Hey Everyone!
So I forgot to bring my paper that has a list of what to write about, so hopefully I'll remember. :p
So this Saturday
we had an appointment at 8, but it fell through; and our backup
plan didn't work out either :p But everyone has a choice and everything has a
reason to it, so yes I was bummed, but I was hopeful to find what we
needed to do next. So we decided to walk back to our apartment -- which
was like 4'ish miles away -- and contact people on the way. When randomly around 8:30,
Jorge drives up at a light we were waiting to cross. Jorge is in his
40's, and used to be a race car driver. He is really depressed in life and
wants to feel God's love for him, but he can't very often because he is a
heavy drinker! Anyways, he yells, "Pasense" meaning "jump in." And we were
like, "Well duh, we ain't going to walk home," so we jump in.
Big
mistake.
He was SOOOOO drunk. And as a race car driver, he already drove a little
crazy anyway. But now drunk, phew....never been so scared in a car in my life.
But luckily, we just went to his house which was just a 5-minute
drive away. During this time of terror, I
couldn't help but wonder why Heavily Father would send us a drunk
investigator ...obviously there was something we needed to do. Anyways,
as we entered his home his wife was there! She is a firm Catholic,
and never listens to our lessons. Actually, I had never seen her before
this point. So Jorge sits down and drunkenly forces his wife to sit with
us. Awkward. Jorge was acting completely disrespectful, and we really didn't know what to do.
We could see she was really distraught. I have never seen so much
emotional pain in a
woman before. She was so hurt by her husband's addiction to drinking
:( and constant drunkenness :( This was really hard for me to see :( I
hate seeing a woman cry. I really have been raised to cherish,
treasure,
and respect God's daughters. And to see that this man was the cause of
so much sorrow in his wife really made me sad ...to the point of
tears :(
The lesson was so powerful. The spirit was so strong ...even though
Jorge was a drunken, shirtless, disrespectful mess. I honestly believe
when we show a
desire for guidance, the spirit will be there to guide us. And the
spirit was there testifying to her through us. She needed to hear the
message of peace from young men who were ordained of God to teach. I
suspect that's why God sent us a drunken investigator ...to bring us to
this woman
deep in sorrow so that we could help.
I know that God works in mysterious ways. So even though we may
not understand how He works, as long as I'm being a good boy, doing good
things, I suppose I
don't have to question if it's the spirit guiding me. I just need to do
it. Through a drunk man, we brought hope and peace to a woman who
desperately needed it.
Well, during our lesson we invited both of them to
church for last Sunday. Surprisingly, she was really adamant about
wanting to go ....he was drunk as a skunk. Anyways, Sunday morning came
and he split. Which left her alone, and she didn't want to come alone.
So we were all
so bummed about it. But again surprisingly later that day, after our
plans had fallen through, Jorge pulled up to us (only kinda' drunk) and
again took us to
his house. We then had the idea to give them a church tour! :) Right as
we entered the chapel Dairia
said "Siento mucho Paz aqui" or "I feel so much peace here." BAM!!! We
then sang "Soy uno Hijo de Dios" ("I am a child of
God.") She loved it! :D She said the feeling just felt right, and she
loved
the words. :) We then asked her to say a prayer right in
the chapel. And she said the most heart-felt prayer, thanking the Lord
for His guidance, and for this "sentimiento de paz" :) The spirit was
really
strong :) I've been a member of the church my whole life, and have been
in a chapel hundreds of times, but I've never felt the spirit so
strongly before. It was just
indescribable.
After this, we showed them the baptismal font! :D :D :D
She loved it. Jorge was acting like a 12 year old, but he did have
some
interest. :) She absolutely loved the white clothing that you wear. :)
She asked me why we wear white, and I testified to her that it is
symbolic of a new
life, a new clean start, and how all things of God are pure ...just as
she
can be. :) The spirit was so strong during all of this.
In the font room was a picture of Christ's baptism. We
sat there talking about it for quite some time. At one point, I was
prompted to quote 2 Nephi
31:5
And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfill all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!
I then
testified to her and Jorge that our purpose
in life was to learn of Christ and His example, and that through Him, we
can become cleansed, and receive eternal life. :) I was rather happy I
had memorized this verse! :D We waited for a long moment to let it sink
in, and every moment
the spirit just kept growing in power. :) As time went on, Elder Jensen
asked
the question, "Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be
baptized by someone holding the authority of God?"
They
said
yes!!!! DOS FECHAS!!!! :D :D In less than a 24-hour period, we went
from one person who wanted nothing to do with the church, and another
who was
slowly progressing, to both wanting to be baptized! :D Daniela is super intent on being baptized, while Jorge is only so-so, but
if she decides to get baptized, then he probably will too. She on the
other hand will only do it if he does. :) But we all have a
comforting feeling that they'll both decide to follow Christ. :) There
is no possible
way to deny the spirit that was there. We've tentatively scheduled their
baptismal date for September 28
:) That should give us plenty of time to go through all the lessons and help Jorge
tackle his drinking problem. I am confident God will be there
to help us out. :)
I'm so happy to be a missionary. I feel the Spirit
daily, and I have witnessed it change lives. :) I know
the Spirit was given to us in this case to guide
us to help these souls. We have the spirit to testify of
truth. And through the Spirit, all of God's children can know the truth of all things. That's what's
beautiful about our Church ...we don't ask people to join and force
baptism on them, we simply ask them to find out for themselves. And when
then do it, EVERY TIME they can know that it is true through the spirit.
:)
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| On a P-Day Hike above the Carlsbad hills |
I KNOW I am a representative of the Lord's true Church. It is a testimony that I
will never deny. The Book of Mormon is true; Joseph Smith was a true prophet
called of God! I know it, for the Lord has revealed it to me
through His spirit. :) I'm happy :)
Love,
Elder Clemons
Some pictures of our apartment :
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| Our Kitchen |
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| I sit at the near end of the desk (no desk space) because I'm a visa-waiter :-( |
