WILL YOU?



Elder Berry loves to sneak and take pictures. Me preparing Sunday dinner.





As President Holm instructs the Elders and Sisters he frequently ask them "Will You'' not "Can You". Some of his "Will You" questions are: Will You be completely obedient, Will You get up on time, Will You leave your apartment at 10 o'clock every morning, Will You study Preach My Gospel, Will You have personal study time and companion study time, Will You use the Book of Mormon while teaching and many other questions. President Holm tells us he knows we can do all these things but Will You. After he gives us a Will You, he expects a verbal response yes which is given loudly and in unison. After he gets his yes then he promises blessings. This is the doctrine of Will You according to President Holm. When the missionaries are teaching investigators to make and keep commitments they ask Will You questions.

Will you pray to know that what we have taught is true?

Will you repent of your sins?

Will you attend church with us this Sunday?

Will you follow the example of the Savior and be baptized on ______?

Two weeks ago the Grovetown Elders asked us "will you give six hours of marriage lessons to our investigator?" They had permission from their bishop for us to help them out. Their investigators got their marriage license last week and were married Friday evening by the Bishop in the Relief Society room and were baptized along with their daughter Saturday morning. We had the privilege of being in attendance for both and what a special occasion to share their joy. Friday morning the Grovetown Elders called and ask "will you pick us up and drive us to the church for the wedding this evening?" We picked them up and were going to make it to church hopefully before the bishop arrived. As we were driving along the conversation turned to who the witness would be because the witness name would be on the marriage license. At that point Elder Clark realized he left the marriage license in his apartment. We were about two miles from the church and about six miles back to the apartment so we turned around as soon as possible and headed back to Grovetown. We got on the express way and exceeded the speed limit somewhat, got to their apartment and because they didn't have a front door key (the other Elders had the only key), Elder Oviatt climbed up the iron railing to the patio and opened the front door for Elder Clark as he ran up the stairs. They were back in no time. Elder Clark told us they went with the couple to get their license and they asked the Elders to keep it for them so it wouldn't get lost. The Elders put it in their backpack but because it looked like rain when they left their apartment that morning they took it out because they were afraid it would get wet. They completely forgot about it until our conversation. We got back on the expressway and rushed back to church. I was watching the clock the whole time and it seeded as if time stood still. We pulled into the parking lot ten minutes late right behind the Bishop and our couple were patiently waiting for us. We drove the Elders home and shortly after getting on the expressway we came to a screeching halt, there was a wreck ahead. It was stop and go until we reached out exit. We were sad for those involved in the accident but know we were blessed as we rushed to retrieve a marriage license to assist a couple who are willing to keep the commandments.

Last week we wrote about Holly. This Wednesday night she went to a missionary fireside and listened to recent converts speak. President Holm and our Stake President. The talks touched her heart. The stake president talked about the priesthood and how it blesses live. After his talk she was concerned over the role of the women in the church but decided to start taking the missionary lessons. Elders Olson and  Calhoon were very excited and taught two lessons this week. They invited Holly to attend a baptism for Celestine Saturday afternoon. Holly came and upon meeting Celestine they hugged and Holly didn't have a dry eye after that. She was given a box of Kleenex. During the Bishops closing remarks he had a paper in his pocket which he had received at a training meeting about the sisters and Relief Society. He took it out of his pocket and explained he felt prompted to read it. After the service Holly told the Bishop now she understands about women in the church. We see miracles like this every day and it is very humbling. Holly was at church Sunday, stayed for all the meetings, and I spotted Elder Cahoon and Olson teacher her in the Relief Society room after church. She is drinking in everything they teach.

Celestine with Elders Phillips & Agular who began teaching then got transferred, Elder Hansen AP

Elder Hansen, Celestine, Elders Stever & Wilkinson

This has been a "Will You" Week for Elder Berry. Most everyone thinks he can do or fix most anything. A sister in the ward bought a bike at Goodwill that needed a few adjustments. She bought it because she knew Elder Berry could fix it. We received a call willing us to come fix her bike. A few bolts and screws needed to be tightened and it was as good as new. Elder Berry has been driving a man to work every morning. Someone gave the man a bike that needed to be repaired, then he could ride it to work. His wife called willing Elder Berry to fix her husband's bike. Elder Berry picked up the bike, bought some parts, brought it to the apartment, made the necessary repairs and returned the bicycle. Since this was the last week of the month and car miles were almost used up, our Elders have been calling willing us to drive them to appointments. We said yes because we knew we would become better missionaries as we listened and felt the spirit as the Elders shared the gospel. We also said yes to the mission office request, "will you inspect missionary apartments?"  This week we inspected four apartments in our zone.

 We take the doctrine of President Holm and apply it and become better senior missionaries. We Will contact more people, We Will work harder with ward leaders, We Will work harder to reactivate the less active, We Will assist the Elders & Sisters as they teach the gospel and bring others to Christ, We Will study harder from the scriptures and Preach My Gospel, and last but not least We Will work harder at memorizing the standing quotes. Now we have a question for everyone Will You look for more opportunities to share the gospel and bring others to Christ, Will You eagerly assist the full time missionaries and Will You be completely obedient in living the gospel. Complete obedience brings miracles.

Love, Elder and Sister Berry

1John 2:17 "And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the Will of God abideth forever."

Although it isn't very cold the leaves are changing colors a little more every day.