I have come to learn on my mission, especially after this week, that the adversary never sleeps. He never takes breaks, and he never stops working. I get a call Tuesday night from the Elders that are serving in the Lakeridge 1st ward (the area I got transferred from). They told me that Rajeev, a man I found and taught for many months, was finally getting baptized. We had set him on date numerous times, but it never panned out. This time, the program was typed up, the interview was set, and numerous people were invited. I cannot describe the feeling of joy that swelled inside me as I thought about his baptism. He was finally going to come unto Christ. So Tuesday I get the call, and the Baptism is for Saturday at 6. His interview was the night before. Rajeev had asked the Elders if they would ask me if I would be a witness. So I arranged a member to drive us there (its about a half hour drive). All day Friday I was so anxious! Rajeev had changed so much in the time that I was able to teach him! He was about to enter the gate of a path of so many blessings! I was on an exchange with on of the Assistants (Elder Johnson). We got back home Friday evening and I sat at my desk and felt so peaceful. In less that 24 hours, Rajeev would be baptized. As I was taking my tag off and setting all of my stuff on the desk, I glanced at the cell phone. I noticed that I had a voice mail. I started listening, and my heart dropped. It was Elder Davis (one of the Elders serving in Lakeridge 1). He told me that the Baptism was off, because Rajeev didn't pass the interview. A member of the mission presidency had interviewed him, and said that he needed to get a stronger testimony of Joseph Smith. I set the phone down and sat there. I could not believe that was happening. I sent him an email today... I pray that he will continue to work towards what is right.

On a brighter note, we stopped by Chris' house a couple nights ago. She said she only had 5 min to talk, and sat on her doorstep. So Elder Dehaan and I sat down and started talking. Right off the bat she said she was fine with where she was at, and wasn't looking to "church hop". Through divine inspiration, we were guided to direct the conversation in a way to where at the end she said she was willing to read the Book of Mormon and find out if it was true or not, as well as act on whatever God told her to do. We are going to visit her this week and discuss what she has read. 

During my personal study Sunday Morning, I was led to a thought that sparked my curiosity. I was reading in the Old Testament, 1 Samuel 17, about the story of David and Goliath. When David was talking to Saul, right before he goes to fight Goliath, it says in verse 33 "And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth." There is a footnote on the word youth the first time it is written. It sent me to Joseph Smith History 22: "I soon found, however, that my telling the story had excited a great deal of prejudice against me among professors of religion, and was the cause of great persecution, which continued to increase; and though I was an obscure (Young) boy, only between fourteen and fifteen years of age." I realized how similar these two young boys were. Both called of God to do a great work at a young age. I read on in 1 Samuel 17, Verse  40: "And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine." Now I pose this question, why did he take with him 5 stones? Well the obvious answer is in case he missed, he had more to throw. That's this interesting thought, he prepared himself. JUST in case he missed, he would try again until the job was done. Now lets go back to Joseph Smith. How many times did he miss at bringing souls unto Christ? Lots of times. But he kept trying. I link the stones in Davids bag to our testimonies, and Goliath being the adversary. We must never feel defeated if people do not listen to us, even when we bear our testimonies. We just need to continue to bear it. Persistence is so key in this work! It not only allows people to hear our message, it also allows us to grow as individuals... I am so grateful to be a part of this work. It was been an incredible experience, and it continues to be.

Till next week,

Elder Michael Litchfield