Power of the Priesthood

Dear Family,

So I am sitting here in the library trying to think of what to write to everyone. And I think that this week one story really stands out to me the most. Elder Rhoton and I were able to give a blessing to a really nice lady this week before she went into the hospital for a surgery.

It was very strange how it all happened. It was last wednsday and we were actually out shopping at walmart. Four of us went shopping and I actually stayed in the car with one of the english elders because he is on crutches. (that is another story- basically fell on his bike when he hit some ice and hurt his ankle) So we were just waiting in the car for the other elders to grab some stuff. So as I was sitting in the car someone called us named Freddy. I have never met the guy but apparently he is a member but he lives in Atlantic City area. He called because he knew a lady from his work that was going into the hospital the next day to have a surgery. she lives in Camden so he called us to ask us if we could go over to her house that night and give her a blessing. I told him that we would love to be able to do that and we told him that we would stop by her house around 8 that night.

So we went over there and we were not sure what to expect at all. I had never been to that street before and I had never even talked to the lady. Fortunately we are used to knocking on people's doors and to have no idea what the outcome will be and this time they were actually waiting for us. We went in and introduced ourselves and then explained what a blessing was and what it entailed. We could tell that she was really nervous and so we read here a scripture and told her that it was a really simple thing but that it also depended on her faith. We gave her a blessing, set up a time to come back and then left.

When we came back the next time she was really happy to see us. She told us that when we had come last time that we had made her feel much better. That she felt much calmer and that she stopped worrying about the surgery. She said that everything had turned out well and she was on the mend. It was really cool to see how happy she was and to see that she was doping well. It really made me glad to be a missionary.

Our Heavenly Father is always here to help us. If there is one thing that I have realized is that no matter what we do He will always be there to help us on our way. He can always help us more if we are willing to follow Him and obey His commandments but even the people that have strayed off of the path receive His love. It makes me sad when people are so quick to judge the people around them. It happens a lot here esspecially in Camden. Most of the people that live here have been given up on by others and they have really given up on themselves. Even some missionaries look at the way people live here and say that the people are lazy and really just show lack of love for the people. We are all children of God and even though one person has wasted his life away on drugs, alcohol, gangs and almost every thing you can think of, that does not make that person any less loved than you or me.

So share the gospel! And lend your hand to those who have lost their way.

Love,
Elder Haslam