From Mason Blettenberg
Teaching in Ireland
Dear Friends and Family,
It has been a whole year since I have left the blessed land
of Burley, Idaho. But I am still in a land of the spuds! Good old Ireland!
This past week we saw a mighty miracle. A man named Jerry’s
heart was softened. We had this man on
tract for baptism for this Saturday, but he texted us Wednesday night and told
us he did not want to get baptized. He talked with his friends and they turned
him off of the idea of our church. We were DEVASTATED. There is
nothing that will break a heart of a missionary so fast than someone who they
love dearly falls away from God.
We asked in mighty prayer to soften this man’s heart. We woke up Saturday all ready for the day,
trying to do our best to smile. We had a blitz in our area on Friday so
we were white-boarding. All of a sudden, in the middle of the day, we saw Jerry
walking with his head down. We rushed over to him and asked him to help us find
with the white board. On the board was written: What makes you happy? He
wrote, “The Holy Spirit”.
Then the sisters came over and asked him why he did not want
to be baptized. He said he changed his mind! And he wanted to be baptized
that day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So me and my comp did everything in our power to
make it happen that day and … we made it
happen! He was baptized and confirmed.
Being out for this long, serving my Father in Heaven and
representing His Son, has made me understand a scripture that I read every
single morning… Matthew 16:21-28: for whosoever will save his life shall lose
it and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall FIND IT.
I want to testify from the bottle of my heart that I have
found it. And because I have found my life, I will continue - for a full year -
to lose my life for others and for His sake who died so me and you can live.
I am a standing living witness of Jesus Christ and His Atonement. My mission has truly brought the good out of
me so many times. I have almost been so close to going home cuz I thought I
needed rest from my trials I have had on my mission. But every time that happened,
the power of Christ’s Atonement came to the rescue. He is the best example we
could ever dream of asking for.
A mission has changed me forever. I want everyone to know,
if you have the smallest doubt of serving a mission throw it out the window and serve God. Every worthy Latter-day Saint has the
strength to serve a full time mission. Please serve a mission. If you have not already, you will find your life
and help others do the same.
I love my Father in Heaven . I know with all my being that,
when in times of a storm,I can turn for peace in the spirit of prayer and show
Him how I feel. He will heed to my needs and do what is right for me and others. He is our all mighty father who loves me. I
know my Father above would and will take the time to sit with me on a fence and
just let me let it all out and truly heed to my needs the way I need. He has
shown me and has given me one person to look up to and that is my Savior, Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is a man that is and always will be my light to
follow in darkness of a storm. If any of us are trapped in sin or trial or
sickness or anything that brings you down, there is always a way out of our
storms. That is in and through the most sacred name of the one who literally
bled from every pore drops of blood so you and I could stand in holy places and
be not moved.
I love this gospel and I will be devoted to it for the rest
of my life and my life after that. The words of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints are the words that bring you and me lasting happiness for this
life and the one to come. And that is all thanks to the Restoration of His Church.
Joseph smith was the man for the job. Without
him, who knows where truth would have been found. For this I am grateful. I
bear testimony of repentance and the sweetness of it. Whenever we hear that word
“repent” we run, but though study I have understood it is a sweet word due to
the fact we cannot repent without Jesus Christ and proper priesthood authority.
Repentance is real and it works. In the name of who I represent for the
next year, even Jesus the Christ, Amen.
Miracles do happen, repentance does work, and He lives and
can do wonders for me and you!
Love, Elder
Blettenberg
