A Week of Miracles

Dear World,

This week has been a week of Miracles.  It hasn't been a perfect week, there is opposition in all things, but the blessings this week are sooooo big, that for me to really talk about any of the negatives would just seem incredibly ungrateful to focus on any of that. (on a sidenote, maybe life is always like that, and I'm too de-sensitized to notice, but that's another email!)

Miracles

Last week, we had a pretty large pool of non-progressing investigators.    They'd range from people like Emily (I've decided to make up names) (not quite an eternal investigator, but we've been teaching her for a long time and just won't commit) to people like Naomi  (Super Legit, but hadn't even been able to meet with her yet because of scheduling)  And every frustration in between.  We had zero people on date.  (I don't remember if that's self-explanatory or not, but on date means with a baptismal date) 

This week we have 7 people on date, all of them pretty solid about it.

We met with Emily, and had this lesson with her (you have to keep in mind, she had dropped and undropped us, and pushed us off then let us back, so we had nothing particular in mind for this meeting, we were just gonna address her concerns as best we could) which suddenly turned into the plan of salvation lesson.  She had been taught this already, at least twice I know, but somehow it never clicked before.  Suddenly it made sense to her that Baptism is the gateway into the Celestial Kingdom, where she can eventually live with her family forever (her parents passed away not too long ago, it's been hard for her).  She wants the Bishop (she called him "the big guy" haha) to baptize her, and she's on date for Easter Sunday.  She tells everyone she meets, and everyone at church about her baptismal date (that's a REALLY good sign she's solid about it) and her friend is coming up from some other state to come support her, and hold her parents picture so they can watch it too.  No one can tell me this wasn't a miracle.

Shamus, shamus, shamus, shamus,  haha, no real progress this week in terms of progressing as an investigator, but the doctors which had previously given him 5-10 years to live, saw him this week, and took that back.  He gives all the credit to us for praying for him, we tried to explain that it's Heavenly Father who blesses him, we just ask haha.  So that's a Miracle in and of itself, and in addition to that, I found out that he used to be a drug lord.  He was a millionaire, owned all these cars and houses, and then i guess like 20-25 years ago, he got busted by an undercover government agent or something, and they took everything away, which is why he's poor now and stuff.  I'm not 100% sure that's the truth, but I'm pretty sure it is, he's not prone to making stuff up or living in another reality.  Thought that was interesting haha.

Lenny, Finally came to church!!! He had his whole family there (except 6 year old taylor, she was at her biological mom's house which is too bad, cuz she wanted to go to church more than anyone)  and they really liked it.  Lenny understands that Church brings peace into his life, and he really needs that, because he works like crazy.  I can't think of a single visit or lesson at their house where he wasn't exhausted from work.  He is on date for April 1st kinda, but it's gonna move back or forth depending on when his wife's mom gets in town.  Regardless of the date, he is serious about his baptism and that's what matters.  His testimony is growing so much, and he knows it's what he wants for him and his family, and it's just incredible to watch a FAMILY grow closer to Christ.  It was his wife's first time at church since she was 16.  It was a MIRACLE.

Naomi, finally got over to her house and met with her!  First of all, watching Elder W teach her the first lesson blew me away.  He is a PHENOMENAL teacher.  Second, and foremost haha, she is such an awesome girl, she is really smart and understands a lot more than you'd suspect.  She really wants to get baptized, and is on date for April 6th, Jesus' birthday!  Her Dad and grandma are way tight also, and they all came to church on sunday!  It was a Miracle!!!!

A lot of missionary work is really pretty fun, but Tracting... generally isn't.  In the WATAC, our President is way big on 5-7's, EVERY DAY.  that's a lot of Tracting.  14 hours a week. 84 hours a transfer.  A lot of people don't like it when Missionaries come to their house.  But this week, I had the Best 5-7 of my mission thus far!

Elder W was on an exchange in D Mac (no idea), so we had Elder S with us, (a new missionary, 6 weeks older than me((mission age, i have no clue about real age)) who really doesn't like talking, so he doesnt.)  and we also had this guy in 1st ward on splits with us, he's like 19 i think, working on mission papers, named Dave.  Anyways, I was knocking with Dave,  Elder D was with Elder S.  First of all, knocking with Dave was really good for me, because it forced me to take the lead, and I got to see how far I've come, some areas  need to work on.  Dave and I set up a Church Tour, and met a new investigator named Lorenzo (he's this 17 year old Mexican kid, living on his own, doesn't have a job, he just hangs out in cities haha) and talked to him, had a prayer with him, and we're gonna meet him this week and teach him the Restoration, so Dave had a cool night of tracting, which is awesome, because he'll go on his mission already starting with a testimony of how important tracting is, and he'll know it can be successful!

 BUT, as good as our night was, Elders S and D did even better.  They met (ba ba da ba, ba da ba ba ba baaaaaaa... a FAMILY!

They met the Michel family.  They moved here 8 days ago from today.  There is the dad,  two teenage daughters and a son (12)  They brought up Baptism before we did.  They are so cool, the dad has some crazy stories, he was a sniper in some branch of the military or secret service or something, i don't remember, but I can tell you he has killed a bunch of people (i think he said like in the 40's or 50's) 

He has also read the ENTIRE Book of Mormon a few years ago.  we gave them all a copy of the book of mormon, and now each of the girls have read a few chapters too!  The girls came to church on yesterday, and made a bunch of friends with the Young Women (*more on this in a minute)  and they are the most solid in the family, but they are all really cool.  The Dad especially loves watching movies, so we brought over all the Dvd's we have for distribution, and some pamphlets (he wants more, because they have questions in the back, and he wants his kids to fill them out haha)
 

*we had a TON of people at church, 5 with a baptismal date, also considering inactives, and children etc, we had probably around 10 people at church.  Some of them have had bad experiences in the past with members not being very friendly.  Not this time.  The members treated everyone we brought like they were old friends.  it was the best thing i've ever seen.  The michel girls were brought into the YW circle within 5 seconds of Sacrament meeting ending.  couldn't even go over there and talk to them because they were surrounded and taken to class so fast haha.  Almost everyone who passed by our investigators in the halls or before or after Sacrament welcomed them and just made them feel at home.  It was so nice.  Members make SUCH a difference.

Everyone at home- Be good Members!!! I'll probably send emails in the future talking about how to be a good Member missionary (I was a terrible one, most members don't really know how, or have forgotten how i think) but all that aside, just love people.  I'm not saying this cuz I think you don't, I'm saying this to remind you of how important it is.  Everyone we brought wants to come back, and it's because of the members, not us :)
 

This has been a MIRACULOUS week.  Every single day there were miracles.  I can't thank you enough for your prayers.

I want everyone to know that even though I'm a young missionary, I can already say with all my heart that going on a mission was the best decision I've ever made.  The best decision I make each day is to continue to be a missionary.  I am so happy out here.  I am so pumped out here.  I can't think of any missionary who would be ridiculous enough to end their email with a Dubstep reference to describe how they feel.

Power Up The Bass Cannon.

Elder Lonas