June 8, 2009
I decided that these last two weeks of this transfer I had in Sibiu were going to be the best two I have had here and so far it has been. First of all, when Elder Kopiscke from the Seventy visited our Zone Conference, he asked us to look for males in the range of 17-23 to be “our replacements.” At first I was skeptical because they have the highest bung rate for me. In fact, Elder Eyre and I had 17 bungs in one week alone from people in this age range, but our Zone Leaders challenged us to pray to be received by the people so that is what I did. I can't think of one teenager who I attempted to speak to that didn't stop to listen at least for a minute, even if they were in hurry. That never happens and several stopped us and told us they did not live in Sibiu and were only there that day but wanted a Book of Mormon. Next we had the most lessons in one week I have had in Sibiu, and two less actives back at church bringing the total to 20 people at Church--13 members. 4 children, and 1 investigator ( I will talk about him later), myself and Elder Martineau. Sora Dancu and Marius Ciuca are coming back strong! Back to the investigator we had at church---his name is Ioan and Elder Holmes and I met him while on exchange knocking in the Villas Friday night. He is a true miracle story we were out knocking villas before a lesson and weren’t having much success, until we hit on Ioan’s gate. At first a little three year old girl answered the gate. We asked if her parents were home and she went and got her mom who said she had talked to our missionaries before and was interested in receiving a Book of Mormon, but did not really have time right now. But, she said you can talk to my Dad--- he doesn't have anything to do! So we asked him if he was interested and he said sure but nothing too big, so we shared a quick restoration lesson with him. At about the 15 minute point he stood up and said “So when and where do you guys have church?” We told him and he said “Ok, I will be there.” His daughter said, “You can't with your bum leg,” but he said “There is a bus. I can make it if I want, and then he basically closed the lesson. I didn't think too much about it, since people say they will come all the time and previous to him I have only had 3 people who had baptismal dates at church in my entire mission: Arabela in Galati, Doina in Bucharest and Carl in Arad. But Sunday rolled around and he showed and our more promising (so I thought) investigator didn't. This man stayed for sacrament meeting and loved it-- especially the sacrament. He wanted to stay for Sunday School but his paralitic leg was bothering him so we set up for later that night. When we went out to his house, he came to the gate with a huge smile on his face and we began to give a more in depth restoration lesson. As we discussed things, he indicated that he had already began to read the Book of Mormon and underline it and he felt the way I described the spirit when he read from it. From that I knew he was serious. We discussed Moroni's promise and what it means if it is true from the intro and how to apply his faith from Alma 32. Then I said what does it mean to have “real intent” and we talked about how we have to be willing to act on our response and follow Christ's example when we receive it. We then read about Christ’s example in being baptized in 2nd Nephi 31. He said following Christ’s example was getting baptized in his church and I said, “ Ioan, if you really find out these things, will you follow Christ’s example and be baptized in his church?” He said “I already feel it is true. Yes!” So we set him up for July 12. He said he likes things visually drawn up so we presented him with a baptismal calendar with the things he needs to study and when we would like to meet. He is awesome and right on track. Those are just a few of the miracles from this week!
I decided that I would put God to the test and I put in as much faith and Spirit as I could and these are the results! I know God fulfills his promises as long as we do according to his will like it says in D&C “I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise,” or in Mormon 9:7 “Ask whatever good thing believing that ye shall receive and it shall be done unto according to your faith!”
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