Hey Everybody,

Just to give you some sense of how time flies, I'm already at the end of my first transfer! Wait, oh, mission lingo-- a transfer is the length of time that companionships around the mission stick together, which is 6 weeks at a time. After that 6 weeks, the mission president and his assistants mix it all up with people and move everyone around. Some stay the same, many don't. Don't worry, Elder Topp and I are sticking together for another Transfer here in Dublin (Clonsilla Ward) and I'm so grateful for that, because we love it here! Honestly, our ward? Love 'em. We have some amazing prospective missionaries that help us with our lessons sometimes, and their input is priceless. Also, we're definitely seeing progress with some of our investigators, so we're getting excited for the work ahead!

 

Let's see... Matthew is a polish father that we've been meeting with, and he is great! He's honestly become a good friend of ours! He told us that as he meets with us, he feels as if we've been friends for years! Even through the slight language barrier, he just "got it," started reading, and said his mind just lit up when he read, and he saw the words of Christ there! It was awesome! I know that the Holy Ghost is helping him a lot because of his true desire to be close to God. So I'm really excited that he and possibly his wife (who speaks verrry little english, his is actually pretty good) will join the church! I know that as I serve people like Matthew, care for their individual needs, and pray for them, that I can develop this amazing christ-like love for those people that I teach!

 

We also have a girl named Veliana who is the sister of some members in our ward, and we just introduced her to the Restoration and the Book of Mormon. She has just taken it right in and seems to love it! She's also been attending church with them, so that's great!

 

I know that I'm here serving Our Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ. I know that this work is the most important work that we can possibly do on this earth; helping others to come unto Christ. I know that the Book of Mormon is truly the word of God, and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is God's kingdom established once again on the Earth.

I'm so grateful that I can study the Book of Mormon and the Bible every single morning! I've learned so much by diving into the scriptures! IF ANYONE wants to know or says they want to know what Mormons believe, or why I'm out here volunteering 2 whole years to go around talking to strangers, you have to read the Book of Mormon. It's as simple as that. If you want to know why, you have to read it. You can talk about it with us and ask questions and make assumptions all you want, but if you REALLY want to know for yourself, you have to crack open the cover of that little book of scripture, start reading, think about what it's saying, and pray to God to ask whether or not it's truly His word. I can testify that it is, because I've read it. And that's my challenge to you. I dare you. I dare you to read it and really seek to know if it's true.

 

I know that it's God's word. I know that Jesus Christ is my savior, and that through him I can always improve and change for the better. He is the reason for everything I'm doing out here, and I can never thank Him enough.

Love,

Elder Crosby