August 8, 2006

• From an e-mail dated July 31, 2006: ”They have testified of the coming of Christ, and have looked forward, and have rejoiced in his day. … And behold, he is God, and he is with them, and he did manifest himself unto them, that they were redeemed by him;” (Helaman 8:22-23).

  
  

  
  

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  These past two weeks have brought changes- major changes. I have the option of telling you about the changes now, or telling you about some experiences I had this past week. I think I’ll leave you in suspense about the changes and instead write about my week.

  
  

  The week started with discouragement, anxiety, frustration, and insecurity. As the changes were announced, I felt left out. I felt obsolete. Not to be dramatic, but I even felt like maybe I would be better off at home, where life is carefree (*cough*). In short I felt like poo.

  
  

  But out of stubbornness I stuck it out. Thursday Elder Pitcher and I realized we really needed morale to improve and we really needed our numbers to improve. Even though we knew it wasn’t very effective, we figured we should knock on some doors. So we prayed, and I felt impressed to knock Workman Street. As we did, we found the street to be surprisingly nice, even polite. A kind woman said we could come back in three weeks. A gardener we talked to was interested in El Libro De Mormon. An hour passed quickly and morale was greatly improved. We had to leave for dinner, but knowing that neighbors tend to be alike, I wanted to come back and finish the street later.

  
  

  After diner we decided to go out on bike. Even though it was hot, I knew that I needed to get my frustration worked out, and driving in California doesn’t do that. Biking did.

  
  

  As I was following my companion, he suddenly stopped. We parked our bikes, even though we had been on our way to a referral we wanted to re-contact. Elder Pitcher felt like we had something to do on that street. We didn’t have time to stop, but you can’t argue with inspiration.

  
  

  As we walked, we found a small cul-de-sac to knock. On the third door, my companion was talking with a young man when someone walked up to the driveway and asked to talk with one of us. I apprehensively stepped away from the door to talk with this man. He was clearly agitated, and I was afraid he had a bone to pick with us. He asked what message we were sharing with his community. I pulled out an offer for a free DVD called “Finding Faith in Christ” and explained that we were helping his neighbors find greater faith in Jesus Christ. I explained that the two obstacles that stop us from eternal life with God are death and sin. I told him how Christ had overcome both obstacles, enabling us to escape sin and conquer death. This softened him.

  
  

  He told me that he needed someone to put his heart at ease because his brother had died a few days ago. Since his brother was a Mormon, this man was very shaken up. He attends Calvary Chapel (a So-Cal equivalent to Willowcreek in Chicago). At Calvary Chapel, they taught that Mormons go to hell because we don’t accept Jesus. This man was so grateful to accept our assurance that Mormons certainly do accept Jesus as their personal Savior. I could see the relief in his face and knew that finally he could sleep at night knowing that his brother was going to be at peace.

  
  

  After talking with two very friendly elderly ladies, we resumed our plans. I felt a little bit better that night knowing that I had things to do out here.

  
  

  On Friday we left the office around 1:45 and had some time to proselyte before a 3:00 commitment. It was hot, so we didn’t really want to kock doors, but after praying I felt that we should finish knocking Workman. It wasn’t long before we found a woman in her early 40’s covered in face mask. She wanted to hear what we had to say, so she ushered her son and her daughter (also covered in white face mask) inside and had us sit on the porch.

  
  

  This woman (hereafter known as “J”) was concerned because her kids felt alienated at Church. Her Church was becoming a Korean congregation, and had even changed its name. She asked us what we had to offer. As we explained our Junior Sunday School program, she told us that we looked so happy. J wanted her kids to be as happy as we were, so again, she asked us what we had that she couldn’t provide her kids. So we told her.

  
  

  It was more than just Sunday school. It is the promises we make to our families to be together forever, even after death. It is the Book of Mormon, which was written so that our children could know that Jesus Christ is the source of forgiveness, peace, and joy. It is our personal conversions. She was clearly interested, so we taught her a full first lesson. Though I felt like we had overwhelmed her with information, J was very impressed. She told us that we could come back any time, promised to read some chapters in the Book of Mormon, and agreed to come to Church on Sunday. It was wonderful. She told us how much she had needed our visit that day.

  
  

  I know that God is real. I know this because A Higher Power has guided me specifically as a missionary. It is a strange and new phenomenon for me to have sudden itches to turn right, stop, or move. It is wonderful to feel so specifically what I should say, or who I should approach. I testify that Elder Pitcher and I are merely instruments following the instructions of an Omnipotent Hand. I testify that the instructions come clearly, and that they come from the only living God. It is my prayer that I can continue to walk in the guidance of the Lord in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

  
  

  
  

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  “Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.” (Ether 12:4).

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