Conference was incredible. We spent some of the time with investigators watching it but it was sad seeing how many people weren't listening to it, and the difficulties that could be avoided. It's frustrating because technically none of our investigators are progressing right now, meaning keeping commitments. It's hard enough to get appointments with them, let alone get them to do what you ask. It's heart-breaking to drop them, though. With the new Amulek training we've been relying on members to do the work, and they've come through, inviting their friends to dinners, etc. It's been exciting.

About that miracle we were asking for, I had incredible outpourings of the Spirit while going there, but to my astonishment she didn't want to hear more. Her beliefs on eternal families had changed, however, and she does believe it. We'll give it another week, pray for another miracle and come back. The work must go on.

We ran into the father of our Yugoslavian investigator. It was straight out of Alma 20, his Greek Orthodox father told us not to bother him, that he didn't need new religion. He's an immigrant and has not had it easy here in America at all. It's too bad he didn't speak Russian. I tried sharing the message of the Restoration, told him that his son is my friend and to take the matter up with him. He saw the reason behind that, but we'll definitely be sensitive to his family situation.

I can't remember but did I mention that Elder Sumrall's name is Hyrum? Pretty cool, eh? Things run so much smoother when we're charitable. Moroni 7 is so applicable in our relationships with others, "And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." In college we were able to just distance ourselves from each other, but here we have no choice. It's so important to watch our behavior and take a moment to distance ourselves from the situation when we're frustrated.

Our investigator on probation had a really good court date, but no changes about his baptismal date yet.

I've come across so much sorrow and pain. It's terrible, people telling us the same sad stories every time we visit with them. Jesus Christ lives and understands us perfectly, and it was repeated twice in Conference that he suffered what he did so that he would be able to heal us from our wounds (Alma 7:11-12). The gospel's true, and holds the answer for so many of the world's problems. I believed it, but I know now the truth of it. There's just so much evidence, the Book of Mormon and "the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things" (John 14:26, see also Moroni 10:3-5). The Holy Ghost truly is the greatest gift God can give us in this life, not yet being able to enjoy Eternal Life.

Love,

Elder Szendre