Hey Everyone!

Its been a really good week. We have seen a lot of miracles and some really awesome things happen. Really sweet miracle...are you ready?? It's actually one of the typical ones, ones that you hear every missionary tell about when they get home, and its one that you just pray and wait for and hope happens to you so that you can tell stories like it someday.

Well, we were out knocking on doors in an appartment complex and knocked on a door. A lady answered and she looked at us and smiled and said, "I have a story for you guys, but I'm busy now. Can you come back tomorrow?" Of course we agreed.

When we returned the next day, we started talking and she went into detail about how her mom had passed away a year and a half ago and how she and her brother had been struggling a lot with that. Her brother, who lives in Lehi, Utah, has been a member for 8+ years and has been planning on going to do their mom's temple work.

As they were talking (this was over Christmas break), they got talking about the Church and how much it has blessed his life and how greatly and deeply he wanted her to go to the church and to check it out. She promised him she would go at least once and she asked him how to get in contact with the missionaries. He responded by telling her, "I'll pray for them to knock on your door." And, there we were. We scheduled a time to have a lesson at the church.

The lesson went really well. She felt the spirit very strongly and said that she felt peaceful, loved, and as thoough she really mattered and had a purpose in life as soon as she walked in the building. She was committed for baptism and will be baptized the first part of February. We have had some very powerful/spiritual lessons with her. Her desire to truly follow Jesus Christ is amazing.

Her brother was on the phone during one of our lessons with her. His testimony and the power behind his words were so strong. He testified of so many things, but a particular thing that struck me, was his conviction of the truth. He said, with great humility and power, that if the Lord were to take his family and all that he had, that he would have no doubt in his mind that this is God's Church and teachings and that he would stay close to the Lord. The spirit was very strong during his testimony to his sister, whom he loves greatly. Its such a blessing to be a part of this great work.

We also had another really cool thing happen. We ran into a less active guy who just moved into the area. When we were talking with him, he said that he really needed to go back to church and he was glad we found him. He came to church on Sunday, but something that was really awesome was that his mom is in the Wapato Ward, the area I just served in, and she came to church with him. When I was talking to her, she was so grateful. She said that she had been praying for her son to be able to start going back to church and get active again. We had been an answer to her prayers.

Being a missionary is amazing! It can be super hard at times, but I absolutely love it. I testify with power and authority given from God, that this truly is His work here upon this Earth. I know this. I feel it so powerfully in my heart. I know its true. We are here to love and serve one another. That is what we are going to be judged on, but even more, that is what is going to make us truly happy, forever. I pray for you all and promise you that as you spread and share the gospel, you will be blessed with miracles. You will feel even greater, the love your Heavenly Father has for you, and more importantly, the love that He has for those you serve and share the Gospel, His Eternal Plan of Happiness, with. I know its true. I'm so grateful and blessed to be a part of this marvelous work.

Sincerely,

Elder Stephen Ferris

Hey Everyone!

I'm learning so much -- because I'm choosing (its a choice) to and not to waste time (or trying not to waste time). The Key to success is *drum roll* to always be learning. I really think that that is what sets the ordinary apart from the extraordinary (Elder Ferris' thought of the week haha).

I had a really simple, but profound (at least to me) thing happen at testimony meeting last Sunday. Before Sacrament Meeting started, I went around and talked with the members, seeking to get to know them. I met the Monize Family -- the dad, mom, and Sarah, their 17 year old daughter. I talked with them of how they had found the church some 5 years earlier and they told me of how the daughter's friend actually invited them to church and how things went from there. I asked the family to bear their testimony on member work. All of them were kind of hesitant, but said that they would "see what happens."

When Sacrament Meeting started, no one in the congregation that I had previously asked (10 ish members) got up throughout the meeting to bear their testimony, except for Sarah.

When she first stood she said, "I was talking with Elder Ferris before the meeting about the story of our conversion and he asked me to bear my testimony on it. At first, I was a little nervous, but I realize that he is called of God and that it must've been inspiration that lead him to asking me to bear my testimony. I realized that I needed to bear it."

To me, this was so profound. First, it hit me that I am called of God and always need to be seeking the guidance of the Spirit and how great of importance that is, but most importantly, it strongly impressed me how great her faith was.

A lot of the times, God, through His servants, asked us to do small and simple things. The Prophet, Apostles, Bishop, etc, many times ask us to do such small things but truly, its those small things that make all the difference. Recognizing and acting upon the reality of a person's calling sometimes takes great faith, but when we understand they are called of God and we willingly and easily do those things that they ask us, we are immensely blessed and our faith is strengthened.

In Helaman chapter 6, their is a verse that says something along the lines of, "And thus we see that the Lamanites were blessed and did prosper because of their EASINESS and WILLINGNESS to believe." With the people of Moses, all they had to do was to look at the staff and they would be healed. All throughout the Scriptures, we are given testimony of how easy the path is. "By small and simple things..."

The Lord doesn't always test us in major ways, a lot of the time, it is in the little, everyday things and the choices we are presented with. These little tests of faith and obedience, such as reading scriptures and praying daily, keeping our thoughts clean and pure, literally make all the difference.

As she was bearing testimony, these things really struck me. Faith can work many mighty miracles and do mighty things but is truly developed through obedience in the little acts that and things we do everyday. I'm grateful for the ability and strength the Lord has given me to excercise my faith. I'm grateful for the pure and simple faith and testimony of this wonderful member. I'm grateful to be a missionary! I love this work! I hope everyone is doing great! I love you all!!

Love,
Elder Stephen Ferris