A Top 5 Moment

Whattup y'all :) such a good week here in good old Cheney. This place is so whack. If there wasn't a college here it would literally be a train stop in the middle of nowhere. Also they have decided to redo all of the roads in Cheney all at once. Travel has been rough lately but we just roll the windows down and crank up the black gospel choir music... it helps. 

Ok, so Elder Brinkerhoff and I are getting along great. He is having a hard time adjusting and being away from his family, but he is a hard worker and keeps moving forward. 

I had a "Top 5" moment of my life this week. We got to go to the temple with Bryan. He did his own family history too! Elder Brinkerhoff and I were witnessing the proxy baptisms and Bryan walked down into that font and looked up at me and smiled. Every sacrifice and pain I have experienced as a missionary was beyond worth it for that two seconds. I testify of the power of Jesus Christ to change the lives of anyone who will give him the chance. I know that his atonement is and always will be enough. Our awesome bishop then took us and the whole YSA ward, like 22 of us, out to eat at a buffet. I love this ward. Being so close to all these members is awesome :) I honestly feel like the Lord put me in this wards for the members. They are TOO cool. I have made some life long friends. 

In other news, John our investigator is getting baptized in about 2 weeks, on Aug 5th. He is the ex boyfriend of a member who used to be less-active. We taught him for a little while then he wasn't having it with the word of wisdom, he dropped us and a couple weeks later he texted us out of the blue. That was about a month ago. Since then we have taught him weekly and he is progressing. He is living all the commandments and hasn't had beer in like 4 weeks :).

Crazy stat from our mission president - our mission average is 1.8 baptisms per missionary. Hopefully that gives you an idea of how tough this area is. We are so blessed, especially in this ward, to be doing as well as we are! 

We finally met with our other investigator, Tommy, again. It is like teaching a 3rd grader. He has some learning disabilities and ADHD. We definitely have to teach differently because of that. He is also on date for the 26th of August. 

Sorry for the longer emails but my mom requested more details. Anything for old Momma so she doesn't cut off my debit card ;) 

This week I thought a lot about the three pillars of conversion: Faith, Hope, and Charity. Paul talks a lot about Charity in his epistle to the Corinthians. Often we do things out of necessity, in order to obey the letter of the law. True Charity is the feeling of love behind the actions we make. [The sister missionaries are about to kick us out of the computers] Pray for charity, it is a gift from God :)

I love you :) 

-E.Rapier 

Photos: enjoy me at the temple with Bryan :) and me with the resident black member Nick who just moved.

At the temple with Bryan

With Nick from the YSA ward