Don Sherwood Family Blog: Transfer 3, Week 5: A Most Revelatory Time

Hey Everyone,

How was General Conference for those who watched it? It was great for me. So many cool and new exciting times are going to happen from here on out. Also, can you guys believe that it's already October? This year has just flown by so quickly. Well, let's jump right into the action.

First, exchanges. We went on exchanges with River's Edge this week. It was a good time. I went down to Great Falls, with Elder Hayes, and Elder Leach went to Fairfield with Elder Lunt. It was an interesting 3 days. We had no car in Great Falls, since the Portage Sister were borrowing the River's Edge car. So, it turned out to be a lot of walking for us over the next three days. It was good. We did some service for an art gallery/museum/school. And had a great time learning a new way of finding using Facebook. Thanks Elder Ritchie.

We had another great visit with our new investigator Kim. We ran into her as she was checking her laundry, and it turned into a mini lesson, where we got to know a lot about her, and we testified of the Book of Mormon. Kim loves to talk. It seems like we don't get to make many comments on any matters because she just keeps going. But it was both good and instructive. Let me tell a story about that.

So, while we were there, Kim was talking like crazy. She talked about her family, past religion, beliefs, the whole nine yards. We kept up, trying to testify all the time about what she was saying. There was a lot more of a conversation that could have been had, but she just kept going. When we did get an opportunity, I was about to jump in, and testify about family, and how God loves and has a plan for all of us, (basically going into a short lesson) Elder Lunt beat me to it. But, he didn't talk about that, he set a return appointment, and recommitted Kim to read some of the Book of Mormon, before we came back on Tuesday. Auugh. It was a tiny bit frustrating, but we missed the opportunity. So afterwards, we kind of had a great teaching moment between Elder Lunt and I, as we discussed the importance of testifying of the truth whenever the opportunity appears. Oh well, at least we have a great return appointment.

Friday started off nice and hot. We had both of our weekly ward correlation meetings that day. Fairfield was at 9:30am and Sunriver was at 5pm. During this day, a lot of good happened. We had a great visit with Jerry, and set up our General Conference viewing schedule with him. We did the same for John, and then to end the night, we went to the football game, and talked to a few people, including the Garners, a family with interest, and set up a possible opportunity of a dinner appointment. Which is very exciting. I love the Garners, they have so many good connections with the ward. They are truly ready for the gospel if they can find the time to add it into their lives.

The weekend was a great experience for a lot of people. Not just because it was General Conference, but a lot of other exciting things happened as well. General Conference was so crazy. We watched it on Saturday at the Fairfield Church building, the first session alone, but the second with John. And he really enjoyed it. Sunday, we watched both sessions with Jerry. Br Phinney had watched Saturday with Jerry, and Jerry is now hooked to BYUtv. It is so great to see his testimony growing.

A miracle had happened this week because of Conference. So, I know I've talked about how Jerry needs to come to church. Well he is only 1 attendance away from baptism, and then we'll continue to help him afterwards. Anyway, because of that, Elder Lunt and I got to thinking about his date. It was originally set for Oct 20th, but we talked about it, and with Jerry, and Br. Phinney, the Ward mission leader, and we decided why wait so long after Jerry comes the third time to be baptized. Br Phinney is actually going to be out of town from the 18th to the 24th, so we agreed to move the date up to the 14th or the 16th(next Sunday, or Tuesday) if he comes to church on the 14th. Jerry agreed that he would like that, and so we will set the final date and time on Wednesday in our lesson with him. I am so excited for him. He has been waiting a long time for this, and it's finally going to be here.

That's was one of the little miracles that happened this week. The other happened Sunday night. So, let me tell you about that story.

So, there is a recent concert family in our area who are coming up on their year mark. It's the Contways. Br. Contway has been out of town in Oaklahoma for a ride for about 2 weeks, and before he left, he had joking asked us to drop by and see how Sis. Contway was doing. Well it was Sunday night, around 8pm. We were trying to figure out who to visit before heading home, when the Contway's name popped into my mind. Knowing that Sister Contway was alone, we thought we would just make a quick door stop visit. That was the plan until she had us come in. The moment we entered the house, we felt something strange. I originally thought that it was a guilty feeling for being there without another priesthood holder. But as the conversation went on, Sis. Contway asked us if we could feel something. We said we could. She then immediately went on about how she had been troubled recently, and that there had been an unseen spirit trying to hurt her faith for the last little bit. It immediately registered in my mind what we were feeling at that point. Satan was attacking her at this pivotal point in her conversion, and Sis. Contway neither liked it, or knew how to get rid of it. So, she asked us to pray with and for her. I voiced the prayer, petitioning for strength to be given, and for the spirit of God to comfort and protect her from Satan. And immediately the bad feeling left. It was a little miracle, and the first experience I've had casting out an evil spirit on my mission. Sis. Contway couldn't stop thanking us for what we did. After the visit ended, we quickly got in contact with the bishop about this experience, and found out who her ministering sisters are, so they can come in and continue to strengthen this great family. I am so glad that we followed the spiritual prompting last night to go see the Contways. It truly has turned out to be a miraculous experience, one that has changed my life, and renewed my dedication to the Lord, knowing that the Lord has a need of me at all times, that way we can touch the lives of those we teach and minister to.

Well, I think that'll do it for the week. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be out here on a mission. I love being here, and I love helping bring others to Christ. I hope you hear from you guys soon.

Love,

Elder Sherwood

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