Date
August 21, 2017
Area
Dayton
Companion
Elder Jesse Prueitt
Week Six: We'll bring the World His Truth
Day of Service
Well we did a lot of service today. We cleaned up the playground that had trash everywhere in the "projects". That took 2 hours. We then taught a lesson to our investigator Casey. He is probably one of the hardest investigators to teach but knows we have the truth. He just can't focus for very long because his kids just wont leave him alone. We then went and hacked a bunch of weeds for a family in our branch. We did it for 2 hours until the weed wacker died. So we then went in and ate a vegan dinner. They were vegans and it was ok. Not my favorite but it was ok.
Zone Conference and Rachel Thurman
We had a great Zone Conference. We talked a lot on obedience and staying diligent. President Pickett called everyone to recommit and reflect on those feelings of opening your mission call. To change the culture in the Knoxville Tennessee mission. Apparently our mission is one of the lowest baptizing missions in the south. How we are a struggling mission. He challenged us to become a White Handbook Mission. To get to work. There was definitely an emphasis on being obedient. Who will change we will see. It has definitely helped Elder Prueitt and I get a lot done this week.
So after Zone Conference we went straight to our church building to do weekly planning. We got a lot scheduled and had a couple of busy days ahead of us. We had gotten some new refferals and we were excited in general. We went over companionship and individual goals. We talked some more and decided to go back to the apartment and try contacting people with some calls.
As we were pulling out of the parking lot I see this lady sitting on this hill by our church in our parking lot. I feel prompted to talk to her and immediately I ask to stop to go talk to her.
We get out and we start talking to this lady. She was a GOLDEN investigator. We talked to her and she told us about how she had gotten to know God. She talked about how her house had been burned down twice in the past 5 years due to electrical issues. How she became humble and gained her relationship with God. After her second fire she lost everything. She didn't have a home or anywhere to go. How she got closer to God in the woods because she relied on him for everything. She then shared her frustrations about other churches. How they bashed each other to the point she couldn't know which church was right without any uncertainty. Then she shared how all of the churches didn't practice what they preached. How on Sunday they acted all righteous but would then go back to their old lives the next and forget about God for the rest of the week. They didn't do service for those in need. Including her preacher friends. The preachers would turn her away when she asked for help to get a new Social Security Card.
We then taught her how our church is a church ran entirely through service. Nobody was getting money for the service. Talked about how we are led by a living Prophet. How our church is organized. Talked about Joseph Smith. We taught her the restoration and shared our testimonies of how we knew the Book of Mormon was a true book. How living by its principles can bring a person closer to God then any other book. She could feel the Holy Ghost testify to her that our message was true and told us, "I have faith that what you are telling me is true." She was super excited. Sadly she wasn't in our area but she is now meeting with missionaries in her area.
New Investigator Family
We met the Smiths. They have 7 kids all under 12 (4 adopted). They are GOLDEN. Very open and really want to learn more. Really enjoy the Plan of Salvation. Can't wait to see where it goes. We met them by referral and they said they were golden investigators.
Chris Miller
We had a lesson with Chris Miller. He is our solid progressing investigator. We taught him the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We followed the spirit on the lesson and went in a different format then planned. We followed the prompting we received and used a ton of scriptures with personal experiences. The Spirit was touching all of us as our eyes watered up talking about Jesus Christ and The Holy Ghost. Finally the Spirit prompted me to commit him to baptism on September 16. As he accepted I felt an overwhelming joy. One of the best lessons I've ever been in. Tears were rolling down my face as I knew the importance of this commitment.
Though this is shorter then the others, this was a great experience.
Fun fact (we later learned was his wife's birthday. She's member)
Less-active/Excommunicated member
We also visited with our branch mission leader a less active who has been excommunicated from the church but we are trying to bring back. He has really struggled in life as he hasn't been doing well. He feels like a failure and can't find answers to his questions. He has really struggled on knowing what to do with work. As we talked he opened up about his hard feelings with the Church. How he doesn't think it was right he was treated the way he was by the church. How he felt betrayed and the struggles he has had forgiving. He shared how he really needs this guidance and wants to stop feeling like a failure.
We started with prayer as we tagged teamed our way through prayer. How he needed to change his prayers to something more direct. We then eventually got to coming to church and keeping his commandments. We talked a lot about forgiveness and how members in the church are NOT perfect. However, the church IS PERFECT. We then promised him that he would find an answer and gain the guidance he has been looking for. When we would beat around it we would get frustrated. He REALLY didn't want to go. Finally the Holy Ghost prompted me to ask him a question.
"If Jesus Christ came down and told you to go to church for your answer, would you go?"
He then tried to think of an excuse but couldn't find an excuse. Then our branch Mission Leader took that and told him us missionaries are representatives of Jesus Christ. That through us, Christ was telling him to find his answer he needed to come back to church.
He finally conceded as he knew we were right. The Spirit was in there and it touched him and softened his heart. Through being bold and persistent we had finally made progress after many years of previous missionaries having none at all.
Today should be really cool as a solar eclipse is happening here. We are in the shadow so that is neat. People all over are coming to our mission boundaries to view it. Prices have become outrageous though. For example $500 for 2 chairs, 2 hot dogs, and a parking spot. $1000 for one night in a room. With that said it is an opportunity to share our message a lot with new people so that is good.
Overall this past week has been great. My companion and I are doing really well together. We are working hard and being obedient. We are super excited about all of the people we are teaching this week as they are all progressing. We are getting a lot more referrals, finding more and more people to teach, and we are turning our area around. I know this is because of our diligence and obedience.
The thought for this week is on the 2000 strippling warriors.
43 And now, whether they were overtaken by Antipus we knew not, but I said unto my men: Behold, we know not but they have halted for the purpose that we should come against them, that they might catch us in their snare;
44 Therefore what say ye, my sons, will ye go against them to battle?
45 And now I say unto you, my beloved brother Moroni, that never had I seen so great courage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites.
46 For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus.
47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.
48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.
I love this scripture. The faith they show that they know God is with them. That they knew this because their mothers had taught them these principles. I was amazingly blessed by an amazing mother (and father) who taught me the principles that I know these young men were taught. I am so honored to be among today's 2000 stripping warriors. Who think more about others then themselves. Knowing God is with them.
I do not doubt what my parents have taught me. I know these things to be true. I know my mom (and dad) know these things to be true. I have loved how I have lost myself in the work and have changed. I have truly been thinking more about others then myself. I love all the people we teach and come in contact with. I feel the love our Heavenly Father has for them. I know as I change more and more it is because of the Holy Ghost teaching me every step of the way.
I hope all is well at home and that you can feel the Saviors love for all of us. That He wants all of us to return and live with him.
It's always a Great Day to be a Missionary!
From
Elder McDonald (MOMMAS BOY)