Hello Friends and Family,
This week has gone by fast! Next week is when we leave, hopefully
Monday! We had a good week, we have one of our "investigators/ teacher" commit
to baptism. We're still working on our other investigator. Hopefully we can get
him to commit before this Saturday. We're almost done with having class. I'm a
little nervous, I want to learn more Danishk, but I'm ready to get out of here.
Wheither I'm in the States or in Denmark, I'm ready to go serve. Icelandic
Missionaries will be flying over with us (We fly for over 20 hours, they fly for
over 24 hours) not excited for that. For all those that don't know right now as
of last week there was a report of only 8 out of the 14 Danish Missonaries have
their VISA's. We're hoping and praying that the rest will come in. They won't
tell us until Friday who has whose visas. If we here on Friday than that might
be that we got transferred for another 6 weeks. I have my travel plans to fly to
Denmark but I'm not sure if I have my Visa. No matter what happens, I'm still
serving the Lord.
Ok cool things that happened this week. Sunday we had a devotional.
The main speaker was Jenny Oaks Baker. I didn't make the connection with the
Oaks part. She is the Daughter of Elder Dalin H. Oaks. She has a Bachelors or
Masters, I can't remember, in music. She talked on Spiritual Gifts and shared
hers. She played the Violin, it was beautiful music, she has been playing since
she was 4 years old!. Her kids also played, ages were from 4-10 I believe. They
played amazingly. I was hoping Elder Oaks would pop on in, never happened. None
the less it was an amazing devotional.
Last spirtual thought. Last Saturday I recieved a letter from
Grandma and Grandpa Read. It was such a joy to get a letter from them. I love my
Grandparents! So our teacher hadgiven us 4 questions that missionaries had a
hard time answering the field. He had to substitute the Icelandic Missionaries
for an hour, so he asked us to answer them. He left the room and our District
Leader Elder Ockey asked if we wanted to each take a question, and give a
investigator lesson, to another group of companions. We researched for 10
minutes on our question. Me and Elder Durrant's question was "Why are families
so important?". We had to of course teach in Danish. I searched in Preach My
Gospel, found an couple of scriptures and thought that this would be an easy
lesson. I was wrong....
After researching I asked Elder Durrant what he found, he replied
something about familes being together forever. I asked him what do you have to
back it up. He replied "I can't think of anything." So we begin teaching and during this time one Elder, Elder Carmack,
claimed that he loved his family and had a good relationship with them. So far
so good. Elder Warner claimed that he sometimes loved his family and he doesn't
have a good relationship with them. It started to go down hill from here. After
hearing this Elder Durrant said this is your lesson. Luckly I took a deep breath and calmed down, and I knew that it was up to me to answer this
question. I was stumped for a couple of minutes, than I had an
impresion, I remembered my grandparents. A thought came to my mind. I told of my
Grandfather's Story. Background that I told them, all that my father has known
about his grandfather, whenever my dad would ask my grandfather about his
father. My Grandfather would only reply that he was a drunk. (He passed away
around the time my father was born). I told that Elder of how my Grandfather
could have very well made the decision to follow in his fathers foot steps. My
Grandpa Read, made the decsion to change and figured out he didn't want that
same life style. He "broke the mold" as my father puts it. Because of my
Grandfather I am here on my mission with my Testimony of Jesus Christ and His
Gospel. I shared with them the scripture in the Book of Mormon Alma 37:35 I
believe. I asked that Elder "How do we learn wisdom in our youth?" He didn't
respond. I told him we learn it from our Parents. Becuase they taught us. Just
like they taught him how to Drive, to read, and learn. I asked him about his
future family, If he would want them to be happy. He responded yes. I told them
that eventually you will have to give them that wisdom and he could have a great
family. A good family. I told him he could change like my grandfather changed.
He could also fix his relationship with his current family. I testified and
closed.
Such a powerful story. I am so gratefull of my heritage and the
family that I have grown up in. I cannot deny the spirit I felt when telling
that story. Family history is so important in this work. I am grateful for my
Grandpa Read for making that change. He has blesed so many people in my family.
I have no doubt that if he didn't have make that change, I would not be the
person that I am today. I know that my life would be messed up. Because of my
Grandpa Read we have had 3 of my cousins serve missions as well as 2 are out
right now. (Counting Me) He has had 5 sons who have served missions before us.
And because of him, my family will be able to enjoy this gospel. This is my
testimony that I know this work is true. I'm grateful for my family and that I
can be together forever with them. I know this work in the mission is true. I
know that the Book of Mormon is true and it testifies of the Plan of Salvation
and our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that we all can be together with our
familles forever. It can help us become closer to our families. I love each and
everyone of you. Hopefully to hear from me again in Denmark!
Elder Jantzen Richard Read
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