HELLO!!
GUESS WHAT?! JUAN IS MEETING WITH MISSIONARIES TODAY AT 1:00!!!!!!
Okay, now to catch you up to speed. Long story short, Juan (you
probably will remember him from previous emails) has been taught by us
for some time now, and going through different challenges. The biggest
has been getting missionaries to go visit him. He left to be a counselor
at a camp and took the Book of Mormon with him promising us he will
practice what we taught him and that he'd return with answers. He was
gone from the 9th-16th. We prayed for him so hard. And I got a call on
Sunday (the 15th) on our cell phone. We were on desk, and we're not
supposed to answer phone calls on our cell if we don't know the phone
number. (for good reasons) And even though as it came up as "Private ID"
I had the thought that it may the some other sisters calling us from
the calling program we have the computer. It was really busy and I was
all over the place, but I truly think that Heavenly Father put that
thought in my mind so that I would answer at risk of being 100%
obedient. I didn't even think about it more than a split second, because
I knew I needed to answer. It was JUAN!! He had found a radio phone and
was calling us!! I told him to call us in 30 min. We went and waiting
next to the computers for his call. Waiting....and waiting....painful!
Then he called! And the first thing he said was "So, girls. How soon can
I get baptized when I come back?" Apparently at the camp he had gained
an even deeper testimony of the divinity of The Book of Mormon. He knew
it was what he needed to do. And he said that Heavenly Father didn't
send him up there alone. He was reading The Book of Mormon on the log,
and a man came up and asked if he was Mormon. He said no, but that he
was thinking about it. He asked why, and the other man said that one of
the girls in their group was LDS. She was about 14, came over to him and
answered some questions and bore her testimony to him. They prayed
together,and both went away in tears. She, and everyone else in
the camp apparently was telling him this was something he needed to do,
even though they were not members of the church. So we told him that we
were going to send his information again (for the third time!) and gave
him directions to the church. He would be driving all day, but he
thought he'd get back in time for 2:00. Sadly, Satan decided to twist
the insides of his car and it broke down. (I have MORE
than one bone to pick with Satan if I ever see him!) We sent the
information again the next day (fourth time) And we gave him the phone
number of the local bishop to call and ask for missionaries. He got the
secretary which said, "we'll call you." At this point, he and us, were
very frustrated. So when we called yesterday, he was losing hope. He
said that he felt like the other missionaries gave up on him, and that
he was glad he had us because he was clinging to our strength. He
sounded very depressed and that he was no longer optimistic. We had a
big talk by the Spirit, got him excited, and we decided to fast
together, the three of us. Apparently (I have no idea how) he found the
number for the missionaries, and he has an appointment today at 1:00
with Sister missionaries!!! We are so happy. We have gained a deeper
testimony of the power of prayer and fasting.
Another miracle, we met Dasha from Russia on the square last week.
She became a new investigator, and she is progressing! She is so sweet.
Today was the second appointment, keep her in your prayers. She's so
excited to learn more and is very childlike. She is very receptive to
the spirit, which is unusual for her level in her culture. She is in her
20's and we're fast friends.
Another miracle! we met Claude from Montreal Quebec Canada this
week. (French is his first language!) He is a new investigator as well.
He missed our second appointment, but he called us back today!!!
Eeeek!!! Didn't leave a voicemail and we're calling tomorrow because we
were running around with announcing responsiblilites.
Another miracle, Mario texted us back!!! FINALLY! We've been
calling and calling, texting and texting. I wish we could just have a
stake out and find out how he's doing when he won't answer. :) We've
been worried about him. He was supposed to be baptized on Saturday. He
asked us to call this saturday, and he sounded really, really happy. So we hope good news are coming!
Another miracle, the tabernacle tours are taking off! Yesterday
there were +50 people!! It was really good that we were observing how it
was going in the background because there was so many we needed to
help! What a blessing it has turned out as it has.
Another miracle, we've been able to teach Tony! He missed our
second appointment, but in the first time we were talking to him, we
talked about the Plan of Happiness (see here http://mormon.org/plan-of-
Another miracle, we got to have dinner/lunch almost every day this
week! (being too busy to eat is a wonderful sensation, but sometimes our
bodies complain.)
Another miracle, Mandy answered the phone! Granted, she hung up
straight after (from the way we introduced ourselves, we think she
thought we were telemarketers and hung up.) She was supposed to be
baptized this Saturday. Please specifically ask in your prayers that
we'll be able to get ahold of her and help her.
Another miracle, we got to teach Josh! We hope he's on the way to some real progression.
Another miracle, a family that we took on an investigator lesson
this week is getting baptized! (That means that Elders bring their
investigators and we teach them on a tour.) We have been invited to the
baptism and we've been asked to give talks. It will be my first baptism
that I will get to attend in my mission, and I'm very excited.
Another miracle, Sister Hvistendahl is my companion! We are best
friends, and we will be forever! :) She is my Jenn/Sister Daines/Celia,
and Sister Cookston is my Ally/Sister Miller! (My Mom has many good
friends that I am grateful for!) And my sisters, brothers, Mom, Dad,
cousins, Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents and more take the top spots too.
She works so hard, is such a great example of love, and we have so much
fun and miracles together. Both of our top priorities is to be the best
missionary we can be for the Lord and to help our investigators in any
way we can. She happily gives up meals and time during our pday to help
them. And she will work till she drops! I love her so dearly and
consider her one of the greatest blessings on my mission. I forget I'm
training her all the time...She's training me!!!
Another miracle, Jesus Christ died for us as our Savior. Because of
that, we know that we can live with our families again, and that our
relationships can last forever. I love Him, and am so grateful that He
loved me enough to suffer and to die for me. I love The Book of Mormon,
because it is another testament of Him and His gospel. I have gained a
greater appreciation of the power of it through my experience, and the
experience of our investigators. I feel priviledged to teach in His
name, and hopefully being His hands, feet, mouth, and heart to all that I
meet. I love Him, and hope to someday be like Him.
I love you all! I know that this Church is true. I know that Thomas
Monson is a prophet of God, called to guide as in times of old. I know
that you can know for yourself by asking your Heavenly Father: He will
answer you.
Love Always and Forever,
Sister Lake
P.S.
Here are some pictures from Announcing! Sister Daniilakis, from
Germany (my trainer) is the dark haired, and the brown haired is my
second trainee, Sister Hvistendahl from Greenland/Denmark.
Here is a generation picture! Missing is Sister Yedigaryan from
Armenia (which Sister Daniilakis is training the second transfer...like I
am.) And Sister Chen, my first trainee. We have a fun "family" going!!
Love you all!
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