I am including the complete letter because it contains excellent counsel from a general authority…<\/p>\n
“Dear Missionaries,<\/p>\n
Sister Anderson and I have started interviews and apartment inspections this week. We will be At Miami and Homestead Zones on Wednesday, 2-19-14; Friday at Hialeah Zone 2-21-14; Palm Beach Zone, Wellington and Belle Glade on Tuesday, 2-25-14; the rest of Stuart Zone, Boca Raton and Coral Springs on Wednesday 2-26-14; rest of Coral Springs Zone and Miami Beach Zone on 2-28-14. We are excited to meet with you and feel your excitement for the great work we have been called to. Please be prepared to have your Area Books current. We are looking forward to see your spotless apartments and cars.<\/p>\n
Elder Kopischke left an incredible mark on our hearts and Spirit this last week. He taught so much concerning our needs, and not so much our concerns. He is a master teacher when it comes to Doctrine, Principle, and Application. Some of the things he taught (and additional what inspired my spirit):<\/p>\n
The list goes on with the things we learned. Now is the time to apply it in our work, and work with the members:<\/p>\n
\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u0153This week we worked with a 77-year old Cuban man.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 We met him through a recent convert who met him running one morning and felt that this man “NECECITA SER BAUTIZADO!”\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0(needs to be baptized). In a little over two weeks, he gave up coffee, started feasting upon the word, praying, and attending church.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0Being a cyclist all his life and promising himself that he would never use a car after he retired, he insisted on riding his bicycle to church for his baptism.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 So we chose to ride with him.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Sunday morning we\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0met him outside his house waiting for us and we\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0started the 8-mile journey to the chapel.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 The whole time, the recent convert riding with us was practicing the baptismal prayer.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 What a sight it must have been to the people witnessing this \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u0153baptismal parade\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u009d!\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Hours later, he was baptized by this member friend and then bore a powerful testimony of the spirit he felt and of the truthfulness of this work.\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u2122\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u009d<\/i><\/p>\n
Apply in our work with the Spirit:<\/p>\n
<\/i>\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u0153We went to visit an investigator who had a friend over. As soon as we walked in the gate of the home He said excited \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u02dcwow… as soon as you walked through the gate I felt something. I was so mad and was about to stomp out but now I’m calm. What did you do? What is that?\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u2122 We started talking to him and reading from the Book of Mormon about the Holy Ghost, and that was what he was feeling. He listened and talked a lot about how he’d never felt anything like it. Throughout it he said \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u02dcI don’t even want to do…(a certain sin)… anymore. That desire is gone… I\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u2122m a changed person.\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u2122\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 We invited him to be baptized, at first he said he had been but then when we testified that baptism is a commitment to God to keep his commandments He said \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u02dcI got baptized for my mom, but I want to get baptized in the real church and that’s this one\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u2122, (we hadn’t even taught him the restoration. He just felt it.) He didn’t want us to leave. He really felt the spirit and it taught him.\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u009d<\/i><\/p>\n
Apply in our work our member\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u2122s testimony:<\/p>\n
\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u0153He still wanted to be baptized, but couldn\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u2122t promise to live the law of chastity, only try. This wasn’t good enough\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0for God though, and he wasn’t able to be baptized. This week we saw him after many days of him probably avoiding us. He came out and immediately started throwing out these doubts about repentance and how God accepts everybody, and how\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0our church was unfair. He told us that he didn’t need to be married and that he didn’t want to be married. We talked about Matt. 3:11 about confessing sins\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0and then Corinthians where the scripture says it\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u2122s better to marry than to burn. After sharing these scriptures I was feeling like that might\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0have been too harsh, and the member jumped right in and simply said, \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u0153if you want to be at peace with God, you need to be married.” Our investigator thought about this and we asked him if he loved his girlfriend. He said yes. We told him about how we can get him married… and make it a special ceremony that God can be proud of. He said hold on, opened the door and called his girl friend to come outside. We met her and then watched as the hand of God and the Spirit pushed him to propose. Looking at her he asked, \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u02dcdo you want to get married? With me?”\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 WOW!!!! We were in shock! She said yes and now we are planning a wedding and then a baptism! How incredible!!!\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u009d<\/i><\/p>\n
President Uchtdorf taught the blessings we will receive as we unite in these principles of God and go forward in spite of adversity:<\/p>\n
\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u0153Guided by the Holy Spirit, we will learn from our mistakes. If we stumble, we will rise. If we falter, we will go on. We will never waver; we will never give up. As a mighty [Mission] of God, we will stand together, shoulder to shoulder, focused on the principles of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and gratefully serving our God and fellowman with dedication and love… I testify to you this day that\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0God the Father\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0and His Son, Jesus Christ, live. They are real! They are there! You are not alone. Your Father in Heaven cares about you and desires to bless and uphold you in righteousness. Be assured that God speaks to mankind in our time. He will speak to you!\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u009d (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, General Conference, 2012)<\/i><\/p>\n
We have heard and studied wonderful doctrine and principles this last week. Now is the time to apply it. “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”(Acts 2:37) We must act on that knowledge and learning; we must change our circumstances and not wait to be acted upon. Like our converts, we must fulfill our commitments and change towards Christ, now is the time. We are part of a historic moment in this mission. “Elders and Sisters, what shall we do?”<\/p>\n
\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u0153[Missionaries] shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free.\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u009d (D&C 128:22)<\/i><\/p>\n