Week One

September 11, 2012     So this last week feels like forever long and I've been writing hand letters so I forget who I've been telling what. But Last week after I emailed you I had the chance to go tracting for an hour and fifteen minutes. It was my first time doing it for real! It was interesting. there were some college kids here in St Johns that are very godless, which is really ironic because PU ha ha I mean UP (University of Portland) is a Catholic school and is in our area. When we walked up to these one kids gate I said that we were sharing a message of Jesus Christ and his restored gospel on the earth. To which one of them said "do you honestly believe that." To which I wanted to say "More than I believe that grass is green and the sky is blue. More than I believe that Picasso was a painter, More than I believe that if I eat enough I'll get full. More than I believe that you are here in front of me." but instead all that came out was a very confident "Yes, I do." To which he responded "I can't believe how dumb you are. If you haven't figured it out by now, I have no hope for you. Get out of here," I felt so sad that he was so resistant to the words of God. I felt so sad that he was too arrogant to think that maybe he didn't know the fullness of information in the world. Be a college kid, I thought maybe he'd have that realization. But maybe down the road his heart will be softened and he will be humbled and find Christ through faith and repentance. We'll see. We found several lesbian couples, a nice lady that we talked to for a while that had lots of Mormon friends but doesn't think religion is for her, and last but definitely not least, J..  J. is a college kid working at UP in the cafeteria. Born and raised in the Catholic church and Catholic schools but no longer goes to church because he doesn't really agree with it all/ how the church was run on Sundays. We knocked on the door and he just said "it's open." We walked in hesitantly half expecting to get sent out again, but then he invited us in. He asked us if we went to church on Sundays to which I said "We do. I didn't always, but I'm very glad that I do now." he asked me why that was and I bore my testimony of how I've felt of my Savior's love, and how going to church each week is a reminder and a way to come closer to him. Elder Belo and I taught him the first lesson. Gave him a book of Mormon and asked him to pray about it and set up a return appointment for a few days later. He even gave the CLOSING PRAYER! The only thing we failed to do was ask him if he would be baptized, but we felt like we hadn't covered prophets well enough to extend that invitation. considering we did all that in 12 minutes I was really happy! He was a very intellectual and knowledgable person in the Bible and compared Joseph's first vision to the time Christ apeared to Moses. He's one smart cookie. He seemed really open. But then the return appointment fell through because his brother made a surprise visit the night before and was staying for the weekend. We're going to drop by his place tomorrow at the same time we saw him last week in hopes that we can teach him again. That same day we met with girl that came from above. And by above I mean Alaska. We met with her knowing that she had been meeting with the missionaries up there and reviewed the baptismal interview questions. We retaught the word of wisdom to her and then I extended the baptism invitation. I got to "Will you follow the example of Jesus..." when she cried out "YES!" I finished the question and then she said yes again beaming more proudly than a toddler with a brand new toy. when I said september 22nd she again profoundly said yes! You could feel the spirit in the room and that she glorified God. She is VERY ready for baptism. So it was really hot for the first few days, but on Saturday it rained for like five seconds and thundered a ton, and then starting yesterday, I've had to wear a sweater. It's cold here! so much for not having to bring a winter coat! Anyway, we've got another investigator named L. He's a 42 year old marine looking for work. He's broke. Apparently they've had a hard time setting a batismal date for him but last time I met with him before I could say september 22nd he said "DECEMBER! It just came to me." yeah... we'll work with him on that one. We think that he is slightly questioning something but we think that when he comes to M.'s baptism on the 22nd he'll want to push up his own date of his own accord. He's really been worried about the whole money thing. He's flat broke, but the next time I saw him on saturday he said, the day after you guys came the producers of the show "Grimm" came up to me and my roommate and offered us $4000 if they could use our house for their show!" L. has really been praying about all this. I hope he's seeing the hand of the Lord in all of this and not just us as missionaries. Just so you know St Johns is a very bi polar city. Either people are very religious and hate mormons, or they are athiest/wicked and hate Mormons. So for the most part it's  lose-lose situation. I've had people dirve by cussing us out, and I've also felt the power of the devil in a man drain my spirit and make me feel very unsecure and unsafe. But in my studies I found the promise made to all believers in 2 Nephi 6:17 "But thus saith the Lord: Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for the Mighty God shall deliver his covenant people. FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD: I WILL CONTEND WITH  THEM THAT CONDENDETH WITH THEE--" My faith is whole, and I am made secure in that promise. I testify that my Lord Jesus Christ lives and that he will come to this earth once again. I know that he will redeem my soul if I stay close to him. I know that through him ALL things are possible. And I KNOW that WITH him, the success in this area is going to start to pick up. They haven't seen a baptism in this area in 9 months. That changes this transfer multiple times. I have been promised that by the Lord, and I can't wait to tell you all about it! I'll have to send more pictures next week. I'm out of time!