Branching Out!

I have never worked in a branch before, so this was a new experience. This area suffered some loss in trust about 4 or 5 years ago, but everything is going great here now. The members are incredible. Maybe it's the fact that it's a branch, or maybe it's just the members, but everybody here is looking out for each other 24/7, and they are all extremely welcoming and inviting of non-members and people they've never met before.

I thought I'd have to greenie-break Elder H, but this elder came pre-trained. He needs no breaking. I anticipate a very good transfer with him. I can already tell that we both achieve unity very easily. The second I walked into our apartment, I could feel that this was a sanctuary, a refuge from the storm. Then we put on The Mormon Tabernacle Choir's "This Is the Christ", and it was a spirit overload.

We are working with a few people that are progressing wonderfully, so I've been told (we weren't able to meet with most of them this week). One such person is G. G is a very devout Christian, and he is interested in a lot of what we say. He truly has the Light of Christ. R is another. The missionaries started teaching her, and she felt the Spirit strongly. She believes everything we've been teaching her (because the Spirit told her, not because we did), and she has a strong desire to baptized. R is a quadriplegic, and the missionaries have seen his trust and faith in God grow steadily but surely. There are many others, and I shall speak on them in later emails.

Sacrament Meeting in a branch is different, just because of the size of the congregation. We have about 40 or so active members. I got to give the invocation AND bless the Sacrament, which is always a treat. Our stake president (who was called about 3 months ago) came to our church meetings, and afterwards went out with me and my companion to go visit some less-active members. All in all, it was a very great week, and I got to make chicken! I think my tummy has been more full than in past areas. Every once in a while, I skipped a meal just because I didn't have time or money, but NOT HERE! 

Let me conclude with a thought from Philippians 1:21: "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." There is a popular Christian song by Sidewalk Prophets that is based on this scripture. When everything we do is centered in Christ, then even death becomes gain. For me to live is Christ, because my life is His. My great design is to be with Him. There is no nobler or greater cause than to live in Christ. Then when we rest, we rest in the Lord, and even in our rest we are protected from the Adversary. I pray that each one of us will give our lives to Him who knows us even better than we know ourselves, in the name of Christ Jesus, amen.

Until next week, be the best you can be, and you will be better than you could ever imagine.

-- 

The Lord's Soldier,

                      Elder Jacob C. Tibbitts

Me and Elder S with A in Monument.

Me with B, one of the most awesome members of this dispensation.

The grand bestowal of the Posterity Tie to my firstborn son.

Here is a picture of Bishop's Castle, which my trainer told me about in my first area. The man who built it himself (his last name is Bishop) believes that Christ will dwell here when He comes again. Another picture below.

I'll send some pictures of Elder Hagman and me next week. Westcliffe is absolutely beautiful. Here, I'll send some pictures to make Greg jealous. The aspens and the pine trees grow together in the forests here. :)