Mi Familia
April 23, 2014 at 2:38 PM
Hey family,
Life's good, as usual. I'm growing a lot, which is always
good. I'm glad that you'll be able to go to DJ's graduation and that they
didn't end up selecting you for the jury, Dad. For the record, we did
have a dinner. It was deliciously delicious. Easter was good
overall. I love that Because of Him video. So good. I thought
the roach story was funny, by the way. One of these days when there is
actually a real threat, everyone is going to think a cockroach is the source of
the scream. :)
So, what else. oh yeah, I haven't really told you anything
yet...so what else = everything else.
Well...I seemingly have forgotten everything that happened last
week. What a shame.
So, last week, I went back down to Hope Mills on exchange and was
able to see some of the people we had found/were teaching before I left.
It was good :) We had one lesson where we had 9 investigators/non-members
and 1 less-active member there. It was a part of the Helgenberger family,
the Micronesian family. I seriously love the Micronesian people.
Someday I'd like to visit, Pohnpei, that's the specific island all these
families here are from. On exchange as well, one of our appointments fell
through and we saw these 3 guys playing basketball in their driveway, so we
went over and asked if we could play with them. We played a little 21
with them, and asked them about Easter, religion, their lives, etc. It
was really fun, and we showed them some of our secret proselyting close
basketball moves on the court ;) they were semi impressed in our white shirts
and ties and dress shoes, but afterwards, we were able to share a message with
them from the Book of Mormon. At the end, the mother/wife brought us out
some ice water. We were able to give about 5 copies of the Book of Mormon
away to this family and set up a return appointment with them to come by and
share our message.
I've really been learning a lot about validating people and
relating to them these past couple of transfers. It's been good.
We had a miracle happen on Saturday. I wrote in a letter to
my mission president, so I'll just copy and paste it for time's sake.
This week has been a really great week. I love
teaching with you and Sister Bernhisel at the First Transfer Training Meetings.
They were really good as usual. Additionally, we saw some great miracles this
week. For one, we have been really striving to find some less actives that are
receptive to us in our area, and it has been a struggle. After about 2 months,
we still hadn't really had any success in meeting a less active on the roster
that was willing to even talk with us and let us in. However, this week, we
went by one of the final few less actives in our area that we haven't already
met and at first, she conveyed the attitude of "oh, y'all found me again.
How did you get my information?" We asked if we could share an Easter
message with their family, it being the day before Easter. We wanted to share
with them the Because of Him video, but she adamantly refused saying that she
didn't want any videos. She had no desire to return to the church. However, my
companion was amazingly bold with her and lovingly and enthusiastically told
her that it would be the best 3 minutes in front of a screen she would ever
spend . . . and we persisted. Finally, she decided to go in and ask her
non-member husband, and amazingly, they consented. We were able to go in and
share the Because of Him video with this member, her non-member husband, and
her non-member daughter. The spirit was definitely present, and we had a
beautiful discussion about Easter and our Savior. The Spirit led her to open up
her heart some, and she explained some of why she is Less-Active and he asked
some questions about Joseph Smith. So, what started as a "no way, I don't
want you coming in and sharing a message" ended with them saying that we
are always welcome to stop by. It was a powerful testimony and witness of what
demonstrating Christ-like Love to everyone.
I've been learning a ton about what it truly
means to exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I have seriously
learned so much here in Falls Lake. It definitely hasn't been easy, but
my accountability to the Lord and my dedication prevents me from ever giving up
or throwing in the towel, and it's after these moments/hours/days/weeks that we
see the miracles and evidences of our faith. By the way, if you want an
amazing talk to read, read "Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by Elder Gene
R. Cook. Sooo good. I read it again this morning and I absolutely
love love love that talk.
So, Sunday was also Elder Curtis's last Sunday in
our ward because we have the Gladys Knight fireside this weekend on Saturday
and Sunday and then next weekend is a special stake conference with Elder L.
Tom Perry coming :) That's exciting :)
So, do I have a miracle story for you. And
this goes along with our exercising faith discussion. Sometimes, on our way
home at the end of the night, Elder Curtis likes to get a Coke from McDonald's.
When we go through the drive thru, we always talk with the people there
and try to at least give them cards and invite them to go to the website.
Well, with this young man when we saw him at the drive thru, we asked him
if he had visited the website on the card, and he had. He said he really
liked it and that it is a better place than where he is right now. He
then proceeded to point out through the drive thru window and said something
like "you know that Starbucks down there, I would like to meet y'all there
sometime." Nothing short of a miracle...seriously. So, to
continue the story, we met with him Monday night. I already love this
young man so much. I can see so much eternal potential in him, it's
amazing. The lesson was definitely one of the best lessons that either
Elder Curtis or I have had our entire missions. I would say it was in my
top 3 best lessons for sure, especially for first lessons. We asked
inspired questions, used the Book of Mormon, followed the spirit, and invited
him to be baptized and prepare for the 27 of May. He wholeheartedly
accepted. We listened to his needs and concerns and taught him
accordingly. We showed him genuine Christlike love. It was
powerful. After about 10 minutes of conversation, he really opened up to
us even though in a worldly sense, he really didn't know us that well, but he
said he trusted us and shared with us some personal things. Why? It's not
because of us, but because of the spirit we are sent with and the One we
represent -- Jesus Christ. I love this work, His work. Nothing is
better than this. and it's nights like this one that remind me why I absolutely
love being a full time representative of Jesus Christ, and it reminds me of why
I endure the trials and the difficulties...because in the end, it
will all be worth it :) I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ for it truly
changes lives, and it is the only thing that provides lasting and encompassing
peace and happiness. Please include him in your prayers, that he may know
that this is all true, what we share, and that he will be protected from the
influence of those that would do him ill.
Well, I think that about sums it up for this past
week. Things are going well and fast. but what else is new.
Love,
Elder Thornton #1
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