Elder Alec Lange: Best Christmas present a missionary could ask for

This week went a lot better I feel like. Everything just started falling apart and things didnt seem to be working out last week but this week, everything just fit together somehow. Last week Im pretty sure I said that we had a problem with some of our investigators. They weren't married and living together and separated so they could each get money from the government. They couldn't afford to live if they were to get married. We tried talking to them about faith and things just working out with the Lord. They said that they would just have to give up on getting baptized if that is what we were going to make them do and their baptism is super close. They come to church every week and are progressing really well. I didn't want all that work and determination to just go down the drain. So that is why I was stressed out. We went and talked to the bishop and he said he would go talk to them. What I wanted to get to was truly amazing. Our ward mission leader is the judge in the town and came over to give us a Christmas present. He asked if we had a minute to talk and we told him we did. He said he looked at his calendar and was marrying two people at 1. I couldn't believe what he was telling us. They just took the leap of faith and took action.

I've been thinking a lot this week about how weird the gospel truly can seem to people. We go to church for 3 hours and worship someone we have never met or seen. We follow rules and live standards and yet somehow it changes lives. They just want to change because they feel its the right thing to do. It's kind of a weird thing to think about. You can pick any principle out of the gospel, and if you start living it the best to your ability it makes changes in your life. No matter what principle it is. This is why faith is so important. Nothing works unless you first have the desire to believe. Its also crazy to think about how fast faith can grow. We have only been teaching these people for a couple of weeks and they are willing to put their faith in the Lord. They are making steps to become closer to the Lord and doing things because they just feel its the right thing to do. I love how the Lord works in everyones life! He is there and will help anyone. They are getting baptized the 16th. Then we have another family that gave up smoking and coffee and are making huge steps. They are ready to be baptized on the 2nd. I cant wait to see how these people will grow throughout their life when they make the gospel part of it. The gospel truly works wonders, whether you are doing it out of your choice or obedience. It will change you for the better.

Love, Elder Lange