April 30, 2012

Family and Friends,

This week has been a great one for missionary work in Tyler Texas!  We went most of the week without our car, but we got it back on Friday.  We enjoyed the time to ride our bikes and get some good exercise, but to be honest, we were glad to see the car again!
On Wednesday we went into Dallas to have a meeting with President Durrant, it was a great meeting.  It is always a pleasure getting to visit with the mission president.  President Durrant asked us to try something new to see if he wants to make it a mission-wide effort.  When Elder McOmber and I tract, we are to, instead of a normal contact, just ask if we can say a prayer and bless their home.  It is incredible the spirit that it brings and the trust it builds just that simple action.  After the prayer we express that we would like to share a message about Jesus Christ and living prophets and apostles. President Durrant got the idea from the Arizona Phoenix mission, and they had astonishing results, of those that let the missionaries say a blessing, 50% of them let the missionaries teach a lesson.  It has already proven to be very effective for us.

Saturday we went to visit the Strickland family and give them a little service, Brother Strickland had us clear down a fence, and we also chopped down a tree with an axe.  I have some blisters, but it is just a sweet reminder of the great accomplishment!

Hope Y'all have a great week!

Elder Layton