Happy Easter!

     This week was really a good one! I am so excited each and every morning to find more people to teach and bring them closer to Jesus Christ. This week we really focused on getting more members involved in the missionary work.  That has been hard to do here in Reedley because we cover 14 smaller towns that are pretty spaced out and to find members that can come with us to teach has been difficult. 

     This week in district meeting we made it a focus to have 1 member present at the lesson each day, and to also have five lessons during the week focused on the importance of the Sabbath day! As we applied the things we learned each companionship was able to have a member present at the lesson each day. That's the first time since last September! It was really nice to see the members involved in missionary work. As of right now we have 9 people set for baptismal dates in April and are really trying to help them progress that they may be able to be baptized. 
     One of my favorite investigators is a twenty year old named Hector. His mom is a member and they live 30 minutes away from the church building out in a place called Orange Cove. They have spent the last 3 months trying to find the chapel building in Selma where we attend. Hector is truly someone searching for the truth. Elder Pinnock and I were on exchanges and we had an appointment one night this past week to teach him. We both felt prompted to watch the Restoration video with him. After the video Hector told us how powerful that movie was and he had never pictured it to be like that. Hector has already read to the book of Mosiah and has a pretty good knowledge of what he has read. He began to tell us that this past week has been a struggle. He hadn't read or prayed and told us this week he and his mom had not had any work picking oranges out in the fields. We promised him that if he read and prayed everyday this week he would have work everyday of the week. He has been doing that and has had work everyday! I truly felt the Holy Ghost in that room with us. Hector is preparing to be baptized on the 7th of April, and has been to church 3 times! 
     This week I have begun reading the references from the topical guide about Jesus Christ. This is called the 'Easter Project' that everyone is doing in the mission. As I have read I have come to know my Savior Jesus Christ better each and everytime I read. I read the topic on Jesus Christ 'advocate' the other day and remember having such a love for our Savior that He literally pleads our case to our Father in Heaven and only through Him can we return to the presence of our Father in Heaven! I really love this work and am so glad to be a part of it each day! 
     I have been having such a great time in Reedley and getting to know all of the missionaries! We are a united group and I think that has helped us individually in our areas. I have been having so much fun this week! Today was very exciting as well. Right before we came to the family history center to write, we had a chance to stop by a referral with a member and we invited them to be baptized on the 14th of April. The mom has told us about her life and how dificult it has been with drugs, having a child at 14 and trying to support her three kids as a single mother. I truly feel God's love for her and for her children! I know that God lives and knows each and everyone of us personally! Love you all! Hope you have a great week and Easter weekend!

Elder Tanner Aiken