Transfers: I'm already training...sort of

Good morning beloved friends and family, 

I hope you all had a wonderful wintery week. 

The word of the day is: sorprendentemente (remarkably) 

As for transfers go, drum roll please... 

I'm staying here in Lynn with Elder Gonzalaz. We are going to train a new missionary. As for Elder Gardner, he's headed out to Waterbury. 

So much happened this last week. I'll try to fit it in while keeping it short and sweet. Experiencing my first Christmas away from home was very pleasant. Spent a lot of time with the members. 

On Friday we got called up to go give a blessing. The family was catholic but their uncle was a member. The mother was there with her son and daughter, both in their 20s or so. She began to say "my daughter's had an ugly experience". I didn't really know what she meant. Come to find out, she's been having some scary experiences with spirits. I wont go into detail but I remember walking into that house feeling some dark energy. The from their uncles ward was really helpful. After we gave a blessing and said a prayer on the home, there was a noticeable difference. 

Super cool experience. On Saturday we went to tract out a place called Rainbow Terrace. First few houses werent very successful. Then we thought "hey, there's that inactive member that lives here". We knocked and said it was the missionaries. Without open g the door, All of the sudden, she started cussing and yelling at us from inside. We quickly left. 

The next house we knocked, a lady named Natalie opened the door. We taught the entire Restoration lesson. As I was reciting Joseph Smiths exact words of the First Vision, I felt such power and conviction of its truth. The entire time Natalie was completely enthralled. 

We realized that the adversary is doing everything it can to hold us back. If we hadn't kept going, we would have never found Natalie. 

My dear friends and family, do not let the adversary get to you. You were all born in this last dispensation for a reason. We are here because we were some of the most elect and strongest leaders in the prexistance. The devil knows of that truth so he is throwing his "mighty wind" and "all his hail" to bring you down (Helaman 5:12).

There is hope, if we are true and defend our values and fight the good fight, just as Moroni while lifting up the Title of Liberty, "the very powers of hell [will be] shaken forever" (Alma 48:17)

Thats all for this week. Love you all! Keep on defending your values. Happy new year! 

con mucho amor,
Elder Rasmussen