Miracles

  Our mission has been handling the death of Sister Smith very well. As a mission we have been reading the Book of Mormon together. The week that sister Smith died we read Alma 26 and verses 34 & 35 apply very well to our mission.   This has been our drive and our mentality these last few weeks. Lots of missionaries have risen and become more diligent and obedient since this has happened. Others who think they had no connection to Sister Smith have not changed or been affected at all, but they could still learn from this experience later in their lives.

         Cool things that have happened lately?   ...... Cool things always happen.  Last night all of our plans had fallen through so we had nothing better to do but knock some doors for 30 min.  It was 8:30 at night and we were knocking houses that had lights on inside.  It's funny being in a military town because there were a couple of times where the head of the house brought a rifle to the door. Haha!  You can always tell when they do because they will look out at you through the window in the door and set the gun down behind the door.   But anyway, we knocked doors until 9:00. The last door we knocked, a guy named Brian let us in to pray with him. He is a high school teacher and he was very interested in our message. We prayed with him and set up another time to come back and teach him. All miracles that happen to missionaries, happen between 8:45 PM and 9:00 PM,  when you are really showing the Lord your faith to find.

          We have been teaching a lot more people lately too. It has been great.  I love the members here in Lawton.  There are all different kinds of people in Lawton because of the army.    We have lots of investigators who are getting close to baptism. They each have a few concerns that we still need to find and/or teach to.

          I am looking forward to the spring. At times I miss the Oklahoma summer.    It's good to hear about all the young men preparing to leave on their missions.  How many missionaries are from the Ashland ward?  Is this a new record of missionaries gone from the Ashland ward all at once???      God is in the details of our lives. He really is.                                                                           -Elder Shumway