I am so lucky to be paired up with Elder Dearborn, he is one of the best missionaries in this mission. However this has been his hardest transfer yet, training hasn't been easy for him. I didn't know that until last week. We're really struggling to be unified right now. I think that as I understand more the flow of missionary life, I'll understand better what helps and what doesn't.

I still love being a missionary. The Boise Mission is being flooded with missionaries. which reminds me of 1 Nephi 1:4-5, "...in that same year there came many prophets..."Wherefore it came to pass that my father, Lehi, as he went forth prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart, in behalf of his people." 

I think why I like it so much is that you're given responsibility and authority over all of the nonmembers of a certain area. To them you are their only means to enter the strait and narrow gate of repentance and baptism so that they may enter the Kingdom of God (See John 3:5). It's kind of a big deal. They're literally your people, and I have just a small part of Nephi's feelings when he wrote, "I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry. And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people." 2 Nephi 33:3-4. Heavenly Father is depending on His missionaries to go and find them that are lost, and you may be their only opportunity to return unto the fold.

I can tell you that Matthew 18:3-4 is true, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.  “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven”. "For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." Mosiah 3:19.

It's incredible, because I can't do this on my own. Try it on your own power, to change your heart and to truly become innocent like a child, I can't do it. Truly the Savior has done 99.999999999...% of the work for our own salvation when he meekly overcame all things in a supreme expression of meekness and submission to His Father. It's amazing when you can feel the Atonement literally change your heart through the power of the Holy Ghost.

"For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made." Alma 34:9. Yeah, that's a true principle. I'm so grateful for the Savior and for the opportunity that is mine

I can testify that this work is true. The Kingdom made without hands is filling the whole earth as Daniel saw in vision (Daniel 2). We're entering into the time period where the "great and marvelous work" is coming forth. The glorious days of this Church spoken of by previous prophets are coming. I'm incredibly grateful, and nervous, but trusting in God that He trusts me to go out and gather those that are lost.

I know the Savior lives. His Father asked Him to endure all things, and the testimony of this is central to this work (Alma 17:1-3). Out of time. I love you all, and am praying for you. The Church is true!

Love,

Elder Szendre

P.S. I found 4 more Russians in the last week.