To Logan's friends, (from his mom).I apologize for not posting his letters. I can't get the 'copy-paste' to work and I feel badly that you are missing out on his wonderful letters, so, I will just retype the letter he sent today.
2-28-11
Dear Family and Friends,
This week has truly been a week of miracles and growth I can't even begin to explain.
First off, the hi-light for me was yesterday, Jason and Tonia Blount were baptized!!! I got to baptize Jason and Elder Simkins baptized Tonia. They are shining examples to me of their dedication to the Lord and determination to always follow His will. They are going to be such a wonderful asset to this struggling little branch. Jason is looking forward to learning more and getting to baptize his son, and Tonia is so happy to be united as a family. They want to work towards the temple so they can be an eternal family. It's amazing just hearing abou the type of life and relationship they had before, and how much they have changed and grown in the 4 weeks I've been able to be around them. I would say 'teach', but truly we Elders just get them to sit down on the couch and then the Spirit does the rest. It's the coolest experience. The baptism was pretty stressful at first since something happened over the weekend in the rain storms and the water heater wasn't working so the water came out freezing cold and not exactly pristine clean, but it turned out alright. I didn't think it was THAT cold, but everyone else when they touched it said it was, and poor Jason an Tonia had to go all the way under. I guess after having cold water for so long I'm immute to it. :) It was a really good service. Next week we have District Conference so they won't be confirmed for 2 weeks, but I'm not too worried about them, they're so good!! I had to play the piano at the service which was a little scary, but luckily the 2 hymns we had chosen were randomly, ones that I could actually play! A tender mercy. I loved the support from the branch and all the members that came out to support. I wish I would have gone to more baptismal services back home. I can't remember the last one I went to in Oregon and I can't imagine our ward never had them, I just never went! They are such a spiritual experience, even if you just watch!
The week has also been amazing becasue of all our amazing investigators! The Lord has truly blessed us more than we deserve! We were able to meet with a lots of them and have some good lessons, and I think we're making progresss. Only Jason and Tonia could make it to church, but the others called last minute and said they couldn't make it, which although it is disappointing, at least they called unlike normally when people just "juke' you and never tell you what's going on.
The other hi-light of the week was Zone Conference!! We only get this every other transfer so it is especially a cherished time of instruction and learning. I'm continually impressed by my wonderful mission president and feel so blessed to learn form him. I also love our AP's; Elder Cottrell from American Fork, UT was my first ZL back in Brooklyn so it was great to get to see him again. It's amazing how the Lord takes ordinary young men and can turn them into spiritual giants like them. It's a testimony to me that the Lord truly does qualify those He calls, so I guess there's hope for me!! The conference put a ton of emphasis on working with members in order to be more affective in the work. We went throught the scriptures, did practicing, and had really good discussions about our role as missionaries, the role of the members and how we have the responsibility to help them and strengthen them. I loved a letter I recently received from you mom that talked about how as a missionary my most important work and conversion probabloy won't be with the investigators that I baptize, but my companions, and I think also the ward members that we interact with. Helping them see what the church teaches, and how it can bless them more than they can even imagine. The media and culture out here seem to be even further advanced into the world and the downward spiral into disbelief and low morals. It's such a struggle for the members here to stay afloat and separate themselves from the 'oily water' that seems to invade every home and household. Those few shining lights of hope and examples of what life could and should be are so wonderful. I love the members that I can count on to carry the rest of the branch. Our Branch President and his wife, they sacrifice so very much, I can't imagine what a temptation it would be to just move back to UT. Every light counts out here! Anyway, I just loved getting to learn how we can strengthen the members and help them to have greater testimonies in Christ and His gospel, and then hopefully spark in them the desrie to share that with others. Every member a missionary; I wish I would have taken that literally before! Also at the conference we learned a lot about working with less-actives, and taking advantage of using all the resources God has given us. It's so true what Elder Cottrell said about the homes of inactives, they are a gold mine for potential members! I already knew that because of the amazing advice from family members like my sweet sister-in-law Katherine but I guess now I can see how we can apply that specifically here in Far Rockaway! I won't bore you with any more details about the things that I learned and it 'sufficeth' me to say that I've learned a lot and I'm rededicating myself to working on being better! So much to do and not enough time, but all things are possible with God, I'm just going to be very exhausted when he's done with me:)
The weather here isn't too bad, mostly rainy so it reminds me of Oregon, it gets cold, but not nearly as cold as January in East New York! Don't worry mom the memnbers are keeping us well fed and are very sweet and thoughtful, giving us food even if we don't have time to eat with them. I love the people here! No matter where you go you can find some gems, as long as you get to know them enough. I can't believe I only have 2 weeks left of the transfer. I'm going to be VERY sad when Elder Simkins leaves. In spite of our differences, we're learning to make the best of it and communicate better so we can work with unity and we strive to have the spirit with us. It's not easy, but if we're committed to it, we learn how to be better, and then it makes us feel better. Win win for everyone:)
I love this work. I can't even explain how amazing it is, what joy it gives, the way it enlivens and lightens up my soul each day. To be a servant of the Lord is truly the most blessed role I could ask for and the happiest I have ever been. This is Christ's Church on the earth without a doubt. We have the opporutnity in the car occasionally to listen to conferewnce talks and I KNOW we are led and guided by men called of God. I love and miss all of you, and keep you in my prayers!
Love, Elder Lewis
