The MIRACLE of the
transfer happened this week. We decided to go to a park. Lots of people are at
parks and there are no doors to close on us, so it's a perfect scenario. We
pulled into the park. It was a nice Tuesday, people were outside playing, at
the duck pond, there was even a guy juggling bar-tending cups and bottles. We
pulled in and started talking to a few people. No one really was receptive. we
did give out one book of mormon to a mother that lives on the army base, but
others weren't really talking. We talked to each other and decided we would see
if the bar tender guy was still there. He was. We walked up to him and I
started talking. He had headphones in so he took them out. "What are you
juggling" we asked, "Oh, it's stuff for bar-tending, but I don't
drink", "neither do we, we're--" "you're missionaries! I’ve
been meaning to talk to you." Turns out he's been dating a Mormon girl and
been going to church for 6 months with her. But he has wanted to learn more,
"but I don't know where to start, do I just start by reading the book of
mormon or..." "you can start by sitting down right now and
having a lesson with us." "ok!" so we sat down and taught him
the restoration. As soon as he said he was dating a mormon, she Higgins and I
both thought of a girl we meet 3 weeks ago on p-day. We were printing pictures
at CVS and a worker helped us. She said she was in 3rd ward. We asked her if
there was anyone she knew we could teach, "well, my boyfriend’s not
mormon, and he's been going to church with me for a while, but I don’t want to
pressure him." So we didn't get his information. Sis Higgins asked him
where his girlfriend works at, "CVS" he said. WE both couldn't
contain ourselves. We explained to him we had met her.
It is moments like this that make me so keenly aware of god's hand in our
lives. We all three knew at that moment we were meant to cross paths. we met
the next day in the park and had another lesson. We taught the plan of
salvation and answered some questions he had in his notebook about our church.
Questions ranged from, what is a covenant to can I chew gum at church?. two
days later we got a text saying the third lesson will be shorter. "I have
something I need to tell you in person" Oh no. He had explained to us
previously that he and his girlfriend were on a break, and he expressed to us Friday
his concern that he was learned and moving forward for the wrong reasons. we
were planning that day to pass him to the Young Single adult elders, because
that is where he would get the most fellowship. He said he didn't want to meet
anymore and wait until this break with his girlfriend was over. We listened and
asked questions and were able to resolve many of his concerns. we told him he
should continue to go to church, because that is where he will find the peace
he is looking for. we gave him the elder’s phone number and we bore our
testimonies throughout to him. I was bitter sweet to shake his hand goodbye. I
knew that I probably won't ever see him again. He came in and out of our life
in 4 days., but I will never forget him. We even told him, he is soooo prepared
to hear the gospel. we know this is what god wants for him, He's going to
continue to read the book of Mormon. And I hope he finds solace.
Saturday
was a great day. We had no appointments but were determined to talk to a lot of
people. and we did many thanked us for coming by and we got 2 new investigators
and we would have had another one, but we passed her off to the YSA elders. One
girl is 16 and we will be having the laurel president and a counselor going
over this week to say hi to her. the members are very helpful in the missionary
work. We see many miracles, but are having a hard time getting consistent
investigators that progress. Many we've seen once and then weren’t at the follow
up appointment. But I see the hand of the lord guiding us nonetheless!!!
We had a referral we
tried seeing a few times but he was never home. we were at an intersection and I
felt like we should go try him. Turning left would have kept us on our schedule
and where we had planned to go, turning right would take us to the referral, Richards’s
house, I had prayed for faith, so I said to myself, "well, this is an
opportunity to exercise it." And so we went straight. turned onto Richards
street and saw a man working on a car that fit the description we had of
Richard. He was outside!!! God knew it and he let us meet him. He talked to us
for a bit, but was content with his own faith. We tried to give him a book of
Mormon and he wouldn't take it. but I left feeling good because good had given
us a prompting and we heeded it. We bore our testimony as sincerely and boldly
as we could, and that was that. He DID say we were an answer to his prayers,
coming by to see him that day. It amazes me that after all God for us in our
lives some people still don’t follow the path he's laid before us. But I am not
discouraged. Hopefully one day he will be ready to receive this message.
I am learning a lot
about humility. I am glad to be studying it. I feel as though I can improve
greatly in that aspect. I should be helping sister higgins out of love, not out
of responsibility for being her senior companion. and I think I am improving.
She is very charitable and loving and has helped me a lot this last week.
While being sick I've read
a lot in the book of mormon. I have always loved the books of mosiah and alma,
and even more so reading them here on my mission. There are so many wonderful
stories we can learn from. I particularly liked the one when ammon and king
limoni and the queen and servants have all fallen to the earth. a lamanitish
woman who had been converted secretly many years before runs out to tell the
city, hoping it will bring them all to the knowledge of god. They come and
instead of marveling start arguing with each other. It moves her to tears. One
man tried to kill ammon, but is struck down dead. Now everyone is afraid to
touch ANY of them. But in her sorrow this woman exercises faith and goes toward
the queen in hopes to pick her up, and as she touches the queen’s hand she
rises. Nothing stopped this woman, not the arguing, not a man falling dead. SHE
KNEW that this situation occurred to shoe forth the power of god-and it did. I
love that story.
Truth is from God. He
illuminates the way. When it seems dark, we need to open the curtains to let
him shine more in our lives.
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