure how busy we'll be that day, so this might be the last email home. That's weird to think about.
This week has been pretty busy. We had 4 days of Specialized Training. Elder Davis and I instructed on the role of the Book of Mormon in conversion, it turned out good so we were relieved. So there was a lot of focus in the meetings on that as well as working with members and wards/branches more effectively. It was a really productive set of meetings, I think things are going to raise to a new level in the mission if we can all act on the things we've been taught.
This Friday night we went to the temple with the Baldassarras! It was their first trip to the temple for baptisms. It was a great trip. The other set of elders in the ward also came with one of their recent converts for her first time too. And to top it off, I ran into someone else at the temple. Elder Clark and I baptized a guy named Dave Martin about a year ago in Flint, and I haven't seen him since I left - but he happened to be going through the temple for his first time that same night and was in our same session for baptisms. So I got to catch up with him and be there for his first session. It was so cool. It was a simple tender mercy of the Lord, little things like that are nice reminders that the Lord is aware of us and wants us to enjoy this life.
I'll try to send something short next Monday. If I can't...then the next time I talk to you guys will be in person! :)
I love the Savior Jesus Christ.
And I love you guys.
Elder Lamb
Monday, November 12, 2012
Elder Oaks!
The weekend was SO cool. Elder Oaks came...and it was awesome. I think I explained in a previous email what he was doing here, but I'll break it down just in case I really didn't. He was here partly because he was doing some training with the temple workers at the Detroit Temple, and then he was also given the assignment while he was here to preside at the Westland Stake Conference this weekend, and then he offered to have a quick meeting with the mission. As a missionary serving in this mission as well as in the Westland Stake, I was pumped. So Saturday morning was the mission meeting, it was an hour and half - so too short if you ask me, but it was awesome. Before the meeting started he had everyone line up so he could shake our hands. You can feel the good in him just when he walks in the room, but shaking his hand was next level great. That was my favorite part of the weekend actually. He talked to us about a lot. He told us we're not here to baptize, but to establish the Church. He talked about real conversion, how we all need to seek after real conversion beyond simply having a testimony. Simply baptizing people who feel good about the experience of baptism but aren't repentant and committed to staying on the path just adds burdens to the bishops and stake presidents. It was a good message for us as members and for those we're teaching. I don't have my notes in front me, but he talked about a lot in the few meetings I heard him at. We took our investigator Gary on Saturday night to the Adult Session of Stake Conference and again on Sunday morning to the normal session of Stake Conference. At the Saturday night session, Elder Oaks was a little more casual because it wasn't a Sabbath day meeting he said. And he was hilarious. I'd always pictured him as very stern and serious from watching him at General Conference, but this was a fun side to see of him. A member of one of the quorums of the Seventy was also with him for the two stake conference meetings, his name was Elder Archibald. They both gave great talks. Elder Archibald gave a talk on the Atonement that was incredible, and after Elder Oaks said that Elder Archibald gave one of the best talks on the Atonement that Elder Oaks had ever heard. So watch out for Elder Archibald speaking at a general conference in the near future ;)
This whole weekend was unreal. Not just because I got to shake hands a couple times and talk with an apostle. But I know without a doubt that Elder Oaks and the rest of the Brethren are prophets of the Lord Jesus Christ. The way he carried the Spirit about him, and the way I was able to be so edified from the experience helps me know that. We actually had a pretty awesome experience too. On a quick side note, Gary is the investigator who is just doing awesome. He's the one who's completely been off smoking for a few weeks now after coming down from 40 a day. He's the one who's been reading everything like crazy in the scriptures and other Church books. Just a completely different person. But he's also had a very rough life. He's been waiting for approval to be baptized from the First Presidency and just a few days ago he got word in the mail that he needs to wait 6 months to have his situation re-evaluated. We thought for sure his baptismal service would be happening any day now. Gary was pretty upset. but after the Saturday night conference, President worked it out so that we could have Gary talk to Elder Oaks briefly to receive some counsel. Not knowing Gary at all, Elder Oaks gave counsel that was perfect. He said things that Elder Davis and I could never think of saying despite how well we knew Gary. And just the fact that Gary was given this opportunity was incredible. Really the whole timing of him getting the letter a day before Elder Oaks comes was absolutely orchestrated by the Lord. The Lord is very aware of our situations. If we ask Him to and allow Him to, He will give us the strength we need and allow us to feel of His perfect love for us.
Here's a scripture Elder Oaks shared with Gary: "Nevertheless, Jacob, my first-born in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain." (2 Nephi 2:2)
Love you guys,
Elder Lamb
November 5, 2012
mafia to mormon
Hey. This week has been busy, but I don't even remember what all we did. Just give me a sec... So we had a missionary go home this week so we were working out exchanges and had some missionaries staying with us for a couple days as we worked that out. But the missionary who went home is planning on coming back out asap, so that's really good. We also went to a fireside this week down in Detroit. Mario Facione (sp?) was the speaker. He's a member of the Bloomfield Hills Stake in our mission, and he has an incredible conversion story. He's the author of a book called "From Mafia to Mormon", just to give you an idea. At the fireside he told his story of how he was in a very sticky line of work (Elder Ballard - ya, the apostle - had given him counsel to not be too specific on what kind of work he was up to), and Brother Facione explained how the missionaries knocked on his door. Bhadda bing bhadda boom. It's an awesome story though. There's no one too far off the path for the gospel to heal them and get their lives in order. He's been a temple president in the detroit temple and has sent his children on missions. Gian-Carlo our recent convert (who is Italian) came and so did Gary. I probably have told you this, but Gary is on fire. He's a gospel studying machine - he's read Preach My Gospel, Gospel Principles, BOM, D&C, Pearl of Great Price, Teachings of George Albert Smith, and the list is growing. He's just finished Our Heritage. And he's on like Day #12 of having quit smoking after years of 40 cigarettes a day. Baptism = soon. Stay tuned.
Halloween was pretty plain, I was on an exchange and we had appointments. But I got your guys' package, thanks! I'm still working on the cookies, there were a lot in there.
This weekend is going to be epic. Elder Oaks is coming. He's here to do some training at the Detroit Temple, but he's also coming to the Westland Stake Conference. That's my stake, so we get to see him Saturday night at the Adult Session and Sunday morning at the normal session. And then he decided to have a quick meeting with our mission Saturday morning. It's a rare opportunity for him to be here, we've had a couple of elders from the Seventy come out since I've been out here, but apostles don't generally come out to state side missions from what I've heard. I'll be sure to let you know how it goes next Monday ;)
Other than that, that's about it. I have a black eye right now. We've been doing district work-outs once a week, where we play ultimate frisbee with our district for morning work-outs. Something Elder Adamson and I started almost a year ago when I was in Plymouth. But I took a disc to the eye a couple of days ago. It's nothing serious, but it makes me look more like a G.
Have a great week. Love you guys.
Elder Lamb
The weekend was SO cool. Elder Oaks came...and it was awesome. I think I explained in a previous email what he was doing here, but I'll break it down just in case I really didn't. He was here partly because he was doing some training with the temple workers at the Detroit Temple, and then he was also given the assignment while he was here to preside at the Westland Stake Conference this weekend, and then he offered to have a quick meeting with the mission. As a missionary serving in this mission as well as in the Westland Stake, I was pumped. So Saturday morning was the mission meeting, it was an hour and half - so too short if you ask me, but it was awesome. Before the meeting started he had everyone line up so he could shake our hands. You can feel the good in him just when he walks in the room, but shaking his hand was next level great. That was my favorite part of the weekend actually. He talked to us about a lot. He told us we're not here to baptize, but to establish the Church. He talked about real conversion, how we all need to seek after real conversion beyond simply having a testimony. Simply baptizing people who feel good about the experience of baptism but aren't repentant and committed to staying on the path just adds burdens to the bishops and stake presidents. It was a good message for us as members and for those we're teaching. I don't have my notes in front me, but he talked about a lot in the few meetings I heard him at. We took our investigator Gary on Saturday night to the Adult Session of Stake Conference and again on Sunday morning to the normal session of Stake Conference. At the Saturday night session, Elder Oaks was a little more casual because it wasn't a Sabbath day meeting he said. And he was hilarious. I'd always pictured him as very stern and serious from watching him at General Conference, but this was a fun side to see of him. A member of one of the quorums of the Seventy was also with him for the two stake conference meetings, his name was Elder Archibald. They both gave great talks. Elder Archibald gave a talk on the Atonement that was incredible, and after Elder Oaks said that Elder Archibald gave one of the best talks on the Atonement that Elder Oaks had ever heard. So watch out for Elder Archibald speaking at a general conference in the near future ;)
This whole weekend was unreal. Not just because I got to shake hands a couple times and talk with an apostle. But I know without a doubt that Elder Oaks and the rest of the Brethren are prophets of the Lord Jesus Christ. The way he carried the Spirit about him, and the way I was able to be so edified from the experience helps me know that. We actually had a pretty awesome experience too. On a quick side note, Gary is the investigator who is just doing awesome. He's the one who's completely been off smoking for a few weeks now after coming down from 40 a day. He's the one who's been reading everything like crazy in the scriptures and other Church books. Just a completely different person. But he's also had a very rough life. He's been waiting for approval to be baptized from the First Presidency and just a few days ago he got word in the mail that he needs to wait 6 months to have his situation re-evaluated. We thought for sure his baptismal service would be happening any day now. Gary was pretty upset. but after the Saturday night conference, President worked it out so that we could have Gary talk to Elder Oaks briefly to receive some counsel. Not knowing Gary at all, Elder Oaks gave counsel that was perfect. He said things that Elder Davis and I could never think of saying despite how well we knew Gary. And just the fact that Gary was given this opportunity was incredible. Really the whole timing of him getting the letter a day before Elder Oaks comes was absolutely orchestrated by the Lord. The Lord is very aware of our situations. If we ask Him to and allow Him to, He will give us the strength we need and allow us to feel of His perfect love for us.
Here's a scripture Elder Oaks shared with Gary: "Nevertheless, Jacob, my first-born in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain." (2 Nephi 2:2)
Love you guys,
Elder Lamb
November 5, 2012
mafia to mormon
Hey. This week has been busy, but I don't even remember what all we did. Just give me a sec... So we had a missionary go home this week so we were working out exchanges and had some missionaries staying with us for a couple days as we worked that out. But the missionary who went home is planning on coming back out asap, so that's really good. We also went to a fireside this week down in Detroit. Mario Facione (sp?) was the speaker. He's a member of the Bloomfield Hills Stake in our mission, and he has an incredible conversion story. He's the author of a book called "From Mafia to Mormon", just to give you an idea. At the fireside he told his story of how he was in a very sticky line of work (Elder Ballard - ya, the apostle - had given him counsel to not be too specific on what kind of work he was up to), and Brother Facione explained how the missionaries knocked on his door. Bhadda bing bhadda boom. It's an awesome story though. There's no one too far off the path for the gospel to heal them and get their lives in order. He's been a temple president in the detroit temple and has sent his children on missions. Gian-Carlo our recent convert (who is Italian) came and so did Gary. I probably have told you this, but Gary is on fire. He's a gospel studying machine - he's read Preach My Gospel, Gospel Principles, BOM, D&C, Pearl of Great Price, Teachings of George Albert Smith, and the list is growing. He's just finished Our Heritage. And he's on like Day #12 of having quit smoking after years of 40 cigarettes a day. Baptism = soon. Stay tuned.
Halloween was pretty plain, I was on an exchange and we had appointments. But I got your guys' package, thanks! I'm still working on the cookies, there were a lot in there.
This weekend is going to be epic. Elder Oaks is coming. He's here to do some training at the Detroit Temple, but he's also coming to the Westland Stake Conference. That's my stake, so we get to see him Saturday night at the Adult Session and Sunday morning at the normal session. And then he decided to have a quick meeting with our mission Saturday morning. It's a rare opportunity for him to be here, we've had a couple of elders from the Seventy come out since I've been out here, but apostles don't generally come out to state side missions from what I've heard. I'll be sure to let you know how it goes next Monday ;)
Other than that, that's about it. I have a black eye right now. We've been doing district work-outs once a week, where we play ultimate frisbee with our district for morning work-outs. Something Elder Adamson and I started almost a year ago when I was in Plymouth. But I took a disc to the eye a couple of days ago. It's nothing serious, but it makes me look more like a G.
Have a great week. Love you guys.
Elder Lamb
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