My dearest family and friends,
This week has truly been a life changing one! My mind has been opened and my heart has been touched by many of the events that have taken place! First and foremost I need you all to know how unbelievably grateful I am for a Father in Heaven that loves me, and you, and that neighbor you don't quite get along with! He loves us all equally and His hand has been evident in my life especially this week! With that said I will briefly describe a few of the amazing events that happen and then focus the majority of my thoughts on a very spiritual experience for me! It will be a long letter so you can read it all or just skip to my testimony at the end!
First, we had the amazing opportunity to learn from President Clark and Elder Schwitzer of the seventy! I learned so much from these men and I know that all our priesthood leaders are called of God! There was so much to learn from them! I invite you to reflect the priesthood leaders in your life at this time and especially this week show them your gratitude and if you don't quite know if God has priesthood leaders on the earth pray and ask Him if what I testify of is true! Sacrament meeting was amazing and I learned a lot about being grateful in our circumstances rather than for our circumstances or for things! We should realize that ALL THINGS, come from our loving Father in Heaven, "who giveth us richly all things to enjoy." (1 Timothy 6:17) Even the trials and pains are for us to grow and be grateful for! Okay, so lots of good stuff then comes my miracle...
To start I want to quote, one of the greatest members here in Florida, Brother Keoppel! To put it simple he spoils us rotten and I owe him a lot! Anyway he took us to lunch and gave us some advice! All this good stuff are his words! "I heard a pilot talking on the radio about the science of airplanes. He said that the most critical time for an airplane is during takeoff. It is then that the most stress is placed on the plane, the wings, engines and everything else. You see, in order for a plane to take off, it has to get lift. It achieves this by flying into the wind. This is called a headwind. The plane has to fight this headwind every time it takes off. It is a force that is the most dangerous to the plane and to the pilot and passengers. The plane and pilot, have to fight through the headwind in order to get up to a safe cruising altitude. Once they reach the cruising altitude, then they can proceed to their destination. In order for us to be successful, we HAVE to fight through that headwind just like a plane does until we get through the opposing force and reach a safe area where we can proceed to our destination. Everyones headwinds are different. It may be not living the commandments or not having exact obedience or whatever. Anything that distracts us from reaching our goals," there are many things that can be considered a headwind! Just remember that these things when handled with care and precision will lift you high so you can soar! Good advice right?! Now my miracle.
So Friday after lunch with Brother Keoppel we did a whole lot of planning and trying to seek some direction in which direction to take our area! We knew that if we followed the council of our leaders we would be successful so we are going to find our solid investigators, discontinue seeing the rest and then diligently seek new investigators through less actives and part member families! So after planning and making a pretty missionary style dinner... (you get creative with what you have) we decide we needed to spend that last hours of the day visiting a particular less active! It was now dark outside and we needed to bike the 7-8 miles to this mans home! Along the way we faced much opposition! I have never heard so many different people yell crude words, call us names, and mock us greatly. Along the way we saw someone pick up a prostitute and many others smoking and drinking! Let's just say there was lots of sin out and seemed to be placed directly in our way! Elder Gillen related it to the great and spacious building described in Lehi's vision! At one particular moment I felt the strongest most tangible presence of evil and darkness I have ever felt in my entire life. I was, for the first time, really scared and knew that we were in some sort of danger! We wanted to pull over and stop to say a prayer but every time we slowed down the Spirit prompted us strongly to keep going and not to stop. There were moments we felt to slow down and other to speed up and get going! We took roads we never before had taken and we came across two different large dogs that caused us to stop and cross the street! I know without a doubt that our Father in Heaven had guided us in the only safe path we could have taken! He led us safely away from the danger! At this particular moment I was very grateful for all your prayers asking to protect the missionaries! Your prayers were answered!
Well finally we made it to the mans house! Elder Gillen and I followed the impressions of the spirit to know exactly what to say to get in the home and convince all in the home to join us for the lesson! This was a miracle for they rarely ever take the time to listen to us! As I spoke and bore my testimony Nelly (the less active's girl friend) began to tear up! She stopped us and told us every word we had spoken addressed every problem she was facing and she knew without a doubt we had been sent by God! This miracle lesson led these two amazing Individuals to church where they once again felt that every word spoken was directly for them by God! They for the first time stayed for the second hour of church! Despite the fact Nelly had Pancreatitis! They LOVED church and invited us to come back twice this next week!
As I reflected the events that took place I could see that every event the past month and weeks led up to this miracle, my studies that morning practically said everything that happened that night, people we had seen said things that helped us fight through that dark feelings we felt, the timing was PERFECT! That Friday night I received so much revelation and a confirmation that God has a plan for each and everyone of us! He will not leave us to fight opposition alone! He will give us the tools to get through any trial in our life! There were so many life lessons I learned in an instant! This week I testify as witness and with all the thanks and gratitude I can muster that God loves us! He answers our prayers! He is kind and merciful and is eagerly waiting to help us! I know that we have a Savior and Redeemer! By even vocalizing His name even the darkest of feelings will flee and Satan trembles! I know this church is the true church of Christ! It was restored by Joseph Smith, an imperfect man, but was called of God and established a undeniably perfect church! The Book of Mormon is the word of God and is the key to personal revelation and continual progression in an ever darkening world! I know that God has given us families to learn and grow and come closer to our Father in Heaven! I love my family! I love you and all your amazing examples! This is my testimony and the things I am beyond grateful for this week and every week to follow!
Sorry for the long email but I couldn't deny the impression to share it with you all! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!!
Your very grateful missionary,
Elder Tracy
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