So this last week has been one of miracles. We had a new investigator that we taught 3 times in 2 days. His name is S. and he lives in this retirement home just down the street. I had met him some weeks earlier on an exchange with that missionary that taught me the importance of not being a robot of intensity.
In the first lesson he was really quiet and reserved, but he asked good
questions. He says that he's been keeping track of "us" (Mormons) for a long
time and that he's seen our church with the gold dome in Oakland California. At
the end he thanked us and told us that we had lifted him up. In the second
lesson we took him on a church tour and retaught about Joseph Smith and the
Restoration. The spirit was so strong when he said that he believed that
Joseph Smith was a prophet that we committed him to a baptism date right then
and there. We then took him to the temple visitors center later that night with
B. We showed him about the temples and showed him that the church with the
gold dome was actually a temple. We also watched a movie in the visitor's center
about families that he said was "exciting!" When we went into the Temple Atrium
(which is a very good tool to use in an investigator's conversion) he said that
he felt "peaceful... and happy... and I don't know why." I testified to him that
that was the holy ghost and that after he's baptized he can feel like that
whenever he wants. He also said to Elder Belo later that the gout in his knee
which hurts 24/7 went away when he went to the temple. The Spirit works wonders.
B. of course was going crazy. He was overwhelmed with the amount of the
spirit that was there. He's going to be ordained next week.
B.'s baptism went well. He chose me to baptize him because he told me
that I was the "window to his happiness and conversion." It was a beautiful
experience, but that's only the beginning of his journey on his path beck to
Heavenly Father. He's a great kid and is always anxious to learn more about God
in spite of what may be going on around him.
So the F. family that I've been meeting with that I thought may be
related to daddy's old roommate. Well buckle up, this is crazy. We went to their
house this Sunday. He's totally open and welcoming of us, in fact he and his
wife invited us over for dinner on the 4th. He's less active and his wife isn't
a member. They have two kids named C. and C. They may not be members,
but I feel the spirit more in their home than in some of our member's homes.
They are honestly living all of the commandments and build upon the rock of our
redeemer. (They teach world history with a Biblical stance to their homeschooled
children, and the kids can honestly tell us the entire order of what happens in
the Bible. It's crazy. I can't do that!) We got to talking and J. pulled out a
picture while he was telling me about his crazy story about his family history
and how that relates to his brother-in-law. The picture he pulled out was a
wedding picture. Instantly I recognized the groom.
"wait, you know this guy?!" I asked
"Yeah, that's my brother, B." he said
"He was one of my ballroom teachers at BYU!"
"Oh, so do you know his wife?"
"Totally!"
"What's more than that, my sister catered that wedding! Surefire Pizza is
my sister's business!"
"No way! Oh my gosh, that food was so good!"
So Melissa, thanks for helping me do missionary work through Surefire
Pizza. You have no idea how people respond to that dance video out here.
Instantly I started to see family resemblances. It was crazy. I know that I
felt a reason for me to go to his place when I was looking through the ward
list. I'm pretty sure he still has a testimony. I know that we are there for a
reason. Hopefully we can start teaching the wife sometime soon.
Other than that I've been learning a lot about the importance of working
through things with your companion and not in spite or around things. It really
helps you to grow closer and you feel a connection that I honestly can't
describe in any other way except rewarding, and special.
I love you all. I've got to go, but I'll end with this. This is but a
small moment in our lives as eternal beings. Your burdens can and will be
lightened if you search and ponder the scriptures, pray for forgiveness or help,
and then listen, waiting to act on the feelings and knowledge that the Holy Ghost
will give unto you. You specifically are a special soul. You have a very
specific job or role that Heavenly Father wants you to perform in this world.
Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you.
Elder Lloyd :)
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