Letter - May 2, 2011

The Field is White

Sorry last week's letter cut off suddenly. It probably didn't' make a whole lot of sense. I don't know where the last paragraph went. Anyway, I want everyone to know that my cold is gone, and the weather is nice and cold here once again. I guess I can be grateful that it's not hot.

This past weekend was very special for Sister Jansen and I. We saw two of our investigators baptized. The first was Julija. She's 12. Her mom was baptized about a month ago, and seeing her mother take this step of faith softened her heart as well. She was so so happy. It's a pity her mom wasn't there, because her little brother had the flu. We missionaries put on a dessert buffet of different varieties of a Lithuanian dessert called "log." It's basically a log of frozen chocolate with assorted candy-bars mixed in. When it's set up, it's thinly sliced and it looks like the center-cut of a log.

The other investigator's name is Loretta. She's got a cute 4 year old daughter, is a dance teacher, and loves health food (she even gave me a carton of wheat-grass for Easter!) It was really cool that she got up and bore her testimony on Sunday, and then right after a branch-member who is one of her former students also was able to share her testimony. She is a former investigator of our trainers, who we just happened to call one night three months ago. It was awesome to see that sometimes people just need a little more time. It gives me hope for people I have previously taught.

We hope to see another investigator, Vitalij baptized this Saturday. He's the first investigator that I've taught from beginning to end on my mission. (Loretta and Julija were taught by members of our district after we found them.) Our work here in Vilnius is being incredibly blessed. The whole mission is wondering what is going on in Vilnius because there have been so many miracles. I feel like this scripture is the theme of my mission right now: Jacob 4:7 Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weaknesses that we may know that it is by his grace and his great condescensions unto the children of men that we may have power to do these things.

I love the Baltic people. I know that the Lord loves each one of these people SO much. There's a lot of missionary work that goes into this area, and from the outside, it may seem like there's very little result. I struggled with similar feelings for a long time. However, I would not trade places with any missionary in the world because I know without a doubt that every member of the Church here (as anywhere) is by miracle. I've gained a glimpse of how, "the worth of souls is great in the sight of God." I have gained a new appreciation for the phrase, "If it wasn't hard, it wouldn't be worth it."

Love you all, hope things are going well for you. Thank you for your prayers and concern and letters. They mean the world to me.

Sister Paul