I received a phone call yesterday from the mission president telling me that I will be leaving the Botetourt area and be moving up to Kentucky to do missionary work up there. I'm called as a district leader and will be serving in the Paintsville area. I don't know much about it but that the area is sparse in population. I hope for the best.
This week was full of miracles the best miracle was that 11 people came to church who were either inactive members or who were checking out the church. One group of the people was the Smith family. I've told before that the wife was a member of the congregation who hadn't attended in a while. She and her family of 4 adopted daughters ( all under the age of four) and her husband are attending the church services. They have been attending for the 4th week in a row.
I am limited on time once again for email but I will say that the biggest blessing and miracle that ocured in the last 6 weeks isn't that we had 11 people come to church, to me the greatest blessing has been watching that family come together stronger, happier, and with more love in the 4walls of their home. I remember a leader in the church once said that " the most important work that you will ever do will be within the walls of your home"-Harold B. Lee. How true this is, when elder Price and i started teaching them the family was in a tough shape, we taught them about the gospel of Jesus Christ and how it can help their family. They have turned their lives around. They are at peace and growing.
There little kids never really will know me personally but their parents will and i was honored to help those kids find their family. Their life will now take a new direction, their future is bright, they have the gospel.
Hope all is well back home. Thank ou for the support and emails that you all have sent me. God bless and continute to bless those around you. Tell someone "I love you " today. It goes a long way.
Sincerely,
Elder Eric Kochenderfer