5.9.11

Dear Family,

It was so nice to talk to you all yesterday. I love all of you so much. It sounds like things back home are going just fine. Happy Mothers Day again mom, It was probably one of MY best Mothers Day's as well; one where I truly realized how greatful I am for the mother that I have always had. I couldn't have grown up in a better home, we have always been so blessed, and being out here has really opened my eyes to that. I love you mom, you raised some good kids ;) you mean the world to me. I think I'll always be a momma's boy.

This past week was awesome, if I do say so myself. Elder Hardy and I are striving to do our best to carry out the Lords work here in Raleigh, and I feel like he has been trusting us with more responsibilities and teaching opportunities. I was able to baptize Shemeika on Saturday, and that was really awesome. It sounds like she's becomming friends with a lot of my family and loved ones over Facebook lol. I know Mom has sent her a few messages, and Sister Boyd has as well, that crazy woman. Shemeika is awesome though, I was so proud of her on Saturday. She had a few things she had to overcome to prepare for baptism, and I think she's already seeing the blessings from her obedience and her sacrifice.

We had some really cool lessons this week. We got a refferal from a pass along card on Wednesday, so we went and delivered the Jesus Christ DvD this guy ordered, and we were able to teach him the 1st lesson outside in his front yard. His name is Erbin, and he's a really great guy. I think he's around 23. We got close to the end of the lesson and we were talking about the Holy Ghost, and about how he can receive a spiritual witness that our message is true, and I asked him about how he felt when I was describing the 1st vision to him. He got really emotional and said he almost started crying when we told him Joseph Smiths vision. We continued talking about how soft and subtle the spirit is, but how strong it can burn inside of you. We asked him to set a goal to follow Jesus Christ's example by commiting to the covenant of baptism, and when we started talking about baptism he just burst into tears. He started talking about how he wants to get back into church and turn his life around. The spirit was so strong. I was so greatful for Erbin, we haven't had a lot of luck finding new investigators recently, he came just in time. He came to church yesterday and loved it. So pray that things will continue to go well with him and the decisions he's making.

I told my family this yesterday, but Elder Hardy found out from President that he'll be getting transfered to Little Rock next week. He's really nervous about it, but I think it'll be really good for him. He's been in the Memphis 1st ward all 10 months of his mission. 6 in Frayser and then 4 in Raleigh, so this'll be something new that'll help him grow. I've learned so much from serving with Elder Hardy, I'm glad President put us together, that man is truly inspired. I was reading over my Patriarchal Blessing a few days ago, and I'm already seeing some of the things it talked about, dealing with my mission, happening. and it is giving me a lot of helpful guidance, it's really cool how things like that work out.

After calls yesterday I was talking to my trainer, Elder Badger, and we have both been going through struggles with our companions this transfer so we like to vent to eachother when we have the chance. He told me about how he was talking to his older brother on the phone yesterday, who's a RM, and his brother gave him a lot of helpful advice that he in turn gave to me. He was talking about how there are so many different types of missionaries, those that work really hard, or those that are just great at the social aspect, those that are really spiritual, and you hear this a thousand times out here, but a mission is what you make of it, and even if you're out here everyday busting your tail, working as hard as you can, getting to the point where your legs want to collapse, and then you go knock some more doors, you could still end up getting on that plane in 2 years, and be unsure of your answer when you ask yourself if you did everything you could out here. Elder Holland talks about how you cant waste a day, or an hour, or even a minute out here. He tells missionaries to have no regrets. President Kimball talked about a vision he had, of having a 19 or 20 year old body again, and running from house to house preaching the gospel, until he got so tired he'd have to crawl, and then eventually drag himself from house to house, crying repentance. Its an interesting thing to think about, and I often take time just to ponder and see where I'm at as a missionary, and ask myself if i'm doing everything I can out here. There is no greater work than this. Elder Holland said that there is nothing casual about this work. Elder Badger is a great missionary, I love talking to him because he inspires me, and all the other missionaries around him. It's easy to see why he is a zone leader, leaders are meant to inspire and uplift. His brother talked to him about how half way through his own mission he started to realize that he wasn't getting what he wanted out of his mission, sure he was working hard, busting his tail from 10-9 everyday, but he wasn't seeing these miracles he heard about from all these old timers telling mission stories, he wanted to know where those were, and he knew he could give more. He didn't want to just be a 10-9 missionary. Why not a 2 year missionary. You shouldn't be just enduring your mission, but serving it. There's a lot he talked about and a lot of thoughts in my head.... now I'm just rambling. Anyway. I've just been realizing what I can change and how I can be better, and how greatful I am to be out here, for what it has already done and will continue to do for my life and the lives of those around me. A mission in itself is a miracle...

I'm running out of time so I have to go, I love you all, have a great week! I'll talk to you soon.

- Elder Justin LeBaron