Hard to Explain

So This last week is a little harder to explain. Either the work is dying or it's growing. I can't really tell. We don't have too many people that we're teaching consistently but the miracles never seem to cease.

J. came to church again yesterday and was much more awake and happy for it. Both of his kids were there and his 12 year old son may or may not have been interviewed for the Aaronic priesthood. Either way, it's a huge stepping stone for J. because for the next 10 weeks he's taking a CNA course that goes from 8AM-4PM every Saturday and Sunday, and he's also starting school again Tues-Thurs. He lost his job, but he's never been happier because it means he can get unemplorment and focus all his work into becoming a nurse as fast as possible. I love this family. B., his son, has been wanting to go to scouts for forever, he's just always wanted his dad to take him. B. is always the one that's asking for a spiritual message. I'm not sure why, but I'm pretty sure that he sees the difference in his dad when we teach each lesson. We've been going over there a lot more in the last two weeks. Jason needs the friendship and the support. He makes it way easy too. We can always find an excuse to go over to his place because we're teaching his next door neighbor, or at least trying to. We're going to go play rugby with the whole family later today. Rugby is the Portland mission sport for sure.

Other than that we moved another investigator across the river into another set of elder's area. She's going there so that she can get her kids back. She's a recovering alcoholic and smoker. It's a way good thing. I didn't know her very well though. She was probably our most solid investigator despite the fact that she just got out of jail. ha ha.

OOOOOOH MY GOSH I can't believe I almost forgot. Elder Udy found this less active tracting with Elder Manwill before I got transferred here. She's AMAZING! she loves having spiritual conversations and she's HUGE into knowing whether or not the things that are being discussed are truth instantaneously just by the way she feels (the Spirit).She always says correct principles but she just uses different words. Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that Buddhists from China pilgrimage to her house all the time? They think she's Buddha, but she's always asks "Divine" (God) if she should do things. She asked if she should let them call her Buddha and she says that "Divine" says not to. She doesn't have the authority to be in that role, she says. She is crazy, but she loves it when we come by. we're going to ask her if we can teach her the lessons when she comes back from a month vacation to Arizona. She said that she really wants to watch conference though! 

 

I've been learning a lot this last week about Charity and Peacemakers and also the worth of souls. God wants EVERYONE to come unto Him, not just people of the faith and not just people that have no idea that He is. I know that we can be the answers to a father's years of prayers as servants of the Lord, but you don't have to be a missionary to be a servant of the Lord. I know that the Spirit will ALWAYS be with you if you are with you, and will not only confound the wisdom of the wise, but also your own wisdom if you listen to him earnestly. I also have been learning a lot about how our conscious effort in agency makes all the difference in our lives. We are not supposed to be victims of our circumstances, only reflecting the light that is given to us, but like the sun we are to use our agency to create our own light and become effulgent. That light will emanate from you and inspire others to action.  This gospel as given in 3 Nephi 11 and 2 Nephi 31, if lived correctly will make you happier than any other course of action you could ever take.

And I am happy!