Dec. 24, 2012
С Рождеством!
Hey there everyone! :)
You know, everytime I write something out in Russian on the keyboard
I think about the time that Brandon sent home his letter in half Portuguese
(I'm sure I spelled that wrong). I think that's so dang cool that he achieved
the level of learning the language that he didn't even notice he was typing in
a different language, but I'm afraid I can't say that at least when it come to
typing on the computer. Everytime I try to type something I have to stare at
the keyboard and find where the Russian letters are! Ah well, when I study it
farther I'll get the keyboard down :D
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!!
My gosh, pretty dang cool, right? Christmas number two on the
mission. It's been a week full of miracles this week, and one that especially
is super spiffy. There's an investigator who for a long time now has
investigated the Church but never really made a whole lot of progress in
becoming a member of the Church. She knows a ton, reads Doctrine and Covenants
already, but still hasn't been baptized. It's been a bit of a struggle too
because when we first came here and met with her the senior missionary couple
have been against us meeting her. They had already met a good number of times
with her with the other Elders before us and they counted her as being just someone
who'd investigate the church forever but never join.
For the longest time, however, me and Elder Treter have prayed about
and for her to know what to do, whether to stop meeting with her or keep goign
to see if she can make some progress. Everytime we've done so we've gotten the
answer that we should keep working with her and that things would work out. To
avoid any trouble or doubt we'd been meeting with her without the missionary
couple to help her out. Starting just a couple of weeks ago, things got rolling
with her. She started praying with a lot more focus to find an answer and
slowly but surely things have been working out.
We had district meeting on Friday and we reported on her status and
progress in accepting the Church and the couple, as usual, weren't super
excited that we were meeting with her. Nevertheless, we todl about how we had
trouble getting member help for her lessons and they invited us to meet at
their place with her (a miracle, considering how against it they had been in
the past).
Before the lesson we sat down with the missionary couple and they
asked us what theme we had planned to talk about with her. We told them that we
wanted to talk with her about the Holy Ghost and recognizing answers from him
as answers from God. Sister C mentioned that that was her favorite theme and
the both said that they wanted us to direct the lesson and that they'd be there
just as extras, just help whenever we turn to them and ask them questions. We
said alright, and prepared for the lesson. The lesson began and, to my
surprise, the C’s were talking the whole time! Well, really the C’s and our
investigator, but me and Elder Treter weren't saying much at all. At first I
was a little dissappointed that we couldn't get a word in, but I felt like I needed
to felt them have their fill and talk. Lo and behold, they testified strongly
of the Spirit and told about experiences in their life when God's help and
answers came to them. It really touched our investigator and got her thinking
about things. She was sick, so she requested a blessing (yeah, she already knew
about blessings, tells you a bit how longs she's been investigating) and asked
that Elder C be the one to give it. A wonderful blessing was given and she told
us afterwards that she felt something in her heart, just a feeling that was
big, overwhelming, but calming. We bore testimony that that was the Spirit
testifying and helping her.
Then came the miracle. Elder Treter is still, usually, a little bit
quieter on lessons, but this time it wasn't that way. He bore one of the most
powerful testimonies I've ever felt in my life of God, His love and the fact
that miracles and guidance from Him are real and come to us in life. I don't
think I've ever cried so much on my mission as I did on that lesson. We were
all in tears and the Spirit bore witness to us all of the truthfulness of Elder
Treter's testimony. Our investigator then asked if she could talk more often to
us and the C’s and she was commited to once again pray to God about baptism,
and we promised her that she'd get an answer.
I can't really seem to describe just how awesome that experience
really was. Me and Elder Treter have worked so hard to try and help her while
we've been here and on this week, before we had that meeting with her, we had a
special prayer for her and set specific goals and sacrifices so that she could
have some progress and be baptised and so quickly we already saw an answer from
Heavenly Father on our prayers and efforts. We have some really high hopes for her.
At this time of year, I really do remember the wonderful blessings
that God has given all of us. Daily He provides for us, cares for us and
blesses us. He helps every single one who seeks Him to find Him and recognize
where and how to feel His love. I know that this church really is the Church of
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior; and I know that it's thanks to his love,
teaching and sacrifice that we are all here and have the opportunity to learn,
grow and return back to God in love and glory.
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas...because I sure am! God
bless you, and eat some Christmas cookies for me, alright? :)
I love you!
--
Elder Peterson
No comments:
Post a Comment