Sorry, this is going to be a short Email. We taught Craig and his family his week. Craig is a super nice guy. He always thanks us graciously for coming over, and he loves to read he Book of Mormon. On thing is he needs to get to church again! He lives with his cousins, justin and Semir, and they're kind, too. They love to debate and argue about scriptures in the Bible. We taught them about why God gives us challenges and what Jesus Christ can do for all of us. We shared Ether 12:27, and they loved it.
David and Shirley came to church, and they had a good time. Shirley is moving and she needs our he,p this Saturday. I haven't moved so many people my entire mission! I don't know what it is about this area, but everybody moves. :p
This week was pretty great! Not much happened at first, but things started to pick up on the weekend. We were fortunate to have Craig and David come to church! The ward accepted them with open arms and 2-3 families invited them to their homes for a Memorial day BBQ.
Earlier this week, Elder Wagner and I tried an investigator that we didn't have contact with for quite a while. They finally answered, and they let us inside! We caught up with them, and tried to get a feel of how interested they still are in investigatating the church. Their response was lukewarm, so we fired 'em up with the Spirit. We taught and testified of the importance of coming to church and helped the family recognize the Spirit. It was so cool to ask the mother how she feels when we enter her home. She said, "it's so good, it just feels like peace. Will you please go into my room so it can be in there, too?"
I was touched by that comment - righteous living allows the Spirit to emnate from your soul, which illuminates your countenance and spreads peace to humble hearts. I have a sincere testimony of that. by the end of our lesson, she and her family were more committed to come to church.
Unfortunately, Satan got in the way and invited them not to come to church right before our sacrament meeting began. Darnit!
You'll never guess who I saw this week. Elder Ballard! And Elder Justin Larson!!!!!!!!
I'm not even pulling a fib right now.
(Quick interjectory story: One of our crazy investigators, Tommy English (isn't that just an awesome name?) sends us the funniest texts. One day, he told us "nap time, for Tom... next message: Nah, I just fibbled! What's up, fellas?" It was hilarious. He's like a 60 year-old-ladies man who loves God).
The Baltimore Maryland, Washington D.C. North, and Washington D.C. South missions conglomorated into one huge tri-mission conference (which almost never happens). It was so good! We took a picture together, and I'll have Elder Larson send it :). I was so happy to see him, it's been so long. Apparently, he doesn't have Faceobok or Ipads. He was very jealous of our technology. I showed off all of my newly learned Ipad skills. He was impressed, I'm sure. Elder Ballard gave a fantastic address - I was impressed so deeply by the Spirit of ways I can improve my missionary work. One of the things that I felt impressed was to make sure that my studies are focused on the first 4 lessons in Preach My Gospel. I need to know those lessons like the back of my hand. Our mission president has said that we need to memorize the scriptures in the lessons. Every other transfer (12 weeks - ish) we have a quizzie. This Wednesday we're having a quiz on the Gospel of Jesus Christ scriptures. Ooh, boy!
I was also given a hug by a crazy old Pakistan-ian woman. It was so awkward! Every time we bike past her house, I make an extra effort to bike faster. She feeds cigarettes to squirrels. She says, "God doesn't want me to smoke. But Jesus does!" She wants a copy of the Book of Mormon in Arabic to give to her friend, but she says she always loses it. it's pretty funny :).
Anyway, we had a new investigator come to church! I honestly didn't think he was going to show up. But he seems really sincere, and is full of real intent. I'm excited to continue to teach him.
Elder Wagner and I are doing really well - since we're kind of on the same level of obedience/hard work, we don't have to worry about correcting big problems/weaknesses in our companionship. Right now, we're getting used to each other's strengths and weaknesses, and how we can better mold those together so we can become as one.
One of our new investigators, David came to church. To be honest, I didn't htink he would come. When we first met him, he seemed a little non-committal and not interested. We met him right a second time right before church, and he said he'd come for sure! We gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon, and taught him the Restoration.
When he came to church, the whole ward absorbed him - it was awesome. I'm confident that he felt the Spirit time and time again as each ward member who introduced themselves gave him a handshake, a smile, and their phone number. awesome.
The Gospel is true. People are converted when they receive a witness that it's true from the Holy Ghost. People feel the Gospel is true before they know it is true. I can guarantee that most people investigate/continue investigating/are baptized/stay active in the church because of the way they feel. Christlike like love is one of the greatest needs on this earth.
This week was awesome! Elder Wagner and I are working hard, and we're seeing the fruits from it. Our philippino family came to church again. They said they could only stay for the first hour, but their kids wanted to stay so badly that they came to Sunday school, too. We tried to put their family on date for baptism (again). Last Friday was the closest we got - we pulled up the calendar on our iPads and told Lino to choose a date when he can be baptized. He sat there and thought over it, then he said he'd get back to us on it. He said he wanted to pray about it on his own.
We did a lot of tracting this week - we found a couple of promising people to teach. We knocked into one grumpy man who threatened to call the cops on us. He accused us of religiously soliciting. I wanted to say, "do it!" There's nothing the authorities could've done. But instead we told him there's no need for such extreme measures and that we would leave. As we left, I said, "we'll see you around!" He replied, "Hopefully not!"
Elder Wagner and I had a good laugh about it afterward. :)
That event reminded me of stories of prophets in the scriptures who were accused, beaten, mocked, spat upon, and reviled. Although I haven't faced even a sliver of what they have, I wonder why some people react negatively to the gospel. I read this morning in Alma chapter... 8 or 9. Maybe 10. That people who soften their hearts will greater understand the mysteries of God, until they understand him fully. Those who harden their hearts will decrease in knowledge and testimony of Him.
I know that God will bless and prepare all of His children who soften their hearts for him.