June 24, 2013
Subject: 4 DOM

So the mission sends us these e-mails entitled 4 MOM, otherwise known as four months of miracles.  So I decided to call this one 4 DOM, for four days of miracles. :D

 

The worldwide leadership training was AWESOME and in light of that I would like to make a few comments: A. Yes mother you can do whatever you want with the blog and the facebook, but I may be doing that myself soon. ;) B. EVERYBODY should have a profile on mormon.org.  It is truthfully an amazing way to share the gospel.  The worldwide leadership broadcast had a heavy emphasis on technology and the internet and it's potential for sharing the gospel.  In these days people respond a lot better to internet advertising than to somebody knocking on their door. C. Not only a profile, but you should be familiar with the website yourselves!  It's awesome!  Luke, sometimes instead of watching Homestarrunner or Adventure Time, or Mom instead of doing LDSHE stuff, watch some "I'm a Mormon" videos!  They're the greatest!

 

DAY 1

On Thursday we were tracting among some townhouses when we saw this younger guy sitting on his front step smoking while his young daughter blew bubbles.  We approached him and asked him if we could say a prayer with him.  In a somewhat angry voice he responded, "Yeah, pray that I can get a job."  Elder H said, "Sure."  So we did.  After the prayer his attitude was completely different.  We then told him about LDS employment services and told him we would get him the address.  Not a new investigator, but a miracle!  That evening we went to the Oddo's and had a lesson.  He's still having a hard time, and doesn't feel like he could live the word of wisdom right now.  Brother Dabel, our ward mission leader, helped us to explain that with God, all things are possible, and that through obedience to the gospel we can find peace in our most trying times.  He's still not back on date, but it was a great lesson.

 

DAY 2

So we had gotten this mormon.org referral that we had been trying to contact for about two weeks to no avail.  On this day of miracles our Bishop called us with a referral that turned out to be the same guy!  His name is Ron and HE had actually called the Bishop to get ahold of US.  So we called him and set up an appointment for the next day.  We had dinner at the Steens and watched Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration with them.  Brother Steen said afterwards, "Now ol' Jo Smith may have been a prophet, but I don't understand what his problem is with coffee!"  So we're going to teach him the Word of Wisdom next week haha.

 

DAY 3

We got a call from the Medford 1st elders saying that a progressing investigator with a baptismal date was moving into our ward!  So we helped her move in on this miraculous day.  She's a redhead!  Haha but she's definitely a tender mercy.  We'll be getting to know her and her situation better soon.  Then at 4:00 we went to our lesson with Ron.  He was incredibly open.  He was raised Roman Catholic but had turned away from religion for a long time.  He had turned to our church because of the incredible example and light that members of the church had been to him.  He loves Lindsey Stirling haha (she has a profile on mormon.org hint). We taught him the Restoration and committed him to baptism on July 13th.

 

DAY 4

He came to church with Brother Dabel, and it turns out that he was really good friends with another member in our ward!  Ron had been prepared to receive the gospel in large part by this Brother who had been a good example to him.  Then we taught this awesome guy named Daniel.  We had talked to him on the street and gotten his address a while ago, then we finally got this appointment set up for yesterday.  His father is (or was) a member and he knows a lot about our doctrine already, so he had asked to read from the Bible with us.  We went over there, and found that he had invited two of his friends over!  So we read John 3 with them then watched the corresponding Bible Video.  After the video, one of Daniel's friends, Mike, unexpectedly started asking us about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.  We answered his questions, then gave him a copy.  We asked if we could go back same time next week, and Daniel said sure, then we asked if we should read from the Bible or the Book of Mormon?  Daniel was like, uhhhh, and Mike said, "I think we should read from the Book of Mormon!"  Miracle indeed.

 

Love you all!

Elder Georgia