Week 5 | Aug. 15, 2016

Where to begin... I guess I'll start with our goal... We still don't have anyone with a baptismal date, but I know through faith and continual hard work we will find the individual God has prepared for baptism!  We will find them!  So, this week has been the hardest week I have ever had!  We are on bikes so ended up biking 151.9 miles over 6 days...70 of which were in the pouring rain and the rest was in the heat!  We only taught 5 lessons all week, 2 of which were yesterday... Hahah  Also Elder Hill got a flat on Wednesday and I got a flat on Saturday which I need to go fix today... Let's just say this is the hardest thing I have ever done but I wouldn't trade it for anything!  My faith is growing ten fold and I'm learning to rely fully on our Savior Jesus Christ!  I am learning that I am His representative and I'm doing His work, in His way!  I need to stop thinking about myself!  It's not about me, it doesn't matter if I'm sore or wet or tired, it doesn't matter if I want to succeed or to get baptisms.  What matters is His children who are looking for this gospel and furthering His work, in His way!

I can see how many blessing I have had this week... Like our flat tires were placed at perfect times that didn't truly hinder our work.  Our flats and cancelations led us to a few individuals who needed to hear about the gospel at that time!  It led us to meeting members and less actives that needed a smile or service!  We were able to give 10 hours of service this week!  I love this gospel so much!!!  On Thursday we taught 0 lessons but... Because of our cancellations we were riding around and got this feeling to stop by these apartments... Maybe it was the spirit or maybe it was the fact our bodies were hot and hurting, either way it led us to theses boys who were about to go shoot some hoops, we followed them and ended up surrounded by 8 big sweaty boys, one of which was this investigator who is so close to baptism but has been ignoring us, anyway I asked if we could play so Elder Hill and I played a game of street basketball!  Hahah let's just say it's a whole different sport, but it was awesome!!!  We gained respect balling it up in our white shirts and ties, that's all I needed to say!  I then asked if we could pray with them and we said a prayer with all these rough teenage boys!  It was such a blessing that God put us in that situation!  We are planning to set up a game and lesson with them later this week!

We have two quality investigators, Frank Phillps and Sarah Figale. We taught them both this week about the plan of salvation!  God has prepared these amazing individuals and they are both doing everything they can to know there is a God and how to strengthen their faith in Him and our Savior!  Keep them both in your prayers to help them come to the answer that this is the true church!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE THE MISSION, FLORIDA, AND ALL THE PEOPLE I HAVE SEEN AND TAUGHT!!!  I am so blessed and so grateful!  Heavenly Father is taking care of me!  Hope everything is going well back at home!  I encourage you all to really search for the blessings in our lives!  They are there and as we look for them we will realized how much our Father in Heaven takes care of us!  Life's trials are easier to bare as we focus on the good!  Remember our Savior is there and loves us!  He can help us through any trial, even helping an out of shape greenie bike 160 miles in the rain!!!  Church is true y'all!  Don't forget it!

Elder Tracy!