This past week was a very interesting week of trials, but that has to
happen sometimes. It was one of the tougher weeks of my mission. We
had two great solid baptisms lined up for yesterday both youth a girl
17, and a boy 17, but from different families. Tuesday we had great
lessons with both of them and had set up plans for them to go to an
activity Wednesday. Wednesday came and the ride for the guy couldn't
pick him up. We told the member to text the investigator and tell him.
But it had slipped the member's mind and we got a sad text from the
investigator Wednesday night. He said he didn't want to come to church
anymore or anything. We asked him why and he said because this was the
second time he got bailed on by someone from the church. We tried
talking to him, but he kept saying no and he didn't want to hear it. We
tried calling him and passing by him lots of times the next day but he
kept ignoring us and telling us to leave him alone. He was upset
because it was the second time he had been bailed on by this member,
and he had been waiting out for him all night. It killed us because it
was something so easily avoided. It was our fault and it hurts inside.
It's crazy how bad it hurts. This guy was awesome, but we are going to
keep trying and praying for a miracle.
On top of that, Wednesday night our other investigator (girl) was
getting dropped off after the activity. Her parents came out and got
mad at her and started yelling at her and stuff. She didn't want to be
there, so she started to walk to her friends house. A big hassel came
and she went to a mental hospital because of some problems she was
having. We were devastated. She wasn't supposed to get out until
today. We tried to go visit her and stop by her house and get a hold
of her but we couldn't. Sunday came around and we still hadn't heard
from her. Until around 12:30 when she called and said how she was out
of the hospital. She was devastated because she thought she couldn't
be baptized. But she asked us if she still could and we said of
course, and set things up and had the baptism. The baptism was great
and very spiritual. Her sister came and gave her support, who isn't a
member. It was a great miracle we had seen from the Lord.
But that miracle didn't happen till Sunday, and so the whole week we
were worried thinking about these two people and it made for a tough
week. On top of that, we had lots of things cancel and a guy we were
working with tell us he wanted to wait for a while for his baptism.
For some reason the Lord has been testing us. As well, the zone has
struggled this past month and we are coming short of our goal. It hurts
inside.
But some good news and a good spiritual story. Monday all of our
lessons had fallen through. We were going by some part-member families,
but they were falling through as well. As we were walking to our car,
we decided to talk to the people outside. The first few people didn't
want to listen. But then there was a girl sitting outside. At first we
were reluctant because she was a younger girl. But I said we need to
go talk to her. So we went. She was super interested and then her mom
came out. He mom told us they had been listening to the missionaries
before in a different city. She said one day they just stopped coming
by. We talked a little and set up a return. We went by the next day
and met the dad and had a good lesson with him and the daughter. We
set bds with both of them. Then the next day we went back and talked
with them, plus the mom and the other son. We had a great lesson
and set bds with them. Then Friday we had a great lesson with all of
them and their older son and set a bd with him. We brought lots of
members and had great lessons. They are all preparing to be baptized
together as a family. We are super excited for them. Only three of
them came to church yesterday, but we have a lesson with them today
and it's going down!
That really helped pick up our spirits. As well, we had a great
spiritual lesson with this guy we met from a member's family. We had
taught him and invited him to be baptized, but he was super iffy about
it. He had come to church last week which was good and already paid
his tithing. Then Wednesday we went by to see him and had a great lesson with
him. We talked more about baptism and he was still iffy, so we decided
to take it to the Lord. We knelt down, explained the spirit and had
him pray. He asked the Lord if he should be baptized on the 18th of
September. After he prayed, the spirit was so strong and as we
invited him to be baptized he said "of course I will, I can't deny the
answer I'm getting from the Lord right now". It was a great lesson.
Overall the week ended with great miracles, but still one of the
tougher weeks of my mission. It proves that the Lord blesses those who
keep working and keep working hard. Miracles come according to our
faith in all things. The Lord is a God of miracles, don't ever forget!
I love you all,
-Elder Stone
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