This week we had 2 exchanges. I was able to go with Elder
Eastmond and Elder Burke. I've been on an exchange with Elder Eastmond
before and I've been companions with Elder Burke. They are both
powerhouses. They really understand their purposes as missionaries. I
often wonder to myself... why am I the one "training" these
missionaries when all that is really happening is they are training me!
Haha! We found 15 New investigators and set every single one of them with
a baptismal date!
Members often wonder why missionaries would invite someone
to be baptized on the very first visit... well, that is the goal we are there
to help them achieve...If we don't know what we are striving to reach... then
we will never reach it! I am so thankful for Preach My Gospel and how it
teaches me how I can become an effective tool in Heavenly Fathers Hands!
On my Exchange with Elder Burke right as we were getting out
of the car I spotted a man with a red hat and a back pack a ways down the road
heading to his apartment. I had the strongest feeling to run him
down! We booked it over there and couldn't find him so knocked on a
couple of doors. No luck. We were just about to leave when a woman came
up the aparment stairs with a laundry basket. She immediately recognized
me! Elder Matheny and I had helped her and her husband with service about
6 months ago. We had completely lost contact with them. She let us
in... and there stood the man with a red hat and a back pack! We were
able to sit down and share a very powerful restoration lesson in which the emphasis
was on the Atonement. Often times we don't emphasis the atonement but
rather the priesthood or the book of mormon. The man's name is J**J** He
expressed several things that he has done that he was beating himself up
for. He said the only thing that had helped him at all with his problems
was the Atonement. He understood that through the priesthood and a living
prophet on the earth today he could have FULL access to the blessings and
healing power that Christ offers. We are so lucky to know and understand
the message of the Restoration. It was amazing to be a part of. Oddly
enough too... He had randomly popped into my head one night as I was falling
asleep and I thought to myself how cool it would be to run into him again.
Thank goodness we have a God of Miracles:)
M** and J** M** are going to be baptized this coming
Saturday. Both of them have been so much fun to teach! When someone
is ready to hear the Gospel... it almost seems as though it takes no effort on
our part as missionaries! They are like sponges... they soak it all up on their
own!
We saw a miracle with S**. S** is the one who
knows the bible better than I probably ever will. She has been
continuously praying for the past 3 weeks about whether or not she needs to be
baptized. She has been baptized in a christian church and was quite set
on that being "good enough for her." Well, apparently the
spirit gave her what she would call a "God Smack." We went over
for a lesson and she just had this grin on her face that she couldn't hold
back... As we were sitting down she practically blurted out that she received
her answer! The truth has been revealed to her through earnest study and
prayer. Once an answer is given through the spirit... no one can take that
away from you. We taught her the Word of Wisdom that night and she gave
us her pack of cigarettes.
It was pretty funny... We forgot to schedule a time with her
as we left that night in a hurry to get to another lesson.... so the first
thing she said to me when I saw her the next morning at church was "HEY!
you think you can get away without scheduling an appointment with me!"
We just love S**:)
D&C 42 6-8
6 And
ye shall go forth in the power of my Spirit, preaching my gospel, atwo by two, in
my name, lifting up your voices as with the sound of a btrump,
declaring my word like unto angels of God.7 And ye shall go forth baptizing with water, saying: Repent ye, repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 And from this place ye shall go forth into the regions westward; and inasmuch as ye shall find them that will receive you ye shall abuild up my church in every region—
Shout out to my
mommy. Recover quick! Remember when I was younger and you dropped me off
at nana's and came back after an eye surgery! I thought for sure you were a
whole other person with that eye patch on and that you were coming to kid nap
me! haha
You will be in
my prayers... (even though you already are... every night!)
Elder Crandall the Vandal
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