Mission Miracle from Elder Benjamin Miles

February 23, 2009

The first miracle was Valentin. I meet him two transfers ago and he told me that he knew everything about the church and that he had read all the standard works of the church. So we started meeting with him and he was progressing really well! Then my phone was stolen and I lost his number. So this Monday before transfer meeting my companion had some stuff to do on the computer at the church and I didn't want to just sit there and watch him so I went outside to contact people. I was standing there and a guy started to stare at the church and then he came up to me and stated asking me about the church and about why there are so many churches. We had a really good discussion and I gave him a Book of Mormon and got a phone number! And them when I went back to go in, who do I see coming down the street-- no other than Valentin!! He came because he had tried to call me and get a hold of me and when he couldn't he came to the church and so we met with him this week and talked about baptism. He accepted March 1st as his baptismal date and we also set up a program of the things we need to do to get him ready! So we are praying that he will go through! We talked with him about what we need to do to get him ready for baptism and he was ready to do all of it!

Also, this week we were in the blocks and we got into a bloc and knocked all the doors. When we finished, we hadn't gotten in any doors and it was 8 o'clock (The time we usually start to head home!) But we felt that we should get into one more bloc and so we did and at the second door some one let us in and we had a great discussion and he accepted a Book of Mormon and said that we could come back. He was this really open old man who loves to ski! His name is Lord Liviu! Very nice man and very open. It was a tender mercy of the Lord that we were able to teach them! I have really learned that the holy ghost works through our desires if you have a clean and pure heart he will give you desires that will lead you in the write direction. When we got out of that block I just had a desire to keep block knocking, it was a want with in me. It was an impression or a voice it was a desire to do something and when I did it I had miracles! I have had that happen many times on my mission. When I want to find people the Holy Ghost doesn't tell me go and do this no. All the sudden I want to go to a park or to the center of town. Then when I get there I find someone. As Nephi said, That after he had heard the words of his father he desired to know about them. I know that when we have the desire to do good the Holy Ghost is guiding us!


Also this week we got a referral from some elders of this kid named Ionuti( johnny) And so he called us up and he came and met with us last night!! it was such a great discussion and he is super open. He told us the reason why he stopped the elders was because he wants to get closer to Christ and so he knew we could help him. We talked about the Book of Mormon and how it can help him in that process and we also invited him to come and listen to Elder Oaks because he is coming to Romania on Wednesday! So, we are really excited to be working with him! He is a true seeker of the truth and wants to get nearer to our Savior!

Next Miracle! This week we went with the branch president and visited a member who has recently reactivated and his wife was there and we had a lesson with them and it went amazing! It was so wonderful to have the Branch President, President Zarif, because we were able feel his love and concern for the members and the spirit was so strong! So we are going to start working with this man and his wife and son!

Mission Miracle from Elder Zachary Bunting

February 23, 2009

After church we went back to someone in the blocks that had told us we could come back on Saturday. Her name is Mirela, and it was seriously probably the second best first lesson of my mission, other than the one with Robert and Felicia (in Bacau). Every time we brought up a point that was clearly new to her, such as the need for prophets, the falling away of the church, or finding out the truth, she would stop and think about it really hard, then say, "you're right" and proceed to explain her thought process. She said that we caught her at the right time, because if we had come 3 or 4 weeks earlier, she would have rejected us, saying that she's Orthodox. However, in the meantime she said that she has thought about it and wondered if there really isn't something more, that the fact that she was born in a certain church doesn't mean you have to remain in it. She knows she can ask God and receive answers. To me, one of the coolest parts of the lesson, which I realized afterward, was that after explaining the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith, I don't know why, but I had her read John 10:16, and then I read to her 3 Nephi 15:17,21. A couple minutes later she said, "You know I was wondering why these things happened in America, because I had always heard about everything being in Jerusalem. I didn't really like it, but then you read that about Christ's sheep. You're right, I mean we're all His sheep (her own realization, not what I had said), so why would the truth only be in America, or only Jerusalem, or only Romania?" Like I said, I don't know why I read those verses, but now I know it was to help her understand God's love for all of His children. I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost, who teaches so much better than I can.

Mission Miracle from Elder Derrick Schwartz

February 16, 2009

This last week I have truly seen 2 miracles in my mission. They are small things, but they have helped me and I have grown so much from them. The first one was when we were passing out English Flyers, Elder Patterson was on one side of the road, and I on the other, and I talked to a lady for about 15 minutes about the gospel and why I was here. It was great.... She grabbed my arm and tried to take me to her house right then, and I apologized and said we had an appointment that we were heading to.... I got her name and number and we will see what happens with her when we call her. The miracle was that I TALKED TO HER IN ROMANIAN all by myself and she understood me, and I her, for the most part.

The 2ND was yesterday in Sunday School.... Elder Rees came, and needed my companion to translate for the audits, and he planned the lesson earlier, and so he went, and I gave the lesson all by myself, not prepared, and it went well..... It actually was on Miracles too, and I noticed that it is really through faith that a miracle can be wrought. This last week I have wanted to talk to people more then what I have before knowing that I would grow more, and it has really come true. It also reminds me of Proverbs 3:5-6, that means a lot to me.

Mission Miracle from Sora Kara Staley

February 16, 2009

I was praying earnestly to find someone who we could teach. I wondered why the Lord wouldn't send us to those He knows are prepared. I told Him, "I'm here now...and I'm doing everything I can to be obedient." I finally came to the conclusion that I can expect great things if I'm willing to do my part. I told Him that I would muster all my courage and try to contact more people. If I did my best to talk more, I expected Him to guide us to one who is ready. As the day neared it's end, I decided that perhaps I hadn't fully done my part. However, still trying to be brave, we began block-knocking. Behind one door, stood a man smoking his cigarette and talking on the phone. He told us to wait while he finished the phone call. We began talking with him, and found out that he and his wife lost their adopted daughter when she was just four years old. Her death had killed them both. We testified to him that he could see her again, and that throught the gospel of Jesus Christ, we can be together with those we love for eternity. He just shook his head and said, "Who knows." But--his wife came home as we stood talking in the doorway. She held perfectly still and listened as we bore our witness. She invited us in, and we began a lesson on the Plan of Salvation, the purpose of opposition in this life, and of eternal families through the restored gospel. We then talked about how they can know it's true through reading and praying about the Book of Mormon. Victoria (the wife) began to cry and told us, "I want to know...I want to know." It was amazing for me to finally see someone who wasn't just curious, but really wants to know if she can see her daughter again. She'd truly been humbled by her afflictions, just like the people in the Book of Mormon who Alma and Amulek taught. Now she is ready to hear the word. It was a great lesson and I hope to continue working with her. The experience taught me that the Lord is so merciful, even when we fall short, He blesses us for trying.

Story #2: Sora Thompson and I went to the church for a lesson. As we waited our investigator to show up--which she never did--we decided to clean up the garbage along the fence line. As we were finishing, I noticed a man standing on the sidewalk watching us and staring at the building. He approached and asked, "What church is this?" Happily, we shared with him a brief lesson about our chruch and Sora Thompson ran into the church to get him a book. When she handed the book to him, he beamed! He told us that he'd seen the book before in English, and wanted to read it, but didn't know where to get it. He had no number for us to contact him and isn't from Bucharest (if I understood Romanian right) so we watched him walk away with a book and hope the Lord will take it from there. This is another example of how missionaries can be put in the right place at the right time.

I have one more story. We went through the ward roster in search of less-active members to visit. I saw a man who lives very close and asked Sora Thompson if we should try him. She had tried numerous times before and no one would come to the door. However, we agreed that it would be worth another try since he was so close. To our great joy, we found a wonderful old man with parkinsons disease, who cannot leave his apartment. He has a testimony of gold and was grateful for our visit. He told us that his birthday would be on Sunday, so we made arrangements to bring the sacrament to him. I have never appreciated the sacrament as much as I did yesterday, when I saw the Elders kneel on the rug in his humble apartment and provide a way for this man to renew his sacred covenants. Once more, I realized how blessed I am. It's wonderful that all I have to do is put on some shoes and walk to the church. Every week I am able to renew my covenants and be made clean again. This man had been without that priviledge for a long time so we were thrilled to provide him with the sacrament on his birthday!

I know that the Lord knows His children. No one is lost to Him. He loves us all very much and will bless us whenever we call on His name. I love being a missionary.

Personal Miracle from Missionary

I have offered a prayer to my Heavenly Father that the Holy Spirit will guide me and direct my thoughts as I express the miracles that have taken place in my life. I have had the desire to serve my Lord and Redeemer to help bring his children unto him ever since I have been a little boy. For several months prior to my service to my Savior I had the opportunity of working full time as a newspaper carrier. Due to the location and the early hours of the morning which I worked I had the blessing of staying with my grandparents once a week. I am their first grandchild and I have a special relationship with them. As a little boy I would stay with them often so memories came flooding back from my childhood and I felt like a little boy again.
I am grateful for their love and the values they live. They have raised two beautiful children one of which is my mother. She was baptized at the age of seventeen and is the only member of her family. I have great respect and love for my mother. I have seen how the richness of gospel has influenced her life and because of her faithfulness I have also been blessed. I have also felt the struggles of her heart as she desires so greatly to be with her family forever. Seeing her struggles and her pain has also caused me to suffer. However, I cherished the opportunity I had each week to be with my grandparents and share a spiritual thought. It was very emotional telling them I would be leaving to Romania but the last commitment I gave to them was to read the Book of Mormon during my two year service and find out if it is the word of God for it has the unique mission of turning the heart of men towards Christ.
Shortly after entering the Missionary Training Center in May 2007 I was told my grandmother had melanoma cancer and would not live until Christmas. I spent long hours on my knees praying to my Heavenly Father and asking Him why this was happening? I begged Him to spare her life. At length I came to the knowledge that working full-time as a carrier was not only a blessing financially but also allowed me to spend precious time with my grandmother, who I loved so dearly. He taught me to be grateful for all things and my prayers became soul searching answers. I learned that in order to gain greater faith would not mean life would be good with few trials or obstacles but in order to obtain it – means exercising it by having the necessary greater trials that will elicit the greater faith that I am seeking. I began to pray for the Lord’s will to be done. I knew whether or not I would see her again in this life I would see her in the next life and I was given that promise every time I knelt in humble prayer.
My thoughts have been turned to my last night at home as I spoke to my mom at the top of the staircase. She began to cry thanking me for all I had done for her parents and trying to share the gospel with them. We cried together and we made a pact to pray for them while I was gone so they would gain a testimony. In her last letter to me she wrote “You and I can pray that while you are on your mission they will somehow gain a testimony.”
I have often thought of my grandmother’s suffering and I asked myself why does she need to suffer? Why can’t you heal her Father? I know that you have this power? I have learned that as difficult as these situations are, I know in my heart as wonderful as it would be for her to be healed or to be blessed that the cancer or disease does not spread – what truly matters most is that these situations move her and each one of us to have a closer relationship with Heavenly Father, to acknowledge the power of the priesthood and the power of prayer and to move us to search more diligently for the truth. After all, does it really mean anything if a person is healed or spared pain or death and the person has no closer relationship with the Lord and Heavenly Father? What good is this for the person’s eternal progression after this life? I came to understand that her being diagnosed with melanoma cancer was an answer to our prayers.
I know that we are in the care of an all-wise, all-knowing, all loving Father in heaven. I know He wants to wrap us in His arms of love. He has taken good care of my grandmother. The greatest gift I was given this past Christmas was the testimonies of my family. What my grandmother shared with me is a miracle. She said “I know Jesus is the Christ is the Son of God; I know Jesus lives today and is always there for me. I have always believed in Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit since very young. My faith has grown stronger since my illness which was diagnosed in May of ’07. I know without a doubt, Heavenly Father lives and without Him I could not have gotten through these past eighteen months. I know all things are possible when you ask Heavenly Father through His Son Jesus. I have learned to ask, and even beg at times, for His help. This has been a difficult time for me but when I go to the Lord in prayer I get a sense of peace so I know He is there. I have learned a great deal about prayer but one of the most important things I have learned is to listen what the Lord is sating to me. I know He hears all prayers and answers all prayers. We may not always get the answers we want but I keep trying and listening.”
The doctors say she is a walking miracle. I spoke with her at Christmas and she looks forward to seeing me in a few months. I pray she will continue listening to the guidance of the spirit that she will enter the waters of baptism so she can partake of all the blessings her Heavenly Father has prepared for her. I know God has not ceased to be God that He is a God of miracles, for she is an evidence of this. I know that He has a living church and has called a living prophet. I know He has restored His sacred Priesthood. I know the Priesthood of God is exercised on a daily basis in leading His church and blessing the lives of individuals. I love my Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ with all my heart. I praise them and I look forward to the day I can kneel before them and wet their feet with my tears and thank them for what they have done for me, my family and my grandmother. It is in his sacred name I take and wear each and every day. I will always be grateful for Him and His sacrifice. It is His name I will glorify and always glorify is my prayer. In the sacred name of my Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ, amen.

Mission Miracle from Elder Alden Campbell

February 16, 2009

We met up with Familia B.j on friday to go to have a lesson with Elisabeta. We taught her the gospel of Jesus Christ using 2 Nephi 31 and Alma 7. The spirit was super strong. Eli (her daughter and Mircea's wife) helped us by explaining how the gospel has helped and does help her in her life. Also, Mircea helped us out by telling her that he was doing and experiencing these things as well. I love it...members and investigators teaching investigators. Perfect. She used to be against Eli when she got baptized but now she is happy and has had a change of heart and she wants to know and is accepting the gospel like a kitten drinking warm milk. She has come to church 2 times in a row now. She will get baptized. Back to the lesson...I love teaching by and with the spirit...it is the only way. God truly does put words into your mind and he blesses you with the gift of tongues in abundance when teaching. It is amazing.

A couple of weeks ago I came to the realization that every BOM that is accepted...will eventually lead to a baptism. (A narrow point of view would say no...but in reality it is very true). The BOM needs to be shouted form the rooftops! Every one will lead to a convert baptism. great huh!?

Mission Miracle from Elder Christopher Cantlon

February 15, 2009

I feel impressed to began my email with Moroni 7:36-37. “Have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved? Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.”

I am grateful for the promises made in these verses. I am grateful that we are always surrounded by heavenly beings and we always have the promise of having the Holy Ghost to be with us as long as man shall be upon the face of the earth. I know miracles continue to happen and that Heavenly Father loves us and as we turn to Him that we will come to understand His will.

This has been the week of miracles for us.

Thursday I went on a short exchange with Elder Grant. We went to the hospital to visit Corina. Before entering we had to put on white robes. Corina is 40 years old and has a very special light about her. We sang „Be still my Soul” This song has become one of my favourite songs and I feel impressed to include the lyrics. After singing to her we asked her if she would like a blessing and she thought that it would be a great idea. Elder Grant administered the blessing and it was beautiful. It was very humbling being in white doctor's robes and laying our hands upon her head and administering to her at the Savior would administer unto her. It was a very amazing experience and something that I will always cherish. Corina was unable to come to church because she is still in the hospital. She had a dream that she needs to break up with her boyfriend and that the Orthodox is not true. She knows the Book of Mormon is true but she is not sure if the church is true. She is praying about being baptized March 8th. She is a great woman

Saturday we had Priesthood session for all the priesthood holders in Bucuresti. There were about 20 men that attended but it was a great meeting and I was impressed by all three of the speakers. I would like to share what a member of the District Presidency shared.

He spoke of communism and how the people wanted their freedom and liberty. He said that the people here did not understand nor do they understand what liberty means. He said the people wanted their freedom from communism and they gained it but he said that freedom does not mean giving up something it means putting our trust into something. He read the 13th article of faith. „We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”

He said that liberty is seeking and putting trust into things that are virtuous, lovely and of good report. He said that liberty is becoming honest, true, chase and benevolent. He said it is our freedom to seek after these things. He said simply giving something up does not mean you have liberty. He gave the example I can give up my friends because they are not good friends. Or he said that I can seek after that which is good and pure and it is their decision if they want to follow. They can use their liberty to also follow that which is pure and good.

He also compared the people of Israel and traveling for 40 years to the amount of time Romania was under communism. Romania was under communism dominion for just over 40 years. He drew a connection to the people of Israel and said it was the children that ultimately realized they were traveling in circles and sought after that which was good and pure. He said that you are the children that also realized things need to be changed. He said you can wait for your children to make a difference or you can make a difference now. It was so amazing. I have not been that spiritually fed in a priesthood meeting in Romania I believe in my whole mission.

Another miracle involved a girl that we met on the train to Craiova. We had Elena S. (a member) help us and they became instant friends. It was very humbling taking her to the church. It was humbling how we met her on a train to Craiova and we were not planning on going there. It shows me the Lord knows all things. After Anda we had a lesson with Riad. He is an Assyrian man that was a former investigator that had a baptismal date in December. We set up with him and asked us if he could meet us at the Hilton hotel. We met him there and said he has a great desire to change and wants to meet us more often. He said that he wants to be baptized June 1st. I consider that a miracle from the Lord. We talked about the God head how Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are three separate personages but are one in purpose and unity. We testified that Heavenly Father has a body of flesh and bone which is glorified and perfected and that we can become like Him someday if we do our part. He is a great man and we are meeting wit him again on Wednesday.

Church was another miracle. We have been averaging about 60-70 people at church each Sunday since I have been in Bucuresti and on Sunday we had almost 100 people... 94 to be exact. We had almost 10 people that had not been to church in almost 15 years. Some did not even know there was a chapel. It is my goal to speak to everyone on Sunday and use their name and see how they are doing. It is very difficult but I know how much it means to them and I spoke to at least 7 people that have not been to church in 14 years. We also had 10 investigators at church. The sisters had a beautiful family show up from the blocs. I taught them in the investigators class. We had two people show up who we contacted last week in front of the church. We had a mother bring one of her daughters who is not a member and her child. It was amazing.

A member of our District Presidency stood up at the end of Priesthood and said Fratele D. was paralyzed this past week. He then asked, “Who is coming with me this week to visit him?” It was amazing as one man put up his hand and said I will go with you. He said how many of our brethren are not here. He said who is not here who was not here last week. I think maybe out of the twenty Priesthood holders present only 2 knew. Most of the missionaries and I knew everyone that was not there. He said “What is a quorum.” He said a quorum is united. He said the amount of people in a quorum does not matter. He said there can only be two members and they will still be a quorum. He said what matters is whether or not they are united. He said why did the Lord tell the apostles to love one another. He said because he knew if they did not they would not be a quorum. I had never even thought about that. He said we are not here to read from a book. We are to love those around us and bring them back to church. He said we are not united right now. He said you need to be doing your home teaching, he said you need to know who is not here and go and get them because that is what the Lord has commanded us to do, to love another. He said we show our love by going out and getting them. I had goosebumps on my arms. All of the missionaries were ready to stand up and clap. We all have been waiting for this for a very long time. I came to realize that we should take the time in Priesthood and talk about those that are not present and make sure those that are not present get a call or a visit and talk about those that are less active. That is what we do for district meeting and that is what should be happening through out the church. We must be applying the things we study and learn in order to help the brethren that are not coming to church. I was spiritually fed and felt like the things I learned in that meeting would bring miracles for the people here.