This week was a really good one. We got a referral from a newly wed Couple in our Ward, Natasha and Kevin. They told us to go visit Natasha's Uncle, so the next day we knocked on the door not really knowing what to expect. Her Uncle, Julio, answered the door. He invited us right in! Called us Elders, and seemed to know a lot about what we did. We were kinda confused.. but he gave us dinner so we didn't argue!
After getting to know them a little bit, we finally asked, "so.. are you guys members? or..?" They weren't, and explained that they were Catholic, but Julio explained how his two siblings have been baptized in the Mormon Church, separately without knowing the other had been baptized hahah. He explained he's been the Mormon Church more than the Catholic Church, and then told us every reason ever of why he "hates" (his own words) the Catholic Church. We whipped out the Restoration Pamphlet and started teaching him in a little more detail why our Church is different than other Churches. They loved it! They thought it all made perfect sense, and we invited them to pray to know if it was true and their response was "well deep down, I think we already know it's true." We were stoked! But told them they still needed to read in the Book of Mormon and ask God if it was true, because we don't want them to believe in our Words, but their answer from God.
We came back, and they hadn't read due to the son, Bradley's, Graduation and their Daughters Quince, so we read 3 Nephi 11 where Christ first appears in the Book of Mormon. They loved it, and said they know it was the word of God, and that they promised they would Pray together as a family that night and attend church on Sunday with Natasha and Kevin.
I was so shocked, I couldn't even believe it. Why?! You said said it was all true? So I asked, What?! Why? Kinda laughing hahaha. Essentially, they said "that'd be nice.. someday. But we just aren't ready yet." I was so confused.. they were contradicting everything they'd been saying. We testified again and showed them how if all these things were true like they said, that this baptism is the next step. There's nothing more but to act! But, they just didn't want to act. We'd done all we could do, and invited them to do everything necessary to prepare. They just didn't want to give up their social drinking, and forsake their old ways to receive those blessings from God.
"After they left the bait another large Boar came into the bait. My friend shot him with his bow and it appeared that he hit him really good with an arrow. The next morning we spent five hours on the blood trail on our hands and knees searching for blood and only finding a spect here and a speck there. It was very steep and required us to climb steep inclines and crawl through very dense thickets of brush. We didnt have water and got very dehydrated and frustrated because the trail of blood dried up over time. In the end we covred several miles and my friend could barely walk. It made me think of you and how you work to find the trail to good people that are elect. I am sure you are often very fatigued and frustrated. I know you are thirsty and suffering in your labors. Even though we don't always find the Bear or animals we may wound, we can always take solace in knowing we have done our best. As we reflected on our hunt later when we had refreshment and rest, it seemed easier and more fun than it did when we were thrsty, tired and frustrated. Keep that in mind on those days when you can't find the trail of the elect. The trail may be lost but the effort will be richly rewarded. And once in a while you will retrieve the trophy for which you seek."
--
We came back, and they hadn't read due to the son, Bradley's, Graduation and their Daughters Quince, so we read 3 Nephi 11 where Christ first appears in the Book of Mormon. They loved it, and said they know it was the word of God, and that they promised they would Pray together as a family that night and attend church on Sunday with Natasha and Kevin.
We were so stoked Sunday morning! We already loved Julio, his Wife, Giselle and Bradley. We waited by the door for them, and waited... and waited... and waited... but they never showed up. We called, and finally got ahold of Julio, who told us he was out doing errands and everyone else had been asleep and he didn't want to wake them. We were pretty devastated, but he told us to come by after church. We did, and we taught them about the Plan of Salvation. The Spirit was SO strong. I haven't testified so hard in my entire mission. I bored testimony over and over about how much God has a plan for us, and that it's through Jesus Christ that we can be changed, baptized, and receive all the blessings he has for us, but it's only through his Church and his Priesthood! And if the Book of Mormon is true, and they know that this was Christ's same Church restored again with his Priesthood Power. His Church! They were all nodding their heads, and the Spirit was just engulfed in the room. Elder Gomez asked them all, simply, "Do you guys feel that?" and they all nodded their heads, and talked about how they felt so happy in that moment, and how they felt peace, and how when we came was the only time they felt unified as a family which they had expressed was a huge desire they had--to grow in their Faith in Christ TOGETHER, as a family.
We asked if they knew if these things were true, and if Joseph Smith was a prophet, and if the Book of Mormon was true, and they all said yes. We testified again, that if all these things were true, this was Christ's Church, and they said they would want to be apart of Christ's Church. We invited them to be baptized...
and they said no.
I was so shocked, I couldn't even believe it. Why?! You said said it was all true? So I asked, What?! Why? Kinda laughing hahaha. Essentially, they said "that'd be nice.. someday. But we just aren't ready yet." I was so confused.. they were contradicting everything they'd been saying. We testified again and showed them how if all these things were true like they said, that this baptism is the next step. There's nothing more but to act! But, they just didn't want to act. We'd done all we could do, and invited them to do everything necessary to prepare. They just didn't want to give up their social drinking, and forsake their old ways to receive those blessings from God.
We left, feeling super defeated and bummed out. To add insult to injury, I got hit by a car on the way home hahaha. It's funny, because I'm okay, but it coulda been a lot worse. God was definitely protecting me. She was texting and was pulling out of a street and tried to shoot between two cars and took me from the side walk (in Miami, its safer to ride on the street than the sidewalk, believe it or not) into the street. I some how pulled my leg out and just kinda rode it out on the hood, but I somehow pulled my bike up to so it didn't get ran over! I walked away totally fine, and my bike didn't even have a scratch. She came out and was like Are you ALright! I'm so sorry! Don't call the cops!" and I just kinda stared at her and she just kinda stared at me.. and I just kinda stared at her, and I didn't want to deal with it so I just said "esta bien, no se precupe." And rode away.
It would be really easy to feel discouraged, but I walked away knowing we were closer to finding those who are truly ready to act on their Faith, and that that family someday will be ready and willing to act on their Faith and Knowledge. It's like my dad emailed me this week:
 |
| little bear hunter |
We struggle through the hard times to find the rewards. Even more importantly for me and other missionaries, to help others find those rewards and blessings. We were able to go and find another Family after all this happened! They accepted Baptism on their door step, after giving a short lesson. God creates a path for us to follow, although it may not be easy and may not be the easiest road to travel.
Love,
Elder Johns
PS Mom don't call the Mission President and request for to be put in a car. It won't happen hahaha.
No comments:
Post a Comment