Hello Family and Friends!
I am still out here in paradise serving the Lord! I am loving it even though missionary work is different. I am having a great time teaching through technology! I had 5 lessons this week and it was awesome! This week is transfer week and 50 missionaries from the mission will be returning home. It is sad to see so many of my friends go home. I am grateful I am still here!! I am going to be transferred to St. Petersburg where I will be in a trio (3 missionaries together). Almost all companionships are trios because of the decreased numbers of missionaries and zero time contacting people on their doors or the streets due to COVID-19. I will continue to be a Zone Leader in St. Petersburg (which is west of Tampa by the gulf). I am sad to leave the Lakeland Zone and Davenport area but am looking forward to being in a big city with lots of people- now I just need to be able to get out and meet them!!
This past weekend I was able to watch the Prophet of my church and other leaders speak to the world (it is called General Conference). I watched them on TV- how else would they be able to talk to all the people all over the world at the same time? As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we hve this opportunity 2 times a year! I had an investigator of the church watch Conference as well. Her name is Sonja and she watched all of the sessions- 10 hours total in 2 days.
It was such an incredible experience to talk with her afterwards. She wept as she talked about her feelings with different talks given by various leaders. She participated in the Hosanna Shout and she said she felt so good! Her husband, who is also not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints also watched some of it. As Sonja listened to a particular talk about the Restoration, she better understood why John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ and why he returned to restore the Aaronic Priesthood to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery! She said, “Of course that is why John the Baptist returned to restore the Aaronic Priesthood- he had the keys of baptism.” These people are rockstars!! They continue to read the Book of Mormon on their own. When we call them to discuss it, they are pumped and ready! They watch the Book of Mormon videos together too! These are videos that coincide with what they are reading. They are reenactments of the actual events in the scriptures. They are really cool and well-done! I invite you to watch them!
I also had an amazing personal experience where Heavenly Father answered my exact prayer. Before Conference, I prayed to understand how to better teach about the Priesthood so it would be more clear to people that aren’t members of the church. Well, in the Saturday night session, Heavenly Father answered that prayer through President Dallin H. Oaks (a counselor to the Prophet)! It was exactly what I was looking for. He almost said the exact words I was looking for to explain more clearly! God is Good! He knows me, loves me and wants to help me!!
Remember my companion and set up a Book of Mormon Baseball Challenge for the Zone? Well we had the Tournament today (Monday). I didn't win but it was fun! The guy who beat me won it all so I guess that is good. haha
Even though missionary work looks different, great miracles are happening!! In fact, this past month, the Tampa Mission had a “Miracle March!!!!” We had 10 more baptisms than we normally have with limited contact with people! The Lord is definitely in charge! We, as missionaries of the Tampa Mission, worked so hard to find people and to rely on the Lord for help in this endeavor! It was so great to see all the missionaries working in unison – with an eye single to the Glory of God! He is so anxious to help us when we ask with sincerity and diligently strive to do His will! Again, God is Good! He knows me, loves me and wants to help me!
I love you all! Thank you so much for your support and your emails!! They really help me!
Elder Cahoon
No comments:
Post a Comment