Sorry I missed last week! It was hectic and we left emailing til too late. I only had time for a few people..
Last week first! It was a fantastic week.
On Thursday we went in the evening to go on Facebook and try to talk to some people. We go to an internet café to do this and we’re starting to get close to the managers and such. This evening on our way out one of them asked who we were. They had been confused a lot thinking we were school kids skipping school! It was illegal for them to let us and so he wanted to find out.We got into a fantastic and long discussion about what we teach. We told him about the gospel and the Book of Mormon. He began telling about his Muslim beliefs and we established a lot of common ground. Especially in relation to our beliefs in the bible. They believe in somewhat of an apostasy as well and we agree that there must be a correct and true word of God. It was great and he even told the other manager what a good job we were doing being ‘God’s servants’. It was a great end to the day.
On Saturday we went to see a less active man that we see every week. Because they have General Conference at 5 and we saw him at 3:30 we got to take him along to go and see it! It was a good experience for both of us. He loves coming but can’t make it often in the mornings.. After that we went teaching with the bishop. Had an interesting step in. I love meeting Pentecostal Born Again people because they’re so excited to talk about the gospel and they have a good faith in God. We met one while trying to visit a less active and had a good conversation. The best part was that he testified to us of the love he felt from us as we came in. It was really neat.
Sunday, Elder Botcha and I had a great step in! After a session of conference we were leaving the Visitors Centre and a man stopped us in the entrance with his baby child. He started asking questions about us and our beliefs and we shared a prayer with him. He was a good man. His name was Isaac and his son was called Jacob haha and he lives in our area.
Now for this week it has been even better. On Tuesday we had a study in the morning with our Mission President! It was really cool. He knows a lot. We studied about family history and how to use it as a tool to help people taste the gospel. Then later on we used what we learned and taught a recent convert who needs to do some work for his late sister. It’s fantastic that we all have the opportunity to do a great redemptive missionary work through family history.
On Wednesday we had a great miracle. So on Wednesday we were out in the morning trying to see an investigator but unfortunately he wasn't home. So we decided to go see a less active near the area but we couldn't find his street! So this cycle courier was going by and we asked him. He directed us to one end of the street and when we tried, it wasn't correct.. He rode up and said it might've been the other way! We gave him a card and started off. When we got to the end it still wasn't the right road... So we decided to go tract where he directed us. We prayed for guidance. The first door we called at, a woman looked out her window and we said we wanted to share a message about Jesus and the happiness it brings. She looked away to think for a bit and turned back to say that she happily had a minute. We had a wonderful conversation with her. Her brother does something similar to what we do and she always was curious what Mormons believe. We shared a few beliefs and gave her a Book of Mormon. It was a fantastic experience and she felt the spirit we carried. Miracles happen everyday and not just for missionaries, but for everyone.
Then later that day we met with a part member family and got to teach the plan of salvation. The non-member husband just soaked up everything we taught. It’s amazing how it just clicked with everything for him. I’m glad we have that knowledge and can share it with those who don’t know.
Thursday we had a good experience of helping those in need. We were heading home and I noticed a man sitting near a pay phone that I had seen earlier who looked lost and alone. We turned back to talk to him and he didn’t know English. He was from Romania and spoke Italian. Luckily Elder Botcha speaks a tiny bit of Italian! So we figured out he need to make a call. We let him borrow our phone and his friend wasn’t going to be able to pick him up. He had just come from France with no money and no place to sleep or anything. He was looking for work and his friend had something but wasn’t able to help him. So we called our mission president and got permission to call an Italian elder and figured out he didn’t have any plans and was lost about what to do. So we called his friend one more time and explained what situation he was in and his friend figured out a way to come help. It was really good that we stopped and let him borrow our phone, otherwise he would’ve not gotten any help at all. His friend wouldn’t have come and he couldn’t speak the language! We were happy that we could help. We left him with our card and wished him well.
Friday we got to do service! There aren’t many opportunities here so we grab every one we can.
Sunday we got to work with a fantastic missionary minded member. After conference we had lunch and splits with the YSA. We went to our area with one and saw four less actives within an hour and a half! It was amazing and the YSA really enjoyed it too. Afterwards we met with the member family he lives with and set up a dinner appointment. They’re a really good family and think about missionary work a lot.
It’s been fantastic seeing the progress here. It’s a lot faster paced than my previous areas and it’s a wonderful experience. Sorry this is long! Have a good week. And follow the apostles advice! Read Preach My Gospel!
Last week first! It was a fantastic week.
On Thursday we went in the evening to go on Facebook and try to talk to some people. We go to an internet café to do this and we’re starting to get close to the managers and such. This evening on our way out one of them asked who we were. They had been confused a lot thinking we were school kids skipping school! It was illegal for them to let us and so he wanted to find out.We got into a fantastic and long discussion about what we teach. We told him about the gospel and the Book of Mormon. He began telling about his Muslim beliefs and we established a lot of common ground. Especially in relation to our beliefs in the bible. They believe in somewhat of an apostasy as well and we agree that there must be a correct and true word of God. It was great and he even told the other manager what a good job we were doing being ‘God’s servants’. It was a great end to the day.
On Saturday we went to see a less active man that we see every week. Because they have General Conference at 5 and we saw him at 3:30 we got to take him along to go and see it! It was a good experience for both of us. He loves coming but can’t make it often in the mornings.. After that we went teaching with the bishop. Had an interesting step in. I love meeting Pentecostal Born Again people because they’re so excited to talk about the gospel and they have a good faith in God. We met one while trying to visit a less active and had a good conversation. The best part was that he testified to us of the love he felt from us as we came in. It was really neat.
Sunday, Elder Botcha and I had a great step in! After a session of conference we were leaving the Visitors Centre and a man stopped us in the entrance with his baby child. He started asking questions about us and our beliefs and we shared a prayer with him. He was a good man. His name was Isaac and his son was called Jacob haha and he lives in our area.
Now for this week it has been even better. On Tuesday we had a study in the morning with our Mission President! It was really cool. He knows a lot. We studied about family history and how to use it as a tool to help people taste the gospel. Then later on we used what we learned and taught a recent convert who needs to do some work for his late sister. It’s fantastic that we all have the opportunity to do a great redemptive missionary work through family history.
On Wednesday we had a great miracle. So on Wednesday we were out in the morning trying to see an investigator but unfortunately he wasn't home. So we decided to go see a less active near the area but we couldn't find his street! So this cycle courier was going by and we asked him. He directed us to one end of the street and when we tried, it wasn't correct.. He rode up and said it might've been the other way! We gave him a card and started off. When we got to the end it still wasn't the right road... So we decided to go tract where he directed us. We prayed for guidance. The first door we called at, a woman looked out her window and we said we wanted to share a message about Jesus and the happiness it brings. She looked away to think for a bit and turned back to say that she happily had a minute. We had a wonderful conversation with her. Her brother does something similar to what we do and she always was curious what Mormons believe. We shared a few beliefs and gave her a Book of Mormon. It was a fantastic experience and she felt the spirit we carried. Miracles happen everyday and not just for missionaries, but for everyone.
Then later that day we met with a part member family and got to teach the plan of salvation. The non-member husband just soaked up everything we taught. It’s amazing how it just clicked with everything for him. I’m glad we have that knowledge and can share it with those who don’t know.
Thursday we had a good experience of helping those in need. We were heading home and I noticed a man sitting near a pay phone that I had seen earlier who looked lost and alone. We turned back to talk to him and he didn’t know English. He was from Romania and spoke Italian. Luckily Elder Botcha speaks a tiny bit of Italian! So we figured out he need to make a call. We let him borrow our phone and his friend wasn’t going to be able to pick him up. He had just come from France with no money and no place to sleep or anything. He was looking for work and his friend had something but wasn’t able to help him. So we called our mission president and got permission to call an Italian elder and figured out he didn’t have any plans and was lost about what to do. So we called his friend one more time and explained what situation he was in and his friend figured out a way to come help. It was really good that we stopped and let him borrow our phone, otherwise he would’ve not gotten any help at all. His friend wouldn’t have come and he couldn’t speak the language! We were happy that we could help. We left him with our card and wished him well.
Friday we got to do service! There aren’t many opportunities here so we grab every one we can.
Sunday we got to work with a fantastic missionary minded member. After conference we had lunch and splits with the YSA. We went to our area with one and saw four less actives within an hour and a half! It was amazing and the YSA really enjoyed it too. Afterwards we met with the member family he lives with and set up a dinner appointment. They’re a really good family and think about missionary work a lot.
It’s been fantastic seeing the progress here. It’s a lot faster paced than my previous areas and it’s a wonderful experience. Sorry this is long! Have a good week. And follow the apostles advice! Read Preach My Gospel!