SO this last week has been really,
really great! We had a miracle happen. We had an appointment with an
investigator to go to the visitor’s center to watch the Joseph Smith movie on
Monday night. So we were meeting at a member’s house to all ride together. The
second we got out of the car, our investigator told us he had good news. He
told us he had prayed and got an answer that he needed to be baptized. WHAT!?
wahoo! We are telling him how awesome that is and then he finishes his
sentence..."this sunday." My jaw dropped. We have only taught this
man two lessons. We still had a lot to teach him and if he wasn't living the
commandments, he would have to get special permission to be baptized. He goes
on to tell us that if we were able to make this work that we would be miracle
workers. He prayed and knew he needed to be baptized and he thinks his mother
had something to do with it. So, he wanted to be baptized on Mother’s day
because that is the day she passed away. So on the way to the movie we went
through all the baptismal interview questions and taught him what he needed to
know. We came to the Word of Wisdom and told him we don't drink coffee. He
didn't ask why, he just said, "Well, I have been doing that but I won't
anymore. Done." He just accepted it right off the bat and said that he had
thrown cigarettes out 16 years prior and never smoked again. So he has some
strong will power and said coffee won't be a big deal. Normally the
investigators have to be living the commandments for at least 10 days prior to
the baptism. So that is why we had to get special permission, he had been
drinking coffee every day. However, he didn't know about the Word of Wisdom
yet, so it was in ignorance.
So we watched the Joseph Smith movie
and it was incredible, as always. I sobbed like a baby, as always. And the
spirit was super strong, as always. It was really powerful and our investigator
loved it.
We called President T to get
permission and he approved for our friend to be baptized as long as the Bishop
was ok with it. The Ward Mission Leader hadn't met our investigator yet because
he had been out of town so he also wanted to have a lesson with him to hear his
testimony and to make sure this was going to be an ok thing and he wasn't going
to fall away. So the next day we had a lesson with them and we taught in more
depth about the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity. He accepted both and
said he didn't miss his coffee at all that morning. He is so prepared! We also
gave him all the pamphlets so he could read them to see if he had questions. He
takes them with him everywhere and reads them all the time, as well as the
gospel principles book and the Book of Mormon. How cute, right. The lesson went
super well and the WML gave his go ahead and helped us start planning the
baptism!
We also met with the less active
that was going to let us teach her the lessons. When we got there she sat us
down and told us she didn't want to do that anymore. She said we shouldn't have
to teach her anything. She should just be able to read the scriptures and pray
that God will help her understand them and she doesn't need our help. So that
was a huge bummer. I think she is too stubborn to change her ways and she is
comfortable where she is. That is super sad to see, but we told her we would
stop in and still check on her every once in a while.
Another guy also dropped us this
week. We went to check on him and he said he didn't want to make changes
either. He doesn't think it is fair that we have to live certain standards in
order to live with our Heavenly Father again. So he said he realized he was
doing this for the wrong reasons and he just wanted the Elders to be his
friend, so we told him that we would be here if he ever changed his mind. So
that was unfortunate, but it was definitely needed. Hopefully he finds his way
someday.
We had our investigator get his baptism
interview on Wednesday night. While we were at the church waiting for him, a
young man was skateboarding in the park. So, one of the YW leaders invited him
in to join for mutual. So he came in and we gave him a tour of the church and
taught him about the sacrament and who we are and such. Then our investigator
came out of his interview and started talking to him and they really bonded. We
had to leave to another lesson but apparently those two stayed and talked for
another half hour after we left! So even though our friend wasn’t a member yet,
he was already teaching others! Amazing.
We also went on exchanges this week.
I stayed in our area and Sister S joined me. Nothing to crazy happened but it
was fun to learn from her and to have a change up for a while. You need those
every once in a while. It was good!
So we taught the skateboarding boy
later in the week and he accepted the message of the Restoration instantly and
accepted the invitation to be baptized if he finds out this is true. He is an
18 boy that is about to graduate and as we finished the lesson, the YSA stake
was setting up to have a dance that night. So we introduced him to some people
there and he stayed for the dance! So that was really good. He won't be ours
because he is in the YSA and also not in our area, so we need to transfer him
to his missionaries.
Saturday we had our friend’s
baptism! It was really good. He was so excited. Not too many people were there
because not everyone has met him and also they didn't get a chance to announce
it in church since he decided on Monday. So there was also a scheduling problem.
Another ward showed up at the same time we were supposed to have our baptism.
They didn't go through the building coordinator to schedule the baptism and we
did. But they had a tantrum. So we got everything set up for them and then we
went into a different room and did our whole program before the ordinance and
then just went in the room when they were done to do the baptism. It didn't
make me too happy, but as long as he got baptized then I guess that is all that
matters. Just sad the way people act sometimes! But we were Christ like and
made sure it all worked out for them and gave them the room and such.
We also visited the old woman again.
This time, her two grandsons were there and they sat and talked to us about
being missionaries and more about Mormons and such. So we asked them if they
would come to church and the boys were kind of excited and said it would be
nice to see what it is like. So hopefully that works out! They couldn't this
week because they were going to see their mom, but maybe next week! We are
going to go by this week and teach them a little bit more. They said they like
to be open minded. I love those kinds of people :) So maybe they will pan out
well!
I also got to skype which was the
best. I really love that. It is so good to be able to explain things in person
and catch up with the family. Everyone is getting so big! As am I, only not the
way I want. I'm getting fatter instead of taller :(
Anyway we had a great Mother’s Day. Our
friend got confirmed and he was just beaming. He is so happy and he said he
loves everything about this church. We then had dinner at a member’s home. They
have two daughters on missions so they were excited and overly nice to us ;) We
had CAFE RIO....YUM. I ate sooo much and they gave us TONS of leftovers. Lucky
us :) They then took us scorpion hunting in their backyard. Scorpions glow
under a black light. So we used black light flashlights to find them. I found
two and Sis A found one. Then Brother C would catch them with pliers and light
them on fire! You can hear the air hiss out them as they burn. It's super
crazy. Those buggers better never sting me! Sister A is so scared and paranoid
about them. haha so we are going to buy us a black light flashlight so we can
hunt for them where we live.
This week was really good and we had
such an awesome miracle take place. The Lord truly blesses us to allow us to be
part of such a great and amazing work. It is my favorite. He could do this by
himself, but instead he lets us be changed by this as well. I love this gospel
and I love being a missionary. Happy Mother’s Day to all the great mothers out
there! :)
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