Spirit Guides, Miss Peggy, & Running At The Woods
Happy May Day!
We did have some stressful but good accomplishments for the week. We gained, then lost, then regained an investigator. Rachel's (our recent convert) son, Jason, felt the Spirit at Rachel's baptism and wanted to take the lessons. Then he dropped us before our lesson on Thursday, because he doesn't want to live the law of chastity. We visited the family anyway-- Jason lives with his member sister, Dawn's, family-- and had quite the experience.
I'll precede the story by telling you that I prayed that morning to be able to teach by the Spirit, and to recognize when I was. God answered that prayer in a big way.
Jason (Dawn's brother) and Dawn's husband, Joel, were both pretty argumentative and packed with anti material. But by the end, Jason went from defending beer and an immoral lifestyle to defending his sister and her faith. He has again agreed to take the lessons. We were in the same room, but it ended up with Sister Alvey talking to Jason and me talking to Joel with Dawn.
At first, Joel was throwing out rash objections about the church left and right, and none of them were related to each other; first the Word of Wisdom, then Joseph Smith, etc. Then the Lord really worked a miracle, and I was privileged to be a tool in God's hand to reach Joel's heart. While he was accusing us, I felt the Spirit impress me that these accusations were his way of putting blame on the church when he had deeper insecurities and doubts in his soul about religion, and about God. I really felt the Spirit guide my words. Instead of directly addressing these specific attacks, I felt guided to ask him questions about his own spirituality; questions about his own relationship with God, who he thought God was, and whether or not he believed there was a God.
The whole spirit of the meeting gradually changed from chaotic and aggressive to peaceful, whole, and calm; Joel became more vulnerable and began to honestly look at his spiritual state. Despite occasional sharp remarks and attacks to/from Dawn (their marriage is a little rocky), the good spirit in the room kept growing and Joel's whole countenance softened. The focus changed from his attacks on our faith to realizing where his own faith is. When it came down to it, he realized he wasn't sure that he had a belief in God. It was a breakthrough for him to explore his own heart like that, and to admit where he really was; I don't think he'd ever faced himself like that before.
Joel isn't ready for the lessons right now, but he committed to pray every day this week to know if there is a God. We left shaking hands. As we were about to get in our car, he came outside and asked us to pray for him. :)
**later add-in** It didn't end there...the next morning at church, who came in wearing a nice suit with his family to Sacrament meeting? Joel. :) We talked to Dawn in the hallway and asked how she got him to come (I don't recall that he had ever come before). She shrugged and seemed as astonished as we were. She said something like, "I don't know! I saw him getting dressed today and he just announced casually that he was coming with us to church!" What a miracle. :)
I know he has a long way to go, but I have great hopes for his spiritual growth. I know God loves him because I felt it strongly that night. [Note from 2018: I know that since then, Dawn and Joel have divorced, at least partially because of continually aggressive actions on Joel's part. But I hold to what I just said; I know God loves him and I know that that night was an important moment in Joel's spiritual journey. I wish the very best for Joel in finding God and happiness.]
At first, Joel was throwing out rash objections about the church left and right, and none of them were related to each other; first the Word of Wisdom, then Joseph Smith, etc. Then the Lord really worked a miracle, and I was privileged to be a tool in God's hand to reach Joel's heart. While he was accusing us, I felt the Spirit impress me that these accusations were his way of putting blame on the church when he had deeper insecurities and doubts in his soul about religion, and about God. I really felt the Spirit guide my words. Instead of directly addressing these specific attacks, I felt guided to ask him questions about his own spirituality; questions about his own relationship with God, who he thought God was, and whether or not he believed there was a God.
The whole spirit of the meeting gradually changed from chaotic and aggressive to peaceful, whole, and calm; Joel became more vulnerable and began to honestly look at his spiritual state. Despite occasional sharp remarks and attacks to/from Dawn (their marriage is a little rocky), the good spirit in the room kept growing and Joel's whole countenance softened. The focus changed from his attacks on our faith to realizing where his own faith is. When it came down to it, he realized he wasn't sure that he had a belief in God. It was a breakthrough for him to explore his own heart like that, and to admit where he really was; I don't think he'd ever faced himself like that before.
Joel isn't ready for the lessons right now, but he committed to pray every day this week to know if there is a God. We left shaking hands. As we were about to get in our car, he came outside and asked us to pray for him. :)
**later add-in** It didn't end there...the next morning at church, who came in wearing a nice suit with his family to Sacrament meeting? Joel. :) We talked to Dawn in the hallway and asked how she got him to come (I don't recall that he had ever come before). She shrugged and seemed as astonished as we were. She said something like, "I don't know! I saw him getting dressed today and he just announced casually that he was coming with us to church!" What a miracle. :)
I know he has a long way to go, but I have great hopes for his spiritual growth. I know God loves him because I felt it strongly that night. [Note from 2018: I know that since then, Dawn and Joel have divorced, at least partially because of continually aggressive actions on Joel's part. But I hold to what I just said; I know God loves him and I know that that night was an important moment in Joel's spiritual journey. I wish the very best for Joel in finding God and happiness.]
Yesterday we visited Miss Peggy-- Rachel's rehab roommate-- and two ladies from her Baptist church were there visiting! We had a lovely visit, and sang I Need Thee Every Hour for them. They knew it too and sang along at some parts. The two ladies said we should come sing for their church at a Wednesday service--- I sure hope that works out! What an opportunity. Peggy said she could see the love and the light in our eyes. It's a testimony builder to hear others say things like that. We really are about God's work.
We felt the Spirit guide us and protect us this week. I'm grateful I have six more weeks to learn from Sister Alvey. She's a wonderful example of focus and diligence and I'm becoming better every day!
Have a great week!
Sister Taylor
I made a snowflake out of my tortilla.
I also enjoyed the outdoors while tracting.