The week started off great with a
couple lessons with D____ and L____. D_____ is just loving learning more
and more. It is beginning to become "delicious" to him like it is
described in Alma 32. We answered a lot of his questions and reviewed
all the preparation that comes before baptism. As soon as we brought up
the reading we left him, he asked "Do I need to be baptized?" Of course
we were excited and responded with asking, "why do you think that?" He
laughed and said, "because if I don't, it doesn't sound too good." It is
one of our goals with him, we haven't set a date yet but I am praying
we can set one here soon. The next day we taught him again in L____
parents home, The R______. It was awesome. We started the Plan of
Salvation and really hit home with the Atonement. Making sure he
understands that the Atonement is the key and center to the whole Plan.
It was so spiritual and amazing. His questions are perfect and I love
teaching him. I am so grateful we found D_____, I hope it just keeps
getting better and better.
Bro. A______ is still
doing well. We got to meet with him a couple times this last week and
found out his house is finally coming together. He is so happy to be
coming back to church and getting his life in order. It makes me happy
to see how much a difference the Gospel can make in someones life when
they don't have all the material things. It brings peace like it has in
his life. 2 weeks in a row he has come to church, it is awesome!
We
had another powerful experience with a less-active member named Sister
R____. She hasn't come to church in a while, at least since I have been
here. We go over every once and awhile, read the scriptures and then
invite her back. She always tells us, she will try but it never goes
beyond that. We started our discussion this last week with 1 Nephi 3:7
and talked about obedience and God's commandments. As we listened to the
spirit, it began to touch Sis R____'s heart as she listened to what we
had to say. She finally told us all what her real concern was and we
were able to talk to her about it. She asked us a really good question,
"how can you feel worthy of God's love even when you know what to do and
you aren't doing it?" I testified to her of God's love and our divinity
as his Children. I am truly grateful and am reminded of who I am as I
recognize the simplicity of the statement, "I am a Child of God." The
spirit was sweet in her home that evening, she committed to come to
church next Sunday
and start to make those changes in her life. I knew that Heavenly
Father was there to guide our words, I know that He loves her as much as
He loves you and I. Even if we fall and aren't always choosing the
right, He knows us and loves us.
Bro N____ asked us this last week to go visit his cousin S_____. So we headed over there Saturday
to try and pop in. As we walked up they were a little quiet but
friendly and I wasn't sure how to introduce us in a way that they
wouldn't totally reject us because I didn't want them to tell us to go
away. So what did I do? I just went and sat down next to them and
started chatting with them. I started joking with the husband, G_____, and
we had a few good laughs. We then expressed to them that we know her
cousin and that we wanted to share a special message with them, they
accepted and we started into our discussion. It actually went really
well and they loved it, G______ even told us that he was going to share the
Book of Mormon with is church the next day. It was awesome! Afterwards
they expressed to us that they were happy they met us and liked the way
we taught them. She said in the past missionaries came by but they were
too overbearing and she didn't like the way they approached them. They
loved how we were friendly, nice and they enjoyed our company. It was a
funny and a great experience, we plan to follow up on their reading this
next week.
Now for Spiritual Sunday!
Yesterday was the best, I loved every minute of it. Sacrament meeting
was great, Elder Magleby and I taught Gospel Principles which went
awesome. One of the members told us afterwards how impressed he was at
how we taught. He said on his mission it was hard to transition with
some of his companions, but we just flowed so well and he said it was
awesome to see. It is so cool to see how far we have come together. Our
teaching has gotten so great and our friendship continues to get
stronger. Later on, we had a cottage meeting at Bro. S______' house. It
was a casual meeting where members can invite non-members and
less-active's to come partake in a spiritual discussion. The topic of
the night was the Atonement, something that we all use in our lives. The
whole meeting was awesome, I felt a great peace being there. After the
meeting, we enjoyed some peach cobbler and live music from Bro. S_____'
son and grandsons. One plays the guitar, fiddle, banjo and the bass. It
was awesome!
This week was great and I am
looking forward to the one to come. At the start of the last week, I
told Elder Magleby that we need to make these last 2 weeks good ones so
we named them "Power Weeks." Just leaving everything we've got on the
field and doing our best, that's what we are going for. It has been
great and this next week should be packed as well. I am excited and
happy to see all the success we are having. I hope each of you have a
great week and continue to have the influence of the Spirit in your
life. Our Heavenly Father is real and He loves you, as do I! Have a
wonderful week and keep on smiling. :)
Love,
Elder Mason Rankin :)
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