Monday, February 24, 2014

Small World Moment

So about a month ago I had dinner with a couple in the ward here and upon my mentioning that I was from Fresno area, they asked if I knew Reed Van Wagenen. I said yes, and they informed me that he, Terry Reynolds was taught the Gospel and later confirmed a member of the church by Elder Van Wagenen 30 years ago. Crazy how these connections can happen. Also crazy that I am laboring in the same area as someone who we know did decades ago. Anyway, I thought it would be cool if you could give Reed their email address so they could be in contact again.  

The work here is going so well. Jan, our miracle door knock find, will be interviewed for baptism this week and probably baptised the week after that (if not that one, the week after that). We have another awesome guy we started teaching this week, a friend of a member in the ward. 

One thing I have learned so much on my mission and I keep learning more and more about it even when I already think that I have already learned a lot about it is loving people, really trying to understand them and their point of view, their situation. Being patient with them. Explaining things in a way that they will understand. Seeing not the bad things about them but the good, and helping them to overcome their weaknesses without focusing too much on them. One Elder in my district taught me about how constructive it can be to use "and" statements in helping people. For example, "I think you are great at x, y and z, and you would be even better if you were to a, b, and c." Above all, I know that God is awesome, He loves us and wants us to be able to learn and become better, so we need to be humble and let Him teach us. Its so awesome! 

Love, 


Elder Seth Poulsen

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