We were supposed to meet with Vanessa again on Tuesday, but when we got there with Sister Guymon, Jordan (Vanessa's daughter) said that she was at the hospital for kidney stones. Ouch. Man, first her mom died, then kidney stones. Lots of hard things in her life right now.
Devon Patterson is awesome. Sister Mat and I met with him Tuesday. We asked him why he didn't come to the baptism and conference, and he said that he got up to come home and get ready, but then God told him to go back to bed, so he did. We cleared that issue up and talked to him about Satan trying to keep us from what is right and good. He was then really sad that he missed the baptism and conference. Sister Mat then was awesome in pointing out the domino effect (BOM --> JS --> one true Church) and getting Devon to realize that he did believe the BOM is true and JS is a prophet. He said he thought it was crazy that the true church found him, and we talked a bit about following the Spirit as we decide where to go each day and how God is aware of him. Sister Esplin and I met with him on Thursday and talked about 2 Nephi 2 that we had left with him. He really liked it and learned a lot from it. He is probably the awesomest 19 year old kid I know right now. :) We finished up teaching him the Plan of Salvation. We were finishing up with the Spirit world and judgment, and then Devon asks "so, are there rankings in heaven?" What a golden question! We taught him about the 3 degrees of glory, and he told us that he always thought there were rankings in heaven. He sat there pondering for a minute and we asked him what he was thinking about. He said he was thinking that right now he was headed for the terrestrial kingdom and he was thinking what he needed to do to make it to the celestial kingdom. We talked with him about prayer, scripture study, going to church, and then he said "but that's not enough". He told us that he was going to have to make some changes in his life. Wow, he's really receptive to the Spirit! As I've always said, it's great when people realize on their own what they need to do! We were supposed to meet with him Saturday, but he wasn't there. That's the first appointment he's missed since we've given him sticky note reminders. Much to our surprise, he showed up at church Sunday! He told us he would come, but we doubted since he didn't show up Saturday. He got to see Paul's confirmation, and the lesson in gospel principles was on baptism, and the lesson in Priesthood was on scripture study (I think). He said he really enjoyed it. Naoto Suzuki is doing great with fellowshipping him, and convinced him to wear a tie next Sunday (they're going to have a contest to see who wears the best tie and Sister Marshall and I get to be the judges). We set up another appointment with him for Tuesday, and he and Naoto both laughed. Apparently when Devon introduced himself in Priesthood, he said "I'm Devon and the sisters visit me every other day." Oh Devon. :)
We met with Hector twice and read 1 Nephi 6-8 with him. He's still lacking the motivation to read on his own, but he said he's getting more interested in it. He was supposed to come to church Sunday, but he called Sunday morning and said he was sick. Kudos to him for calling this time.
Wednesday we met with Earl Thomas (83 year old retired pastor) and his brother Fred from Pennsylvania. He's been telling us since June that if Fred ever came he wanted us to meet him and talk with him. I wish we could've met with Fred without Earl, because Earl tends to talk a lot, and it was somewhat difficult to focus on what Fred's thoughts and feelings were. Earl brought up again and again that he sees that the BOM is a good spiritual book, but not comparable to the Bible. He even said that it was true. He doesn't see that the BOM being true means that what it claims to be (comparable to the Bible) is true also. Hrm. Fred seemed a bit more open-minded. We gave him a copy of the BOM, and we left Earl with a REST DVD for them to watch before Fred left. Another thing that Fred has going for him is that he's only in his 60s and not a retired pastor. :) It would be easier for him to change.
We met with George Cochran briefly. We tracted into him and he said he used to meet with elders a number of years ago. We gave him a BOM when we first met him. He told us when we sat down with him that he'd started reading in it, but hadn't gotten very far. We got to know him some and then started into the REST lesson, and then he invited himself to church! He was out of town this weekend, but said he'd like to come next week and he'd try to convince his wife to come with him. I love it when investigators commit themselves! It sure makes our job easier.
Sister Esplin and I dropped by to see if Ramone Rivera was home. We tracted into him last week and he seemed pretty interested in conference and said he'd try to come, and maybe he'd come to a Sunday service. He was home, and he invited us in to sit and talk with him and his wife. We didn't have much time, but we left them with a BOM that the Smith family had written their testimony in, and invited them to church. They said they're pretty content with their church just down the street, but Ramone said he'd be interested in attending some time. They picked their church because people came by to visit them and invited them to it. Sounds like it could be easy to get them to switch. :)
We met with Paul Wednesday night and discussed some things from conference. Paul also told us that his dad's fiance had done some research on our church after his baptism. And his brother Tim said he was impressed with how nice everyone was. Slowly, they'll come around. Paul mentioned that he recognized Satan working on him harder now, but he was determined to press forward. We talked about how having the Holy Ghost with him will give him greater strength to stay on the path. Paul was confirmed on Sunday. What another awesome experience. You could feel the Spirit and the love in the chapel so strong. It was so neat. After sacrament meeting, Paul took Devon aside and gave him some advice about seeking and finding the truth. What an awesome missionary! Paul also spoke at Why I Believe last night, and once again, it was amazing. His testimony is so strong! Oh I just love him!
We met with Bill again Thursday morning. He brought up some of his concerns about joining the church. He said that he worries about things that are down the road - the deeper doctrine stuff and being able to accept it. He said he realizes it's not an impediment to him having faith, but it is something he thinks about. We talked with him about the domino effect and how it all starts with the BOM being true, and then no matter how complex things get, it's either all or nothing. He liked that analogy, though he says he's stuck on the 2nd domino (Joseph Smith). He's read some criticisms of him, and though he realizes that just because people say stuff doesn't make it true, he still hasn't gained a testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. He also worries that he's not in a position to command his family. If he joins, he wants his family to follow, and he's afraid that he's given up some of that position to his wife. We talked with him about Lehi's dream and how his family followed him because he had tasted of the fruit and set that example. Bill really liked that. We also talked with him about how baptism is the gate and allows us to have the gift of the Holy Ghost which helps us to follow the rest of the path. We talked with him about the blessings that come from accepting the restored gospel, including blessings to his family. We told him we'd like to meet with his wife so that she can know what he's learning. He said he would talk to her this week. He's been afraid to talk to her, so hopefully he will follow through this week and be able to express his feelings. And hopefully her heart will be softened.
Roni & Michael. AGH. Michael had only read 30 pages since last week - only 2 days' worth if he's going to make the deadline. He is still caught up in the nit-picky details. He is truly a modern-day Pharisee in that he's missing the mark. BIG time. We talked about a few of Michael's questions, and then he went back to re-hash 2 Nephi 2. He can't put 2 and 2 together and see that we need opposition in life to grow and progress and that opposition couldn't have come without the Fall. He believes that Adam & Eve's role in the garden was to take care of the garden, and they were supposed to have kids so that we could all take care of the garden. Sounds like a boring life to me. I can't comprehend thinking that that was the purpose of life that God had in mind! He very much has a sense that this life that we have now is a Plan B because Adam and Eve screwed up. During the discussion, when he made the connection that we were saying that the Fall was a good thing, he flipped out and quoted the scripture that states "wo unto him that call evil good and good evil". He even said that this might be the last time we were invited into his home. Michael was very contentious, and Brother Rock was trying to get his point across, so I had to call a time out - a 10 second silence. What happened next was great. Roni told Michael that he could not talk but that Brother Rock could. :) A few minutes later, Michael was still trying to prove to us that the Fall was bad and I interrupted and bore firm testimony that though the decision had consequences because of disobeying, the end result is good. Michael tried to interrupt me and I told him I wasn't finished. We finished up the conversation with Matt. 21:23-27 and talking about real intent and God only answers us if we intend to act on it. I testified that I know what the Spirit has confirmed to me, and I am not about to deny that witness simply because my finite mind can't understand the details. Oh, what a frustrating lesson! I think Roni would be more open and receptive if Michael weren't there. Michael is so nit-picky though, and honestly, I don't think he wants to know the truth. I was nervous as I asked Roni about an appointment next week. She said they've got lots of things going on, so we should plan for two weeks. That'll be good to give things time to simmer. And hopefully they'll pray and develop some real intent. For a long time I've wanted to tell Michael to "sit down, shut up, and hold on", but I couldn't do that in a spirit of love. Now, even though I still get frustrated with him, I do feel a sense of love and concern for them. I believe that's why I was able to tell him, in essence, to shut up this time. I sure hope they can see the light some time.
We met with Norma again on Friday. We began teaching her the gospel of Jesus Christ. We talked a lot about what faith is and how it's so directly tied to actions. Norma understands the gospel, it's the authority she struggles with. She doesn't think that God would take His authority from the earth. As we talked about the Great Apostasy, she said she felt like there were still people with His authority, but they were in hiding so they didn't get killed. Hmm. I don't know how to proceed with her. Of course she needs to begin reading in the BOM and come to church. I'm not sure how to impress upon her mind that those things are absolutely essential.
We met with Charlotte (Devon's mom) on Saturday when Devon didn't show. She said she's been busy with finals so she hasn't been able to read from the BOM lately. We talked with her about the REST and we watched the REST DVD with her. She really liked it. We invited her to be baptized again, and she was hesitant. She said she's been baptized 3 or 4 times already and she's not just going to jump into it again without knowing that it's right. She feels that her other baptisms weren't right. We encouraged her that knowing for herself what was right is what we were there to help her with, but not to force her. She's so open-minded, it's great. Hopefully we can meet with her on a more consistent basis. However, we just found out that though she is now off of house arrest, she's not off of probation until June. :( Another Paul situation. Hopefully she follows the same path that he did.
Well, it's been a great week. Next week we'll find out about transfers. I keep dropping hints to Pres. that I want to stay here, but also that I'd like to train again, or be comps with Sister Latu or Sister Mat. It should be interesting to see what happens. Though, I'll only know a little bit by next email, the full details won't come until the Wednesday after.
Take care all! Immerse yourself in the gospel because it's great!
sister smurf
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