Dear Family,
How are you? I am well—I'm feel like we're still in winter here! Yesterday, it rained (sprinkled) for almost the whole day (it's the second time that I've seen rain in this city!), and today there was snow on the distant mountains! We woke up a bit cold, and braved the frigid winter winds (about 10º C) this morning. Thus we're wearing our coats around!
One exciting experience happened this week when we finally knocked on a door that we had been feeling that we needed to visit for a few weeks, and someone actually answered! He proceeded to give us a 30-minute, condemnatory speech about how we were illusioned sinners teaching lies! I was a bit glad that Elder Henry couldn't understand him very well, because I've learned that one cannot argue with someone who's quite so set on defamity, so we weathered out the discourse, adding occasional testimony and simple, summarized teaching when possible. Loosely quoting a movie we saw recently about Brigham Young, I don't really know how he felt, or what he thought, but I do know that I know that God Himself descended from Heaven to call Joseph Smith to be a prophet, that the Book of Mormon was translated through the power of God and contains the words of Christ, and that Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world, and He is the only name or means given through which we can be saved. I do know that the authority of Jesus Christ to effect the ordinances of His gospel is in this church, because He organized it! It is through the ordinances of the gospel that the power of godliness is manifest, as Doctrine and Covenants teaches, and I know that this church is guided by prophets of God receiving real revelation. The proof is simply found in learning the doctrine, and living it, and asking God for confirmation. It is by the power of the Holy Ghost that I know these things, and they can only be learnt spiritually, and with prayer and faith and real intent.
Thus, really, our goal as missionaries is to teach people how to receive revelation, or, communication from Heaven. We teach them how to live that they may be capable of feeling the 'still small voice' of the Spirit, and then we help them to recognize it, and act upon it. A life founded upon the principle of receiving and acting on real guidance from God is a happy one, in conformity with the commandments, and of the greatest benefit to all others.
We were doing service this week when we found a young couple shoveling sand to make a foundation for their house. Thus, we threw off our jackets and rolled up our sleeves and did the work for about an hour. The man's brother was there and offered me his rifle to take shots at the pigeons on top of the neighbouring house, but I declined! However, I was grateful for the opportunity to be useful, and, as a member was accompanying us, she explained to them what missionaries are while we did the work!
We had a super branch council yesterday. I was impressed by how young the leadership of our branch is. For example, our two branch president's counsellors are 18 and 22, respectively, and our primary and young womens' presidents have been members for less that six months! However, they are all doing their work very well, with enthusiasm, and I know that the branch will be able to grow quickly with its leadership in place (all have been recently called).
Thank you for sending me the Ensign on prayer, and for writing to me!
Love you all,
Elder Schlachter
