"I Retired to the Woods..." (Week 98)

This week was a pretty solid week. We did A LOT of driving. Possibly the most I've done in a week. Possibly. Anyway, on Tuesday we were down south in this place called Holsworthy. We were with those Elders for the day. Around 2 or 3 in the afternoon we had a lesson with one of their friends. Her name is Bet. She met us at a trailhead that was just kind of out in the fields.

 

She also had her dog with her. We started walking and talking about life and the Gospel. We had this amazing conversation with her as we went on this trail. On the way back, we stopped in this very wooded area. Up to this point we had shared with her the entire message of the Restoration except for Joseph Smith's first vision account. Elder Christensen (one of the Elders we were with) voiced this part of the History. 

As he began speaking, it got brighter outside, the clouds had moved from the view of the Sun. As he finished expressing the sweet experience and explaining how we can know the truth for ourselves, a confirming witness of the truth was granted to me from God. That was one of the coolest teaching experiences I have ever had. We were literally in a grove of trees telling her about the greatest thing that has ever happened in a grove of trees and inviting her to come and be a part of it. I am very grateful for that experience.

On Friday we just had gotten back for the week from our exchanges. It was around 2:30 PM. A few moments later we got word that we needed to take a car down to some missionaries who live an hour and a half away. 

We got another Elder to come with us and he and I drove down together in the car that we were giving to this other set of missionaries. Hopefully that made sense. My companions drove down in our car so that they could take us back. While we were down there we met the Sisters at a lesson they were having with a returning member. The returning member invited us in for dessert. After a minute we asked the returning member if she wanted a blessing. She did. We were able to give her one. No matter where we may be physically, there can be an opportunity to minister to the one.

-Elder Shockley  :)