Where is the Church Bus, Chess, Mind Blown
January 26, 2015
Y'all!!
Y'all!!
Fun fact. Sister Porter was gifted a chess set this week..so we've spent the first hour of P-day and before bed time playing chess for the last three days. Tally? We're pretty equally matched (not sure if we're both really good, or really bad :D), so I almost creamed her once (till the board fell apart), she creamed me, then we had a stalemate. My brain hurts. But it's fun! :D
We've seen some amazing miracles this week! I'm including headlines to make it a little more interesting, and to ease your skimming. ;) I'm also bolding some fantastic one liners from investigators this week. Read them and tell me God isn't preparing and changing hearts!
#1 Recent Convert's Friends Turn Into Top Investigators! Ana, a recent convert from December, has brought two friends to church in the last two weeks-- and both of them are now top investigators! Pam and Angela are sweet ladies in their sixties and supremely elect individuals. When we asked Angela how she'd feel about a prophet leading Christ's church today, she said, "Well, that would be amazing! To have that kind of leadership and example on earth....wow!" She's incredibly humble and teachable.
We taught Pam in Ana's home. When we talked about the apostasy, Pam said, "Oh, that is how I feel! Empty! I go to church every week, I love the music, and the people are nice...but I don't grow. I leave feeling just as empty as when I came. I want to spiritually mature now. I'm seeking; I need to know for myself. I want to find the truth!" How wonderful it was to be able to testify that she could indeed receive an answer from God, for herself, to help her know that this is Christ's restored church! She accepted the invitation to be baptized if she does receive the answer that it's true.
#2 Just One...Wait...Ten A fantastic newlywed couple, both recently returned missionaries, came with us to teach Chris yesterday. Chris is going through a lot, but he is incredibly elect! We haven't seen him in three weeks, so we asked him if he'd read in the Book of Mormon since we last came. He said with a little disappointment, "Yes, but only a little...I'm still in the first chapter." Then he turned to 1 Nephi 10. He was still in 1 Nephi, but he'd actually read ten chapters! He'd also read another chapter we'd recommended. We were so happy! The last time that happened to me, the investigator got baptized. The odds are in his favor. :) He said, "When y'all left last time, when we all prayed, I felt so good! There was a good feeling in our home." He recognizes the Spirit so easily. He prayed again that he'd be able to find the whole truth, and thanked Heavenly Father for bringing us into his life. "You don't know how much of a difference y'all are making in my life," he told us. He got excited when we said we'd invite him to be baptized next week. He's so prepared.
(**To help you remember who Chris is, he's the black man we met at an apartment complex who had a broken foot at the time. He invited us in and we taught him the Restoration with the cups for a visual aid, and used the broken mirror analogy to teach him about the apostasy. When he prayed, he asked God to help him pick up the broken pieces of the mirror and piece them together; he asked God to show him the truth of what we were teaching. He also asked that if he knew that we were teaching the truth, that he would be able to share the truth with his friends and family who need it, too. One of his friends stumbled into the apartment drunk once during a lesson and started saying some inappropriate things; Chris told him something like, "These are sisters from God!" and had him leave. It was clear that he was disturbed by the interruption to the Spirit present during the lesson, and it mattered to him that we were respected. He is such a humble, wonderful man.**)
(**To help you remember who Chris is, he's the black man we met at an apartment complex who had a broken foot at the time. He invited us in and we taught him the Restoration with the cups for a visual aid, and used the broken mirror analogy to teach him about the apostasy. When he prayed, he asked God to help him pick up the broken pieces of the mirror and piece them together; he asked God to show him the truth of what we were teaching. He also asked that if he knew that we were teaching the truth, that he would be able to share the truth with his friends and family who need it, too. One of his friends stumbled into the apartment drunk once during a lesson and started saying some inappropriate things; Chris told him something like, "These are sisters from God!" and had him leave. It was clear that he was disturbed by the interruption to the Spirit present during the lesson, and it mattered to him that we were respected. He is such a humble, wonderful man.**)
#3 Eternal Families On their Way! We also visited a part-member family, the Harts. While there, we felt impressed to testify of eternal families. As I bore my testimony, I saw the idea of his having an eternal family sink into his heart.
We asked him if he wanted to work towards having an eternal family.
He said yes.
We asked what he felt the next step was.
He then confided that up until the last month, he would leave when the missionaries came over. But after meeting us at the ward Christmas party, he thought, "Well, they aren't so bad," and decided to sit in. He said, "The older I get, the closer I get to the church. It's about time I start learning." So essentially, he's agreed to take the lessons! That's his next step. We are so excited for him. Unfortunately they live in the neighboring ward-- their records are just still in ours. So we'll be referring them to the other ward soon.
Another family miracle! My setting apart blessing talks about finding and teaching families, and on Thursday, we prayed as a companionship to find a family. That night, we had an appointment with a woman, Karsandra, who had texted us a few days prior asking us to teach her and her children about Jesus. When we got there, we met her, her sister, and their total of nine kids and taught them to sing "I Am a Child of God". I see no coincidence there!
#4 What?! We had a mind-blowing miracle this week! All having said they could come when we called on Saturday, all having transportation or member rides arranged, and all with fellowshippers prepared, we had TEN INVESTIGATORS lined up to come to church this Sunday!! TEN! We couldn't believe it! We usually have one or two at church, but by golly, I'd never even heard of ten in one day.
Unfortunately, Sunday morning, we received text after text of cancellations. By the time Sacrament Meeting started at 9am, none of the ten investigators could come. We were sad, but what potential we have to look forward to! We will be working hard to make it happen next Sunday. It's not about the numbers, but we're incredibly blessed to be seeing so many people working to come to Christ at one time in one place.
Speaking of the church bus...other churches around here have a church bus that drives around and picks people up and brings them to church. We've said so many times to ourselves how badly we need one! Seriously, it's a missionary's dream. There are so many people that live far apart and far from the church building and it presents a big challenge to the wards here with member activity. For most people, if it really matters that you get to church, you find a way. But really, though...we would love a church bus!!
Speaking of the church bus...other churches around here have a church bus that drives around and picks people up and brings them to church. We've said so many times to ourselves how badly we need one! Seriously, it's a missionary's dream. There are so many people that live far apart and far from the church building and it presents a big challenge to the wards here with member activity. For most people, if it really matters that you get to church, you find a way. But really, though...we would love a church bus!!
Well folks, I'm living and loving the Lord's work here. We're working hard and the Lord is blessing us. I feel like Ammon when he goes to Ishmael and hundreds are ready to hear the word! God is real. He loves us.
I love y'all! Stay warm!
Sister Taylor
My cute Georgia journal my dear companion made me!
Sisters Pi, Webster, Porter & I