Blessed to be Here

 

Okay so this is my first week in the Dallas 9th ward, and I'm in the north half of the area (there's another set of missionaries that cover the south part). I won't explain much here, but this email will have a totally different tone from the last one. Here's some updates on what's happened this week:

On Wednesday, we went to meet with a Congolese couple that had been trying to meet with the missionaries, but hadn't been able to communicate too well because they only speak French. Their names are Zawadi and Endani, and they have 2 little kids. So we showed up, and I started talking to them, and long story short, in thay first lesson, they asked to be baptized and join the church. Their baptismal date is set for the 2nd of January. We've taught them another lesson and they've gone to church three times. We're meeting with them multiple times this week, it's so awesome.

Next, we called someone that we hadn't been able to get in contact with before, and we were able to set up a time to meet with them. On Saturday we showed up, and we had a lesson with Blessing (the person we called), and her husband, Boniface. They're from Nigeria, and I haven't seen very many people as humble as them. It was so heartwarming to talk with them. We taught them the restoration, and on Sunday, they went to church with their son. We're meeting with them on Saturday again. 

And then, here's the craziest thing. We got a call on Saturday night from President Farley, and he relayed me this information from the Dallas temple president about some people he met:

"They are a young couple from the Ivory Coast. They were introduced to the gospel there and want to join. They looked up the church online and drove or walked to the temple from their apartment and ran into a sister from Brazil there who also spoke French (how interesting) who was there for the distribution center. As Julie and I were leaving the temple, we ran into all 3 of them. They were asking how to contact the missionaries and I took down their contact information."

President Kendrick - Dallas Temple

Then President Farley says, "and guess what. They live right next to your area, so I'm going to give you permission to teach them."

I can't explain the wonder or joy that I felt when I found that out. What are the odds that that happens at the temple, and that my area is right by where they live? It makes me so happy. I've cried a couple times while thinking about that miracle and I'm doing so now, but it's just so incredible. 

Their names are Jude and Inès Tibé. They're from Niangon, which was in my mission in Côte d'ivoire. They came to church on Sunday. It was such a joy to talk to them and to see someone from that country again. It has my heart, and I'm so so grateful that I get to experience a little bit of that again here in Texas.

We've had so many miracles and wonderful experiences throughout the week, they're just a little overshadowed by those ones I mentioned earlier. We taught a guy from Cameroon today, and he's going to pray about the Book of Mormon. We're helping reactivate a Hindu woman, as well as many other interactions and lessons and service opportunities we've found. And it's just been one week.

I'm so blessed to be here.

Anyways, some other stuff. My companion's name is Elder Call, and he's from Lehi, Utah. He's originally called to serve in some mission in Taiwan, but he's been here for about 3 months. We get along really well, and we're both learning Mandarin right now, so that's fun (yeah I'm still learning it). I haven't really met the other missionaries here yet, but they seem cool. Another miracle, everyone in our district is quarantined but us, so we're able to continue working. 

I loved my last ward, the missionaries, and the people there, but it was really hard to be there. There wasn't much work happening, and it was easy to lose hope and motivation. I did my best to be obedient, serve the Lord, and help others, but it overall seemed like my time and efforts were wasted. I survived and did okay, but it definitely wasn't easy. Coming here to Dallas has been an enormous blessing and a much needed change. I do feel like I'm receiving a lot more than I deserve; it just makes me all the more grateful for being here. Here's a scripture that I've been thinking about all throughout this week:

"For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.

Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.

For after much tribulation come the blessings" (D&C 58:2-4).

I honestly never expected to come here and see this many miracles. I never could have imagined that I would see someone from Côte d'ivoire, much less be able to teach them and have them be legitimately interested. It's incredible, and I really hope it isn't over yet. I'm so excited. 

I'm sorry I didn't share something about Christmas, or really even talk about it at all, I’m just so excited to work here. I love you all so much. Have a great week!

Elder Lyman

 

Quarantine

This transfer has been good so far. We've spent a lot of time with Elder Feser and Elder Hedman (he's a TDWM missionary from somewhere in the SL valley and is in training), and the sisters, Hermana Johnson (she was serving in Guatemala) and Hermana Steveson (she's from Washington State). Everything was going great until an Elder in our district got caught up in Rona season. Yep, he tested positive for Covid19. So, for two weeks, our whole district locked down and put into quarantine.

Quarantine was the worst haha. We did our best to do what we could, but no one was really down for zoom lessons, and we had already called through our area book multiple times. All I'll say is that I had a lot of time to think and study. Although those 2 weeks seem like a fever dream, I can't remember much sadly. I mostly remember extreme boredom. It's all good though, because when we finally got out, it was so refreshing. Elder Cardwell and I may or may not have treated ourselves to lots of food and treats once we left haha. 

I don't have any updates for interested people or the ward, not much has happened since last time I emailed.

 

The district ran a 5K after quarantine. Elder Lyman was surprised to find that he wasn't much slower than when ran cross country and practiced every day.

 

Honestly, being here has really made me wonder what my purpose is here. Every day is virtually the same. We do the same things, walk the same 4 streets, meet the same members, and get the same reactions from everyone we meet. I'm not trying to complain at all, I'm just saying that being here has given me time to think.

From my perspective, there seems to be 0 progress, from day to day, week to week, and even month to month. It doesn't seen like we are making a difference. We get an occasional compliment from our bishop, or a member here or there, but for the most part, it seems like we don't have any impact. I know that's not true, the Lord is working through us in ways we probably will never see, but to us nothing seems to be happening. It's honestly really hard doing that from day to day haha.

I'm not depressed or upset or anything like that, don't worry. It's just hard because I want to give so much more to the members here and help people come unto Christ, and we really struggle to find ways to do that here.

Really quick, do you know those big buckets at waterparks that slowly fill up then dump down everywhere? My zone leader compared that to our work here. Each time we put forth effort, be obedient, pray and fast, and do our best to help others come unto Christ, it adds drops to that bucket. We can't see it adding it, or how much is in the bucket, but eventually all that will add up and something will come of it. That analogy has helped me out.

I don't know what the Lord has in store for me or where I fit into His plan, but I'm trusting that my efforts here are worthwhile for someone. It's definitely been hard, but I'm still enjoying representing my Savior Jesus Christ and learning more of Him. I'm so grateful for the special opportunity I have to grow closer to Him as I study and serve. I feel like there's few other places that do so as much as on a mission. For that, I'm so grateful.

I'll probably send another email next pday with transfers, and I'll probably put more positive stuff in there haha sorry, I'm really tired right now. I promise that I'm going well and that I am enjoying the work, it's just difficult, as missions always are.

I'm grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and for the miracle of His birth, life, and resurrection. He is our Mediator and loves us more than we will ever understand. He is always there ready to help us. I love Him, and I hope that yall will try to bring more of Christ into your lives this Christmas season :)

Love y'all

Elder Lyman

 

 

During quarantine Elder Lyman went through the kitchen cupboards and reorganized them. Behind the plastic bags he found a fondu set. So he and his companion made fondu.