Mission Miracle from Elder Derrick Schwartz

June 22, 2009

We have been working with a gentleman named Adrian, and he started investigating the church after talking with the missionaries and us being harassed by a passing orthodox priest. He fought with Adrian a little about how we were disciples of the devil, and then said you can go and listen to what they say. After this, Adrian gladly gave the missionaries his phone number while he was still there, and to the missionaries’ surprise, he set up with them. Elder Holmes and O'Connell were working with him, and many times Elder O'Connell and I found ourselves on exchanges and going together to teach him lessons. After getting through the restoration, plan of salvation, and the gospel of Jesus Christ, we talked a bit about the priesthood and the power that comes from it. He talked a lot about a disease that he has, and how it is really bad right now. It has kept him from working lots and he was not sure that God loved him. We reassured him and talked to him about that. He asked for a blessing, and being a 3rd and 4th transfer speaking missionaries, Elder O'Connell and I managed to get by with giving him a blessing. He knew English too, and so he said give it to me in English. So we did... He understood all of what we said, and we enjoyed the remainder of the time talking about family work, the church website and many other things. We left knowing that he would be in Russia for a month for work.
... Now he is back in Ploiesti and I had the opportunity of going and visiting him with Elder Smith on an exchange, and to see him doing well. He told us about his story of how he went to the doctor, and had a check up on his health condition. He was telling us of how his sickness was on this scale of health ration. Where mid 20's you are so healthy and athletic/exercising etc... And then in the mid 40's, it is a bad place to be health wise. His unfortunately was at 108.... NOT GOOD at all! He said that the nurse came in and checked his tests again to double check, but he IS NOW at 28. Meaning he is as healthy as a mountain hiker who goes out weekly.... CRAZY! He said that I was doubting having you boys do your interesting blessing thing, and all I could think about was that you were doing it and I was crazy for letting you. I know that I was healed by your faith. It had to have been a part of his faith that healed him too. Elder O'Connell and I fasted and prayed all would be well, and he is healthy and going and his life is not threatened by this disease currently. Adrian now has a strong testimony about the Priesthood and knows the power that it has. Both Elder O'Connell and I think that one day he will accept the gospel and will be a strong leader and missionary to the people here!