dear DAD, mom, family, and all the others who will be reading this,


it is good to hear of all the going ons at home. i am glad all is well.
i love what you said about consistency in our
efforts to be obedient. i completely agree with that. consistently
applying the atonement changes us from bad to good.


for some clarification on past emails, "trips to the dentist" meant,
my companion was having some pain in her mouth so we went to the
dentist. we thought it would be a five minute thing but then it turned
out she had a lot more problems than just the pain. within an hour she
was down a wisdom tooth and a couple cavities were filled. and then we
had to go again because they didn't finish everything. we went the
second time about a week later and they found more cavities. then we
had to go back again because one of the fillings wasn't done
properly... eesh, by the last appointment i pretty much had to force
her to go. all is well though, she now has a happy and healthy mouth.
my teeth are great.

"many priesthood blessings" so for some reason that week that i was
telling you about was crazy. we had some ivestigators who decided they
were done having us come over because the songs we sing at church are
too boring, and the wife has "already been saved and it is a sin to
be baptized more than once". anyway, we have been working with them
for a while and we decdied she needed more clarificaation on the
restoration of the gospel. we taught a powerful lesson on the
restoration and set a return appointment for a couple days later. when
we got back the mother was in a lot of pain, she had some unexplained
back problem that was so bad she couldn't move. my companion and i
knew without a doubt that she needed a blessing and then she needed to
go to the hospital. we put her in the car and took her to the branch
presidents house. she got her blessing, then we went to the hospital.
by the time we were on our way back she was fine. we know Heavenly
Father set that up, we had been praying very hard that somehow their
hearts would be softened. they still won't come to church but there is
a definite change in them since that day, and their hearts really are
softer. the next appointment we had was with the family who had the
word of wisdom problem (the dad still does but the mom is going to be
baptized on saturday!!!!) and they needed blessings, the branch
president (again) was called and he came over and gave the mom a
blessing. the dad is in the military and was called to go on duty somewhere
far a way for a couple weeks. he is still struggling but the mom is
wonderful, she has a bright and shiny face and she is a completely
different person today than she was when she got the blessing.

this week was C----R----A-----Z----YYYYYY----! as a zone we decided to
kick it up about ten notches. as a companionship we have 21
individuals on date this week. the Lord is doing some marvelous works
here. there were 154 people at church yesterday, there was no space in
the church (we are renting the building which is basically a house,
about the same size as our house and the owner decided that we weren't
allowed to rent it anymore so the church will be moving next month,
bummer, but hey, the next building will be MUCH LARGER). our faith has
increased so much this week, as a companionship we are working hard
and efficiently. (the francistown zone will have 20+ new members next
week [once again fingers crossed]).

there is a quote by ezra taft benson that says,
"the secret to missionary work is work, if a missionary works [she]
will get the spirit, if [she] gets the spirit [she] will teach by the
spirit. and if [she] teaches by the spirit [she] will touch the hearts
of the people and[she] will be happy... work work work, there is no
satisfactory substitute, especially in missionary work!"

we go to bed at night with our heads spinning and new ideas coming
like crazy. this last week i realized i was on a mission and we are
now lost in the work.

i say to all who may be reading this, "if ye have desires to serve
God, ye are called to the work. For behold, the field is white,
already to harvest. and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his
might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not but bringeth
salvation to his soul." ( refer to D&C 4)

every member is a missionary, serious, if you have been having any
doubts on your ability to serve God with all your heart, might, mind,
and strength, repent now and get to work. missionary work is one of
the greatest blessings to those around you who have not heard the
truth you have. WOOHOO, I LOVE BRINGING SOULS UNTO CHRIST.

many sincere blessings, keep on keepin'
sister blum

(ps what ever happened to my vehicle?)