Hello family and friends!
What a wonderful week it has been to
serve the Lord in Nephi, Utah. This week started with quite a surprise. The
temperature dropped and snow appeared from the sky. It was a wake up call for
me as to how cold it will probably get this winter. I am glad that I have a
sweater, hat, coat, and ear muffs. All of which came in handy this week on the
days that we had to ride bikes in the cold. It has warmed up since but
residents here in Nephi have promised me that it only gets colder from here. I
will tell you the tale of my week by investigator. However I will preface with
a quick background. The last couple transfers in this area have been quite fruitless
when it comes to teaching. As the week started we decided to follow the counsel
of our mission president by giving more service. Wherever we could and as much
as we could. We found opportunities weeding, moving, and my favorite telling
ghost stories for a library fund-raising event (apparently Nephi is haunted).
We have seen blessing in the lives of our new investigators and increased trust
from the members as we heeded our mission president's counsel to serve.
I will start with Lewis. Lewis is a 12
year old who really loves football. He likes having us over (when we aren't
boring) but has not been to church for months. When we asked what was holding
him back he said "I can't miss the Jets game, I cannot miss watching Geno
Smith throw deep bombs". It took all I could muster to hold back my
laughter. I feel that same way sometimes if the Seahawks are playing. We told
him that we could figure out how to record it for him. What really helped him
was in one of our lessons we took him to the church for a tour. So that he
could see where he would go and the places he would learn. It was amazing as we
sat in the chapel, the spirit was so strong. He bore pure testimony of Christ
and an experience where his mother and sister died. I was so touched by the
most simple and sincere words that came out of his mouth. Although his prayers
are filled with requests for the Jets to beat the Ravens, the cowboys to lose,
and the ability to beat level 3 of lego star wars. He is sincere in his
desires.
Andrew is kind of an eternal
investigator that has been making a lot of progress this week. He watched most
sessions of General conference and I can see his sincere desire to learn grow
every time we meet. He goes to school at UVU and serves tours of active duty in Afghanistan
and is a quite nerdy and smart guy. I love talking to him because he is so open
and honest about everything especially his concerns or worries. He has great
support from his wife and mother in law who are both members of the
church.
We found some new investigators that I
don't know a lot about but I will tell you what I know for future reference. Justin
and Billy (Billy is mentally handicapped his desire to be baptized is so great
Justin his his handler and is learning more about church because he has to go
with Billy every Sunday).
While attempting to volunteer at the
retirement home this week. We saw a man and his wife walking out just as we
were about to get in our car. The man who was holding a painting in his hand
recognized us as missionaries and we got talking. We came to find out that he
was Del Parson. I recognized the name immediately. He does so many church
paintings! I asked for a photo with him and got him to sign my journal. I guess
you meet famous Mormons in Utah once in a while. We also met this sister of the
lead singer for the killers I did not know that he was Mormon. Anyways it was a
great week. I love all of you. I leave you with my testimony that the Lord
helps us through hard times. That no matter what we go through is there and
blesses us when we ask him and humble ourselves before him. Ether 12:27 says it
better than I can "27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their
weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is
sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble
themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become
strong unto them."
I love and pray for you all
Elder Christensen
No comments:
Post a Comment