November 30, 2009

Hello Everyone,
I hope you all had a great week and a happy Thanksgiving. I know I did. We had a pretty good week out here, we got to see a lot of people in the branch, active and less-active.
First off we had Xander's baptism yesterday and that went really well. We had it after church so just about everyone from the branch stayed for it which was great. It was funny though, he's a pretty small kid and his uncle who was baptizing him is a pretty big guy, so when he brought him down to immerse him it was basically a body slam. Xander's foot shot up, probably from the shock of the slam, so they had to do it once more but the second time it went well. It was pretty funny though. But it was great and I could feel the Spirit strong there.
We also got to teach Stephanie a lot at church committed her for baptism! But, she's 17 and has to ask her mom first, who is a staunch Catholic, so she might have to wait until October of 2010 when she turns 18, we'll see. But its exciting to see her progress.
Man lots of good things happened this week and theres too much to talk about, but after soaking it all it truly makes me grateful to be a missionary. You often here about how missions have the highest of highs and lowest of lows, and often people equate the lows with times that the work is struggling or whatever, but for me some of the lowest times were when we'd visit with people who are struggling so hard. We had an experience like that this week with a brother in the Branch who is lonely beyond lonely, and is so tired and sad, and it was heartbreaking to talk with him. Though he isn't giving up, it was a sobering. It is IMPERATIVE that we help those who are struggling. Whatever little things are bothering us in our life, there are others in a worse situation. If you still have the capacity to reach out to others you should and must, for there are many, like this good brother who are too tired to reach out anymore, and they need someone to lift the hands that hang out.
We're all in this work together. Returning to life with our Father in Heaven is not a solo task, it is a group task and we must all help each other, or else none of us will make it.
I am so grateful to be a missionary, to have these wonderful experiences that strengthen my testimony and desire to serve the Lord. I only hope that I can be of some service for someone who is in need and help them feel of the Savior's love. Yesterday there was a dear sister who is just returning to activity from years of inactivity. She couldn't stop crying all throughout church. She told us it was because she finally was able to feel the Savior's love again in her heart, she finally knew that He was real and this His Father is real. What joy that brought to her heart.
Let us all during this Christmas season reach out to those in need and help them hear the call of the Master, feel of his love and partake of the healing that he offers.
Love,
Elder Fitt