Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Mon 4/7/2014 1:48 PM


This last week has been a bit interesting =D.  We had a lot of appointments where we were able to continue to help people prep for the amazing conference we had.  Our Ward Mission Leader is setting up appointments for us left and right and is so dedicated to his calling.  It is a huge blessing.  He will text us every day and let us know that he is there for us and if we need ANYTHING, he and his wife want to help.  They are great!
 
On Thursday I got a call from Elder Cole asking me if I would be his companion up in Lynnefield for a few days.  His companion - Elder Bushnell (the new one), just got transferred out, so that left us short one Zone Leader.  Elder Tate will be our new one with Elder Cole, but is currently doing some pretty important stuff in his area, so that means I will be here in Lynnefield until he gets here.  It is great and weird being in an English area, but I love it.  It has been a great opportunity to learn how I can become a more effective District Leader and get all the supplies I need as well.  I say Lynnefield, but our area is actually Lynnefield and Salem, so it has definitely been a little interesting.  I got to meet their investigator, Mary, who is a older Catholic lady who is amazing.  She is studying the scriptures so much and is taking some awesome notes! The only issue is she is a die hard Catholic and doesn't really want to change.  She has an assignment in nursery every Sunday that she loves to do.  She is a member of the Church of Latter- Day Saints and doesn't even realize it.... lol!
 
Elder Cole and I got a media referral that we went and contacted.  It was quite interesting.  We got to the address and as we were running up to the door the dad ran into us.  We started to talk to him and let him know why we where there and so he ran inside and got his son.  He is 14 and when he came out was incredibly scared not knowing what was going on, so we started to talk to them a little bit about how we receive referrals when people go online and fill out information.  Well, the dad was very nice, not interested, but polite.  We gave them a card and then took off.  Well as we got to the van I felt horrible.  I realized I didn't bear my testimony to him at all.  Out of practice I guess.  Well, we saw his truck go by and I felt so horrible after feeling it was over.  On Sunday during General Conference this man kept coming to mind. After the session was over I told Elder Cole that we needed to go back.  I had no idea why, but I knew that the Spirit was telling me that we needed to, so we went back; very nervously and having no idea what to expect or what to say.  We saw his son playing basketball, and as we walked up and he saw us he started to get really nervous again.  We asked him if we could talk to his dad (the look on his face was priceless).  Well, the dad came out and we said something along the lines of sorry to bother you again, as the dad said well, you guys are bothering me again.  I have no idea what transpired after that.  I opened my mouth and shared with him why we came back and he shot us down.  It was really interesting because after that he started to walk us down his driveway to get us off his property, but the Lord started to soften his heart.  He started to ask a lot of questions, give us pointers how we can be more successful and many many more things.  We had a great visit with him.  We talked at the end of his driveway for 30-40 minutes and I looked him straight in the eyes and shared with him my testimony as I gave him a Book of Mormon.  I have no idea why we went back or what will happen.  This much I do know, I had received a prompting to go back and we did go back.  As a result of us opening our mouths, the Lord filled them in his own way.  Because of the way the Lord filled our mouths, it opened an opportunity to talk to him longer and as we did I saw him as a member of the church working with the missionaries as a ward mission leader and doing a lot of good.  It was a cool little experience.  Afterward, because of following that prompting, a great peace and gratitude flooded my heart.  I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ who will not leave us alone.  Rather, if we but turn to them, recognizing our dependence on them, truly they will be there helping us along.
 
I know that this church is true.  That Christ is at the head of it and that he speaks to us today through Thomas S. Monson and the other church leaders. I know if we but ask what he will have us do and then go and do it, we will receive a peace and joy that we never before thought was possible.  I leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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