Blessings On Blessings On Blessings

Hey haha it's been a minute haha...

I'm not in Stevenson anymore! I returned to the magnificent city of Yakima and I'm now companions with my homie, Elder Cannon, and we go way back to being in the MTC together. I'm so hyped to be with once again a missionary that's been out as long as me and also to be with somebody that I was already genuine friends with. Yak has been, and will continue to be a blast with him.

Speaking of blasting, I'm privileged to be serving in the hood, the Englewood East area. Our area's where the majority of gang activity and shootings happen, but I've felt super protected throughout it all. I haven't felt threatened or scared despite experiencing a couple of insane things, like literally insane. But the amount of miracles and missionary work in this area is insane. This is by far the most fruitful area I've had the ability to serve in, here's some of the biggest dubs:

Over our first two weeks in Yakima we've already put two people on date for making the covenant of baptism. Destiny, who was taught before I got to Englewood, cold turkey stopped drinking alcohol after receiving a blessing from Elder Cannon and his old companion. She said that she only drank four times after that blessing, and every time it made her super sick. She went from four liters of rum a day to absolutely nothing and she has hardly struggled with doing so. This is a massive testimony builder to me that Heavenly Father can change lives, we just need to be willing to let Him in. Destiny's completely changed through the light of Jesus Christ and it's inspiring to me and others.

Ironically, our second friend, Hennessey, is the most golden person I've ever found. I have never met somebody so willing to listen and understand the workings of God. Hennessey found a Book of Mormon being thrown away and decided to keep it. Soon after, missionaries knocked on her door and she said that she doesn't believe in  coincidences. She has addictions and struggles too, but she's been willing to push through them all no matter what. And also she already acts like a member of our ward even though she's only come to church twice, she even signs up to bring things to relief society activities. And she's invited another one of her friends who could be super promising too. I know that the Lord is truly working miracles in my life and I feel so blessed to see lives change for the better.

Quick spiritual thought, throughout this plentiful time with my guy Elder Cannon I've felt so much love for the people in our area. And because of that I've been able to see miracles happen even more in my life. I know that through changing our perspective, through gaining that love and appreciation for others, we can be able to see God's hand working everywhere at all times. Because it is working everywhere, He loves us all more than we can imagine.

Love y'all, have a wonderful week,

Elder Stephen Timothy

Pics:

-Frisbee ft. my old comp Elder Brown

-Hellcat that made me drool

-Us with our gal Hennessey and her fam

-Idk how me and Elder Cannon are comps

-Cool hood mural

-Wendy's is love, Wendy's is life