The Lord is Cheering you on!

June 19, 2018

How is everyone's week going?!?! I hope you are all doing absolutely amazing!

I love you all so much. I'm so thankful for you all. I look forward each week to emailing all of you because hearing your responses makes my week so much better. You all have been such an important role in my life and you're a pretty legit blessing the Lord has given me.

My keyboard is awful with auto correct and I am awful at typing so the mixture can sometimes be pretty horrendous so hopefully you can read my misspelled words if any.

Anyways this week was the hottest week of my entire life. Each day my companion and I leave the apartment and I turn to him and say, "it's the hottest day of the year." And I'm starting to think I'm right. I've only been on a mission in Missouri for like 8 minutes but it progressively gets hotter each day. I am not used to humidity and to be honest I don't think anyone that lives here is either hahaha. The sky also decides to pour rain down on us whenever it wants and it makes me laugh to see the steam coming off of house roofs and the asphalt when the rain hits the INSANELY HOT SURFACES. So if you live in California, be thankful for the wonderful dry hot weather I sure do miss it.

This week has been pretty legit. We have met so many wonderful people. Their hearts are so big.

I have been going through something this week that I have needed much of the Lord's help with. I have also received quite a few emails from friends that shared with me circumstances they are in right now that are causing them difficulty and stress. I've been able to realize something very important out here and that is that the Lord will let us go almost to our breaking point, almost our absolute limit. We will feel sometimes like we just can't do anymore. But he is there. He is there for you I promise you that.

One of my favorite things to do out here is promise the people I meet that they will receive blessings if they will pray and turn their trust to the Lord. And I know with absolute assuredly, that you will receive blessings. I KNOW that the Lord cares about you and I know this is something I mention each week in my emails, but it's because it is so important to me. It breaks my heart when I see people's families fall apart. It breaks my heart when I see people feel like God doesn't love them. It breaks my heart when I hear that people don't pray everyday. Because I know I know I know, that God is there. He loves you. 

I may have shared this experience already, but I was walking one day on the street and was feeling so down. It was one of the hardest days I've had out here. I was doubtful and stressed. I turned to my companion and said, "why haven't I been able to feel the spirit much this week. I feel like I'm struggling to keep the Holy Ghost close to me. I want to teach by the spirit, but sometimes I feel like I’m doing something wrong."

About 5 seconds after my statement, a car drove by… Stopped in the middle of the road and said to us, "Hey you two. I love you. I'm thankful for you. I'm proud of you. Keep doing what you're doing."

Then he drove off.

I turned to my companion and with the biggest smile on my face I laughed and said, "why. Haha why does that happen." He patted me on the back and said, "that's what the Lord does elder. He let's you get to just about your breaking point to show you just how strong you are. Then he picks you up and let's you know he's right there beside you."

HE HAS NOT LEFT YOUR SIDE SINCE THE DAY YOU CHOSE TO COME TO EARTH. He loves you and cares about you and he WILL be your guide IF you let him.

I've been trying really hard these past several weeks to keep the Holy Ghost with me everyday. It has been pretty difficult and the Holy Ghost will communicate to us in different various ways. It's a unique feeling. Strive to learn that feeling. The Holy Ghost has been major guide during these hard times. The Holy Ghost testifies of truth and provides me with a warm comforting feeling.

Last week I talked about personal revelation. That is so important and it's something we are all capable of doing. We have to want it. We have to look for it. We have to do our part.

Recognizing, Listening, and Acting are 3 very different choices we have.

It is one thing to recognize the spirit is with you and is present, to feel that love of Christ in your life. It is another to listen to what the spirit is trying to show you, tell you, or warn you about. And it is another thing to act on what the spirit is showing you, telling you, or warning you about.

ACTION is so important. We can listen to the words told by prophets all we want. We can read the Book of Mormon and the Bible all we want. We can pray all we want. BUT nothing will happen, there will be no progression...IF we are not ACTING on the promptings we receive.

I run out of time each week to send my weekly email, so it almost ends up being last minute and I don't too often share stories about the week but more of just a spiritual thought. I will try this next week to send it out earlier and have experiences of situations throughout my week. I love the people here and the experiences I have each and everyday are blessings from the Lord.

But I will leave you with my testimony:

I know that God loves me. I know that God loves you. I know that in 1820 a young man had the desire to know the truth and he prayed with real intent asking God for direction. I know that Joseph Smith was visited by God the Father and Jesus Christ. I know that if we have real intent and a true desire, we can also have the truth revealed to us. I know and I can promise you, I can absolutely promise, that reading The Book of Mormon WILL bring peace and comfort to you and your life.

I love you all. You are children of God and he is so proud of you, so be proud of yourself. Every choice you make, every struggle you get through, every day you wake up, be proud of yourself because the Lord is and he cares about you more than you ever possibly could.

Have an amazing week! Send me pics and updates throughout all y'alls week so I remember what y'all look like hahaha just kidding I won't forget, but yeah send me updates!

Peace out! Talk to you next week.

-Elder Shua Newbold