September 8, 2003

• Finally a chance to tell you about my awesome week . . .
  
  It all started with a wonderfully rainy Labor Day. I was scheduled to work 3 to 9, and planned on using the morning to do something with Weggs and to run some errands (like buying an independant reading book). So, I set off into the rainy day. On the way to the book store, I got a much hoped for phone call from Margaret. She was closing the pool, and wanted me to come right away and turn in my keys. I did, and she presented me with a gift certificate to Border’s Books from the Pool Board. I was flattered even more as she and Pat invited me to lunch. I helped them close a pool or two, ate a delicious lunch, and raked in even more money than normal, while doing even less. That sort of thing does wonders on the mood
  
  Tuesday was a reflectful, sentimental day. I also had my first Swim Practice since February. That came with both the good and bad. (until November, it’s mostly bad, but I’d rather embarrass myself now than then) Wedsday I decided there’s more to being a Seminary President then there seems. Thursday I timed the 1st Girls Swim Meet, which proved more fun than I expected. Friday I went on an orienteering course at night. I enjoyed being trusted enough to drive out of state, and then back again at midnight.
  
  Saturday was just wonderful. I went on team-ups with the missionaries. It was a very powerful spiritual experience that taught me a lot about this work. The first thing they said to me was, “Our challenge for you is to give away this Book of Mormon.” They had a “good-luck kid” look in their eyes that said it was harder than it looked.
  
  We started by trying to find an inactive family and talk with them, but we couldn’t even find them on the map. We tried to then find a media referal, but again, couldn’t find their address. We tried every easy option from reactivation to investigator, and couldn’t find anybody. Finally, we decided to pray. And at that, Elder Minch suggested that we not do the easy options, but that we do the hard. He suggested that we go tracting.
  
  So we drove around, hoping for some sort of random inspiration to stop driving and start working. As we found the corner of Temple St. and Logan St., we decided that was sign enough.
  
  The first house we knocked at, an old lady came to the door. “Whatever it is your selling I’m not interested.” *Slam *
  
  The Elders were not phased at all. They assured me that it was normal, and that I could expect it from every house, so we staked out an area to tract that comprised at part of two streets- less than 20 houses total.
  
  A 15 year old boy answered the second door we knocked on. His name was Abraham, and he was Catholic. He had moved from Mexico a year earlier. On his front porch, the three of us taught him the first discussion. The spirit that bore witness of the Savior and his restored Gospel was so strong. Elder Minch began by asking him about Jesus Christ and about prophets. When we asked if he thought we needed prophets today, he said no, “because nobody would listen.” The response startled us at first, but we began to see the spirit working in this boy.
  
  Elder Hinton began to tell Abraham about Joseph Smith. He told him about how he read the Bible (James 1:6) prayed in a grove of trees, and asked God which Church to join. We showed him a picture of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appearing to Joseph, and Abraham asked us, “Which Church did he tell them to join?”
  
  I answered him saying that Jesus had told him not to join any of the churches, but to wait. I then told him about the angel who came to him, and the record that the angel lead him to. I told him about the Book of Mormon, translated from that very record. I gave it to him, and told him about my own first experience reading it not much younger than he. I told him about the wars, and the righteous heroes who fought in those wars. I told him about Jesus Christ coming to this continent, and about how after I had read the Book of Mormon, I prayed about it. I told him that I knew it was true, that I knew it was real. I told him about the feeling in my heart that told me that; I told him that I felt that feeling right now.
  
  Elder Hinton asked him to read Moroni 10:3-5, and then we talked about it. Abraham talked about hope, and asked us if he could pray to find out who he was and if God would tell him. We assured him that he would, but I was like, wow, is this kid really 15? We recognized in this kid a desire to know who we are, where we are going, and why we are here.
  
  To make a really long story just long, we set up another appointment, and were on our way. As we walked down the sidewalk, the Elders looked at me and said, “You know, that’s not normal”
  
  “What? Don’t you teach the first discussion at the second house every time you tract?”
  
  In those less than 20 houses, we had 4 really good conversations, three that promised follow-ups. Personally, I could see 2 of them joining the church. The people really hungered for the gospel.
  
  *in progress* (the bell just rang)

  • 4:21 pm
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