Elder Larsen here, somewhere between Samoa-ville, Spanish-ville, and Aussie-ville, still trying to figure out what language to communicate in :).
God directs his missionaries
I have had a wonderful week! Really quite inspiring! My testimony has grown that Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers, always. I also know that we can receive revelation for ourselves and for those under our stewardships.
Early in the week, I had been praying to be able to recognize more readily God's direction in my daily life. I had felt that I am continuously directed in my studies, but specifically I wanted to be able to recognize how God directs his missionaries out in the field. The Lord answered my prayers (and the prayers of others).
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| Elders Kerr and Larsen - Thanks to WML, Bro. Hardwick for this pic. |
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| Two awesome missionaries and an awesome ward mission leader |
An inspired wrong turn
On Tuesday, Elder Kerr and I spent the day on foot, due to being low on k's for the month (maximum number of kilometers they are allowed to drive their car in a month). That was okay with both of us. I prefer being on foot:). We ended up taking a wrong turn (an inspired wrong turn, I might add), and to get back on track, we passed a street that I recognized as being the street that one of our potential investigators lives on. We decided to go and contact this individual. As we walked up the stairs of the apartment complex, and began to knock the door of our potential investigator, Elder Kerr received an impression to ascend one more level and knock a certain door above us. I received a similar impression. As we turned to walk back down the stairs, I paused, and looked up. I knew that we needed to go knock that door, and as an additional witness to the feelings we were both feeling, as I looked up, I saw the number "23" on the door, which just caught the light in such a way that the light reflected off of it, giving it a bright, (almost unbearably so) luminous appearance. There was no way that we could ignore that. We walked up the stairs and knocked the door, and met J_.
Praying for light and direction in this world of confusion
J_ and her partner, M_, are so prepared! Originally, when Elder Coats and I met the potential investigator we were trying to contact, J_ and her partner were walking down the stairs, and we had talked quite briefly, which was interrupted by the door opening. It turned out that J_ and M_ two days previous to that initial contact had been praying for light and direction in this world of confusion and turmoil. Then they met us the first time, followed by a knock on the door from us a couple weeks later. J_ shared all this with us after we shared Joseph Smith's first vision with her and her partner, and spoke of answers to prayer during our follow-up teaching appointment this past Thursday. I am so thankful for prayer, and for how Heavenly Father prepares His children to receive the Gospel. He not only answered my prayer in that experience, but the prayer of a boyfriend and girlfriend, both confused in the darkness of the world. I pray that they will fully embrace the Gospel, but even if they don't I can stand assured, knowing that our prayers were answered!
We also taught another new bloke named T_. T_ is a great guy. He is in a wheelchair, and lives on his own. Currently is looking for work, and also for more acceptance in this world. He was very receptive to what we shared about the plan of salvation, and we hope to be able to help him embrace the teachings of the Gospel.
Coming from no beliefs in any supreme being...
Another miracle, the previous Chinese missionaries in the ward left us with a whole host of Chinese investigators to teach. One of them, V_, has just declared his desire to be baptized! He was actually originally found by Elder Wu, one of my previous comps, just before he left Wollongong to be my companion in Bankstown! Cool stuff, aye? So V_ wants to be baptized on the 8th of Aug, but that could be changed to the following week, due to conflict with chapel availability. He described his conversion of coming from no beliefs in any supreme being at all, to slowly learning about the nature of God, and finally being receptive to the Holy Ghost and embracing those feelings. He has such a great heart, and righteous desire to serve God to the end of his life! How neat!
The entire week we were on foot
Basically the entire week we were on foot, which was good to break in my new trainee:). We have been having fun. Our area is massive but the trains and buses are helpful, so it isn't too bad. What good fun! Saturday we walked down to the furthest south end of our area, and a member family had pity on us and picked us up, and took us to a buffet. That was a yummy meal!! That family is super cool! The dad is Samoan, so I got an opportunity to use more fa'asamoa ma ia!
We are really looking forward to the coming week, with all of the follow-up and further teaching opportunities with those we are working with! M_ was sick, so we decided to move our fast to next week. Thanks for all of your prayers on his behalf! He is so ready, and as he receives an answer to his prayer with this particular question, he will be prepared to receive the fullness of the Gospel!
Sounds like the family is all having fun! Good to hear!!
JJ, I'm not really sure the difference between the different yo-yo's, what do you think is the best? (Happy Bday buddy!)
Ez, I'm speaking a mix of English, Spanish, and some Samoan here and there. Pretty confusing, huh?
Love you all heaps!
Elder Larsen
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