Learning So Much (NEW PHOTOS added)

Dear Mom and Dad,

-I got the package with the BYU shirts!! I'm planning on giving one to the  Branch President

-I could use maybe two of the shirts from Mr. Mac's -I went looking for pants fabric earlier, but you won't have much luck in the middle of nowhere!

-Hopefully I'll send off my Absentee Ballot today!

-Random question, but how did Jimmer do last year? Can you send me a picture!

-I'll ask my Mission President about you all sending clothing for some of the children here and then I will get back to you.

I opened up my e-mail today and this email was sitting in my box, titled "An Important Message to Absentee Ballot Voters"...

"Dear Paul Alexander Yost IV,

Thank you for taking time to vote absentee.  Virginia voters like you will be responsible for the future direction of our country.  Turning Virginia blue this year means sending leaders to Washington who put what’s best for our families ahead of their own political agenda, and turning back the Republican effort to undo the progress we’ve made together over the past four years in health care, women’s rights, rebuilding the economy and ending the war.

Sincerely,

Brian J. Moran

Chairman, Democratic Party of Virginia"

Could you please find out how they had the authority to send this awful, offensive email to me! (its called voter registration lists!) I will say this, when I read it I thought, 1) They could not have been more boring and cliché, and 2) They need to get a bit more creative instead of saying the same thing every four years. I feel like nothing has changed since I left because they're still saying the same exact things....anyways

It was a good week, and I'm still in Lopez! This means I'm for sure getting transferred next time which will be on the first Friday in November. I'm happy I'm still here, and it takes some uncertainty away, knowing exactly when I'm leaving, I'll have a bit of an idea where I'll be going and who could be my companion. Chances are very good my next companion will be an American. 

Our baptism is still scheduled for this Friday! The Sister is so ready, and passed her baptismal interview with flying colors. Her husband is back in the home, and they seem to be doing better. He's still sitting in on our lessons, but when we try and involve him he won’t respond. I have been asked to baptize this wonderful sister and I am so excited!

The 1st Ward FINALLY got Elders this week, an American and Filipino, and they're now in our apartment. They're both so awesome and are really hard working. We had another workshop on the Ward Council this week for several wards.  The workshop went really well, and each Bishop or Branch President  set a specific time every month when they'll meet! It's just such a simple thing, but as we know, through small and simple things are great things brought to pass!

We have a brand new American Elder straight from the MTC in our Zone! I got to spend some time with him this Saturday while his companion interviewed our baptismal candidate. He's from Sandy, UT, and graduated high school in 2010. He went to the University of Portland, and I later found out, was a scholarship Soccer player! They're D1, and during his freshman year they were ranked as high as 9 in the nation! He got recruited by other schools like Syracuse. He's so nice and so humble and will be a great missionary.

As I've detailed in the last few weeks, our White Rabbit investigator has been really struggling with smoking. So as ironic as it is, we gave her the White Rabbit candy that you sent,(our friends gave us a piece of candy from China called White Rabbit to send to Alex :) and it's been helping! Nevertheless, it's been slightly frustrating, because we've taught her everything, and I wasn't sure what to teach her next. I felt like the only way she would stop smoking is if she had a spiritual experience in which she would really come to feel deep down that she needs to quit. 

This past Tuesday we taught her about baptism, and the lesson quickly turned to smoking. I was trying to listen to the Spirit to know what to say, and I didn't feel like I getting anything, any promptings, so I just asked,  "Sister, if Jesus Christ was here right next to us, what advice he would give you?" When I asked the question, she started to get emotional, and immediately looked up at the ceiling and started say, "No Elder Yost, don't ask that!

No!" 

I was concerned because I thought I'd offended her or pushed a little too hard. I then felt prompted to say, "Sister, Elder Yost and Elder L. are not asking you to quit smoking, Jesus Christ is asking!” We have been called as his representatives." I was kind of shocked by what I said, because I'm a pretty conservative person in teaching. It got really quiet, and she finally broke the silence and said, "I'm done." I thought, NO! She doesn't want to be taught anymore! I've ruined everything! Then she said that up until that point she had no real genuine desire to give up smoking, but now she was done. Then she said, "When you asked that question, I felt as if the Savior was speaking to me. It was almost as if I heard what he would say to me if the Savior was here!"

Now I don't know exactly what she heard or felt, but the Spirit was so strong in that room, she hasn't smoked a single cigarette since last Tuesday, and you can see the light and happiness in on her face.

So when people see you and me, what do they see? Do they see the Savior? When you and I talk, what do they hear? Do we reflect the Savior in how we live? I testify that as you and I live the Gospel and live worthily, we can become like the Savior and draw closer to him.  That is the whole point of the Gospel. I learned a very valuable lesson that day. I want to do everything to live in a way that the Savior can work through me to bless others. As we live the Gospel, He will literally be on our right, and on our left, and we will become even as He is, emanating light to the whole world.

Love,

Elder Yost