Lewisburg 3/2/09

Hello Family and FriendsThings are going well in Lewisburg. The R Family came to church once again and we were able to teach them after church. The spirit was very str=ong. Sister R was all teared up and they were all into the lesson. They were touched by the spirit. We asked them to pray about the truthfullness of our message. When they found out it was true they said they would be baptized. F (The Father) has quite a unique story. How he went from being an ordained southern baptist minister to realizing the doctrine of the trinity was not correct, to being fed up with the bashing of other churches in some of the protestant churches he attended. He has been searching for truth and he has been really impressed thus far. I never thought I would be teaching a southern baptist minister who was actually interested haha. The lesson that was taught during church was perfect for F. It talked about how we need to be accepting of other faiths and praise them for the truth they do have. I have been guilty at times in my life of critizing other religions and how unchristlike is that. We are members of the true church but that doesn't make us any better then anybody else. We are just privleged to have a fullness of the truth. There are wonderful people of other faiths. In fact me and Elder Norton were eating out and a man was watching a significant portion of our stay at the restaurant. Before he left he came and praised us for bowing our heads to pray. He was very complimenatry. It turns out he was a retired minister. What a great example that was to me. Here was this wonderful man who came and brought out the good of someone even if he didnt believe quite the same way. Now what we should do is love all people. Live the way we should live, bear pure testimony, and invite. Thats all we can do but just because we dont quite see eye to eye with other people doesnt mean that they are any less important in the sight of God. But back to the R's I am excited for them and I pray that they will recognize an answer to their prayers. Another great event that occured this week was we were able to have Zone Confer=ence. It was so wonderful to see President and Sister Pugh again. There message was touching. President Pugh told of how he was recovering in Utah and how Elder L.Tom Perry came to give him a blessing. Elder Perry was very interested in how the work was going and asked President Pugh many questions. At the end he gave advice he said " President during this time I want you to really think what your missionaries need to hear." He talked to us about repentance and how after weve gone through the neccesary steps we need to forgive ourselves. Nobody is perfect. He talked about how we need to be using the Atonement regularly and feeling its healing effects. It made me feel good listening to him and more then ever it just made me ralize why do we hold on to things. Why do we allow that thorn to fester. Let the Savior remove it. Using the Atonement is a direct and positive way of following our Savior Jesus Christ. We can change and become better no one is ever without hope. I loved the following quote from our beloved Prophet. " In the private sanctuary of ones own conscience lies that spirit, that determination to cast off the old person and to meas=ure up to the stature of true potential." That is my prayer is that we will all measure up to our true potential I love you all. Be strong have the Lord come along.Elder Powell