Mission Miracle from Elder Justin McBride

September 27, 2009

About two or three weeks ago we were walking our usual loop looking for the elect when we saw what looked like a wedding on wheels... so we decided, "Why not get closer?" So we did. As we got closer we could see that it was not a wedding, but rather a funeral progression. Kinda sad. There were three coffins in this big truck and about a hundred sad people following behind it on foot. It was moving really really slow! So we just kind of tried to see what was going on when a dude in an Audi A6 rolls down his window and asks us if we are with Jesus. He was following the progression in his car... I mean why wouldn't you ---it is an Audi! Who needs feet in a situation like that? ... So we of course tell him yes! And he motions for us to get into his car... I was reluctant at first but decided that I could use myself a good adventure story... I hadn't had one since I was hit in the face... So we climbed into this guy’s wicked nice car and began to talk to him. Well he asked the million dollar question, "Where is my friend? Really?" So we began to tell him the whole idea of a spirit world and so on and so forth. And then he asked about the man's sons. I guess what happened was this family was driving between Ploiesti and Bucuresti and got in a major head on collision and everybody died! Except for the mom... I'll get to her in a bit. So we told him that God gave us families as a gift and he is not one to take gifts away unless we mistreat them... and so on... and then he thanks us and we hook him up with a family proclamation... that took about 15 minutes.

Then about a week ago now we were knocking doors. Nothing was going for us. NOTHING! So we worked our way down the street a little further and there was some old lady out in front of her house and initially I just walked by... thinking nothing of it. Then about four steps past her the whole spirit thing kicked it and I was compelled to turn around. So I did and I asked her if she had ever seen us around and so on. The response she gave was so random, but without it we would have never had the experience we had. She said, "We just had a family tragedy where a father died in a car wreck..." I cut her off there, remembering the funeral progression, and said, "With his two sons huh?" She was amazed that I could tell... and just answered in awe, "Yeah" Then we began to tell her that we have the happiest message in the whole universe! That we know exactly every jot about our fate after this life! And we don't need to be sad! In missionary terms we call this a hook. She was in.

So we tried to sit with her then but she was all alone and didn't want to sit with us alone... understood... so we set up to go back last tuesday. AND WE DID! And it rocked! They were so down with knowing God loves them even in their trials! But while we were there her daughter told us that the mom from the accident is in a coma and still has no idea about the rest of her family! Yikes, we call that holy sad Batman! So we told them that we wanted to come back and tell them the whole plan, we had only talked about after life on Tuesday. So we set up for Sunday.

Sunday rolls around and we get into the lesson and it was going really really well. They were asking awesome questions and everything. But then, as we are teaching them in their courtyard some old man, they don't know, comes rolling in. uh oh. He began to tell us that he has studied the Bible for fifty years or so and knows everything about the gospel of Jesus Christ. So he killed what we had going for us... and after hearing his persistence on the Sabbath being Saturday we realized he was adventist! Oh goody. So we let him shpeal for a time until finally I'd had it with him. He was in the process of bragging about how he stumped an orthodox priest on some crazy subjects and so on... and he began to list them, the first being the sabbath.... until he got to miracles. Then he continued the story. So I stopped him. I asked him very politely about how great he knew the scriptures and he replied that he could respond to any question. So I put mine forth, "Prophets? They have been around since Adam, Jesus said they would come... where are they now?" He was stumped. He just looked at me, and I at him. I let the silence kick in for drama then turned to the family and said, "I know where prophets and apostles are!" Then the testifying began. I have never testified so much in my life on Joseph Smith! It rocked socks! The family was hooked, this was a message of happiness! Sorrow has no reign on truth! "O grave where is thy victory? O death where is thy sting?" We are going back next Sunday and we are going to give them a proper restoration lesson. This was a story I wasn't going to tell originally, but after yesterday I had to! I just thought it would turn out to be another bung story! But they are honestly earnest! I love it!

Mission Miracle from Sora Kelly Owen

September 21, 2009

This week on Friday we were going to an appointment and it fell through but the neighbor came out. We ended up teaching her instead. While we were teaching her, she said, “Hold on” and went to another part of the building and found a member who then asked us if we could go teach her mother-in-law. It was really cool because we were blessed with member presence at the lessons that day. We had set that goal and had not been able to find a member to go yet to our later appointment so it was a blessing. Now the mother- in- law has become a progressing investigator. It was really a miracle- especially since half the time I didn't know what was going on. We were really blessed.

Mission Miracle from Sora Kara Staley

September 14, 2009

After zone conference (which was wonderful by the way) we had about 1 hour to wait for our ride back to Iasi. Sora Richards and I decided to go out contacting. We recieved five numbers in 40 minutes. That's a miracle! I love seeing how the Lord blesses us when we use His time, doing His work.

Other miracles:
The other day we were running a little late, so we hurried down the sidewalk quickly to make it somewhere. An older woman Gabi was standing on the sidewalk. She stopped us with some small talk and questions. I prepared in my mind how I would turn the conversation but to my surprise, she went right to business and said that she'd read our pliant and wanted a copy of the Book of Mormon. She set up to meet us later that day, and we were able to provide her with a book. God literally set her right in our path.

After English class Saturday we had a lesson with Sora Padure. For weeks I've been wanting to ask her specifically for a referral but I was hesitant. Finally we asked her, "Sora Padure, do you have any friends that need to hear the gospel message?" She immediately responded that she has a friend Genina who has been asking her questions about the church, but admitted that she's afraid to push Genina too hard. We told her how the Lord has been bugging us to ask her specifically for a referral. That gave her courage to act and she's going to invite Genina to meet with the missionaries and come to church. Yay again!

On Sunday, we went over to some blocks right after church got out. In the last block, we both began feeling ill and ready to go home. We sat on the steps trying to decide if we should just quit. Well, using our brilliant method of decision making, I asked Sora Richards to choose between two random objects that represent something. She chose "tree" which meant that we must stay and finish. As we continued on, I remembered the words I'd spoken during our prayer. I'd asked Heavenly Father to help us have energy and desire to finish the block. I told Him we'd endure to the last door, if he'd bless us with His words. Well, it just so happens that behind the very last door in that block of 44 doors was a man named Mihai. He invited us in and we taught him (and kinda his daughter who was going in and out of the room) the restoration. He undertsood very well and promised to pray and read. Enduring to the end always pays off.

Mission Miracle from Elder Bryce Betteridge

September 6, 2009

Our miracle took place on Saturday night. Eze has been having problems with paying his rent because his girlfriend took his passport, and he cannot get any money from his account. Elder Moore and I went to translate for him, because he does not speak Romanian. Eze did not come in with us the first time, he wanted us to talk to her, so we said a prayer with him, and went up to his place. When we got there, she told us that she wanted him out and did not even want the money anymore. She was tired of not being able to communicate with him, and the fact that he hadn't paid her and it had been over a week since the money was due. We convinced her to let him stay the night and go to church and then he would leave. When we went and talked to Eze, he said he wanted us to talk to her again, and see if we could get him a few more days to find a new place to live. We did, and she said she would give him until Tuesday night. So we were happy with that, and talked with Eze in his room for a few minutes when the land lady came in again. She told Elder Moore and myself to come with her. We went and she told us that she would give him a second chance! We talked with her for a while and figured out the details with money and his passport. We told her that he would be able to pay her on Tuesday, and I know that her heart was softened. Sorry this miracle wasn't about someone we taught, but I still I think it is a miracle how this lady was able to have her heart softened because of Eze's faith that the Lord could do it

Mission Miracle from Elder Travis Harley

September 5, 2009

So, 2 weeks ago we were at a sandwich shop, and we were just about to leave. A dude walked past who worked at the crepe shop next door in the mall. He stopped us and he started talking to us, asking about the Book of Mormon and how we claim to have the authority of God and stuff. We were talking and we exchanged numbers. Peter, is his name... in English. Petre, is his name. ha ha. So we were going to stop by his crepe shop and have a lesson over there with him. He had said to just come by because he has all the time in the world at his shop. So on Tuesday, we went over to his shop, because it wasn't official, just a whenever type of deal. So we went and had lunch at his shop and we talked. PS, the food is soooooooooooooo dang good. Then he starts talking about the Book of Mormon. Where is it today if Joseph Smith translated it? Why can't I see it? Apparently, he studied all religions in Greece. He read the Book of Mormon in two days once, and read it again a second time. So I put the Book of Momon on the table and I said, “Its right here.” I flipped to Moroni's promise and said, “If you pray you can know if this book was translated through Joseph Smith. We testified, then moved on to faith. He agreed to meet again. The next day we went back to eat lunch there and we talked a little bit more. That day something clicked. I really liked him at that moment. It was like a love just exploded for this man. Then we set up to meet the next day.

So the next day we meet at the church and we have a lesson. We bounced all over the place from kingdoms of glory to the first vision. We couldn't stay straight on a path. Now this guy knows everything about the church. I mean he knows everything about the church. He has studied a lot about our church--from the first vision to the word of wisdom. He knows everything so we couldn't really teach him anything. We just have to get him a testimony, and that was what we were trying to do. So finally I asked, if the bible says that there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, what church do you believe is the church that Christ established? He stopped for a moment, looked at the church then he looked at me and said, “Your church. I know that your church is the true church... in my opinion. Apparently this is how the story goes... 5 or 6 years ago he was contacted by the missionaries for English. He came to English, didn't like it, but he came to church. He refused lessons from the missionaries, but he attended church every Sunday. Then one day, he told the elders that he wanted to be baptized. They said they needed to find a date and get things worked out. So we will get back to you. But then he heard some member, who said something like "he doesn't deserve to be baptized." or something around those borders. Peter wasn't suppose to hear it, but he heard it. From that point on, he stopped going to church. He never went back. A year ago, he decided to try it again. But the members, as he said, were phonies. They were faking love for him, but didn't mean it. He hears them talking about him. So he said, I will never come back to this branch again. soooooooo he has secretly been going to the Brasov chapel once a month.

So he reads the Book of Mormon on a regular basis, prays daily, this man is legit! He is sooooooooooooo awesome. So at that lesson he said, I stopped you guys to see if you were the elders that I needed to talk to you. That first time we talked about the Book of Mormon, I was asking you questions to see if you were the ones, and you were... but he refuses to go to this branch. So we are going to work out a situation for him to go to the Bucuresti branch, which is like 45 minutes away. Friday night we gave him a baptismal date for the 12th. He wants it, but said i don't want it now. i don't have that desire that i once had. I don't think I want it now. so we read 3 Nephi 11 with him. Tesitfy. He said he would pray about it, talk to his wife, and give it anther shot. Saturday we went back to eat a crepe and he said I prayed about it, i'll i need to do is to get my wife saying yes. He has tried to talk to her, but she needs to say yes. So he is getting that desire! OH I LOVE THIS MAN!So, 2 weeks ago we were at a sandwich shop, and we were just about to leave. A dude walked past who worked at the crepe shop next door in the mall. He stopped us and he started talking to us, asking about the Book of Mormon and how we claim to have the authority of God and stuff. We were talking and we exchanged numbers. Peter, is his name... in English. Petre, is his name. ha ha. So we were going to stop by his crepe shop and have a lesson over there with him. He had said to just come by because he has all the time in the world at his shop. So on Tuesday, we went over to his shop, because it wasn't official, just a whenever type of deal. So we went and had lunch at his shop and we talked. PS, the food is soooooooooooooo dang good. Then he starts talking about the Book of Mormon. Where is it today if Joseph Smith translated it? Why can't I see it? Apparently, he studied all religions in Greece. He read the Book of Mormon in two days once, and read it again a second time. So I put the Book of Momon on the table and I said, “Its right here.” I flipped to Moroni's promise and said, “If you pray you can know if this book was translated through Joseph Smith. We testified, then moved on to faith. He agreed to meet again. The next day we went back to eat lunch there and we talked a little bit more. That day something clicked. I really liked him at that moment. It was like a love just exploded for this man. Then we set up to meet the next day.

So the next day we meet at the church and we have a lesson. We bounced all over the place from kingdoms of glory to the first vision. We couldn't stay straight on a path. Now this guy knows everything about the church. I mean he knows everything about the church. He has studied a lot about our church--from the first vision to the word of wisdom. He knows everything so we couldn't really teach him anything. We just have to get him a testimony, and that was what we were trying to do. So finally I asked, if the bible says that there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, what church do you believe is the church that Christ established? He stopped for a moment, looked at the church then he looked at me and said, “Your church. I know that your church is the true church... in my opinion. Apparently this is how the story goes... 5 or 6 years ago he was contacted by the missionaries for English. He came to English, didn't like it, but he came to church. He refused lessons from the missionaries, but he attended church every Sunday. Then one day, he told the elders that he wanted to be baptized. They said they needed to find a date and get things worked out. So we will get back to you. But then he heard some member, who said something like "he doesn't deserve to be baptized." or something around those borders. Peter wasn't suppose to hear it, but he heard it. From that point on, he stopped going to church. He never went back. A year ago, he decided to try it again. But the members, as he said, were phonies. They were faking love for him, but didn't mean it. He hears them talking about him. So he said, I will never come back to this branch again. soooooooo he has secretly been going to the Brasov chapel once a month.

So he reads the Book of Mormon on a regular basis, prays daily, this man is legit! He is sooooooooooooo awesome. So at that lesson he said, I stopped you guys to see if you were the elders that I needed to talk to you. That first time we talked about the Book of Mormon, I was asking you questions to see if you were the ones, and you were... but he refuses to go to this branch. So we are going to work out a situation for him to go to the Bucuresti branch, which is like 45 minutes away. Friday night we gave him a baptismal date for the 12th. He wants it, but said i don't want it now. i don't have that desire that i once had. I don't think I want it now. so we read 3 Nephi 11 with him. Tesitfy. He said he would pray about it, talk to his wife, and give it anther shot. Saturday we went back to eat a crepe and he said I prayed about it, i'll i need to do is to get my wife saying yes. He has tried to talk to her, but she needs to say yes. So he is getting that desire! OH I LOVE THIS MAN!

Mission Miracle from Sora Danielle Jones

September 4, 2009

This week was definitely a week full of miracles. It started earlier in the week when we met with a man that we had contacted the week before. His name is Daniel. We took a member with us and the lesson went really well. The miracle part was that at first his mother was closed and a little hesitant with us and interrupted a lot to talk to the member. But after some discussion she started listening really intently and they both listened really well to the First Vision. At the end of the lesson Maria, the mom was asking us about church and said they would be there if nothing interferes and that they would bring her daughter as well. Then the member offered to give them a drive to church because he lived really close. Really great lesson and really great people to work with. Sad part is that some visitors came over so they couldn't come to church, but we will get them there next week!

The second miracle is my favorite. It happened Saturday night. The Assistants dropped us off in the area where we had planned block knocking the night before. We walked a little way down and Sora Slaeman decided on a block. We got in and no one responded in the first few doors. Then on the fourth door a lady answered and got really mad at us and told us to leave urgently. We just moved to the next door down the stairs but she didn't like that so she came out and pushed us down the stairs and out the door.

Well, we had more time so we just went to see if we could get into the next set of doors. The first door that we rang into the lady asked us who we were and we told her that we are the LDS missionaries. She said, "Ok. I'll let you in but just come up to my door don't knock on any other door." So we went up and she let us in. I was a little hesitant because I have had situations like this. They let you in and then realize you aren't who they thought you were and kick you out. But that is not what Florica did. She had us sit down and gave us some nice fruit tea and told us why she let us in.

She said that just over a year ago she and her son had gone on a three week tour of the USA. For a couple of days they stayed at an LDS family's home in Dallas. They really liked that family and promised that when they go back and the missionaries from the LDS church knock on her door she would let them in. And so just over a year later that is exactly what she did. We gave her a lesson on the Book of Mormon and gave her one. We are expecting good things coming from them.

Ok third miracle story of the week happened yesterday. Sora Crista brought a life long friend to church. She loved it and invited us over for lunch after church. She speaks amazing english so we talked the whole time in english. Then her son showed up and we had an amazing lesson with them. They are really open people ready to learn.

Mission Miracle from Elder Truedsan Sandberg

August 19, 2009

We had a neat experience this week with a new investigator. We had met a young man on the street early on in the week and had set up a meeting with him and his parents for later on in the week. When we arrived at his home no one answered. We were a little discouraged and turned to leave. As we were exiting the bloc a man stopped us, shook our hands, and introduced himself. In our shock, we said hello and kept walking. Once we were outside we looked at each other wondering who that guy was. We wondered if he was a member or something but decided against that. We were about 50 meters away from the block when Elder Zemp turned to me and said, "man, God is probably shaking his head at us right now and saying there goes another baptismal date." At which I said, "what do we have to lose--- let's go back." We went back, but to our dismay the door was locked. We turned around thinking well at least we did our part when the door opened and the man called us back. He asked if we wanted in and we told him we had actually come back to talk to him. At that point he was beaming and began to tell us about how he had been looking for a place to be baptized and how we had come at "timpul potrivit." He invited us in to his apartment and we had a great lesson and gave him and his sister a tentative baptismal date at the end. We're hoping to solidify this date at our next appointment with them. It was a reminder to me about how the promptings of the spirit work and the need for us to always be attentive to the still small voice.

Mission Miracle from Sora Danielle Jones

August 14, 2009

We are teaching right now two young girls and their grandma. They will be getting baptized this Saturday and they are excited. The miracle is watching the grandma, Iuliana, grow and change her life. She is one of the most humble people I have met. Just after the missionaries started teaching her and her granddaughters just over a week ago she heard that we don't drink coffee. Just because she heard that she stopped drinking coffee and hasn't touched it since. Then when we taught her tithing she pulled out her money slips so that we could show her how much she should pay. She kept saying over and over that she is going to pay it as soon as she gets it which means this Sunday when she gets confirmed. She is an example to me of obedience with out asking why.

I love this family so much. I overheard the girls' mom yesterday at church talking to another member. She was talking with another member about going to the temple. She said that in a year she will get to go and now that her daughters and mother are getting baptized she can go with them and be sealed with them.

It amazes me how important one person can be in this world. One person’s righteous actions blesses the lives of so many others.

Mission Miracle from Sora Kara Staley

August 2, 2009

I told you last week about Sonia--the young atheist girl (18 years) we met block-knocking. She's been keeping all her commitments and trying to pray. She agreed to come with us to church a few days ago, but then yesterday morning, she called and said she wasn't feeling well and that we'd have to try another time. We happened to be fasting for Sonia to get a response and this seemed like a terrible thing to happen in the mist of a fast! I was of course frustrated, knowing that Satan would try something like this. I left the room to be alone and knelt in prayer. I plead with my Heavenly Father, telling Him that we needed a miracle. I explained that I know all people have their agency, but that I was fully aware my faith could get Sonia to church. I acknowledged that though I do not fully comprehend His plan for Sonia, I know that her presence at church could not possibly be against His will. I told Him that if Alma could pray and get an angel sent to stop his rebellious son, I knew He could do a miracle for Sonia. I asked for guidance and promised to act promptly. When I stood and re-entered the room where I'd left my companion, I found her on her knees praying too. When she finished, I said, "Get up. I think we should go get her anyway." That's exactly what Sora Gibbons was thinking.

We left for Sonia's house. All the way up the cobblestone hill, I prayed to be guided in how to break the news to her that she WAS coming to church. We walked at a determined pace and spoke little. Doing something like this is really scary. The door to the block was magically open so we didn't have to ring doors to get in. We climbed the stairs to the top and catching our breath, knocked on the door. She ignored us. I called her and said, "Sonia, come to the door." She let us in and with all the courage I could muster I said, "I know you don't feel well, but we know God wants you at church. Can you get some clothes on please." My companion promised she'd feel better if she came. "How long do I have to get ready?" she asked. I told her ten minutes. With wide eyes, she hurried into her room to get ready.

We barely made it to church on time. Ashley (the BYU girl who passed out while giving her talk two weeks ago) was given another opportunity to share it in Sacrament meeting. Much of what she said really touched Sonia's heart. Crazy how the Lord works huh? During the next hour, the lesson centered on the Plan of Salvation and Atonement. All were in tears because of the spirit that filled the room. Towards the end, Sonia raised her hand and began by telling everyone to stop crying or she would cry. She then proceeded to explain how grateful she was to be at church. She said it was the first time ever in her life. She talked of her desire to have a better relationship with her parents. She mentioned Nefi in the Book of Mormon, and how she's begun to believe that like him, maybe she could put her trust in something larger and/or someone wiser than herself. She spoke of the desire to change and have faith.

After church was over, Sonia brought up her own commitment follow-up. She said she hasn't received an answer but that she got an interesting idea. The thought came to her that maybe God was slow to answer her prayers because she had been slow to call on Him. She said, "He's waited 18 years for me to talk to Him so how can I be mad when he doesn't answer me right away? I'm going to be patient now and wait for Him to answer back." We told her that IS an answer. She now continues praying, with the hope of a warm response like we promised her, but with the knowledge that the Lord will answer in His own way and in His own timing.

It's amazing how a girl who wondered a week ago if God existed, could have such faith in Him already!

Mission Miracle from Elder Brian Foote

August 2, 2009

A quick miracle story was the great evening we had Friday evening. We had been having a little bit of a new investigator drought for the past several weeks, but on Friday we decided to go more to the north area of the city to block knock. We entered our first block and the 3 door let us in. We had a lesson with an older lady with one of her daughters. They set up for a little later on Tuesday. Then about 4-5 doors later we had another lady let us in. The lesson went well, but unfortunately she will be gone for about a week, but we got her number to call her this Saturday. In the same scara we had one other lesson, and one in the next one as well. The peoples' hearts were just more open that night and they all seemed to be letting us into their homes.

Mission Miracle from Sora Nofa Slaeman

July 20, 2009

Miracle story: All week I prayed every night for a miracle to happen and our lessons kept falling through. No one would meet and I was starting to get a little discouraged. I did not like that we were weekly planning Sunday night instead of finding people. As we were planning, the phone rang and a lady said we needed to go visit her and she has met with missionaries before but we found no record of her. However we went to her house and her husband was there and another 2 of her friends. They were 2 amazing families who called us and they really needed the gospel. It brought tears to my eyes. I knew God had answered our prayers. IT was my miracle!

Mission Miracle from Sora Krista Gibbons

July 13, 2009

Miracles: We were having a hard Sunday afternoon, of street contacting so we went into the blocks, and then once again door after door of rejection. I could see my companion getting tired and down, so as we walked out I said, Hai staum pentru o min. So we found a banca and sat down. I asked why we do block knocking, and after several responses I said, Sora Staley remember the Bronze Silver and Gold, and how Elder Kapiska(?) said that we could be a part of turning Romania into a light? What if we are called to more plant then reap. As we thought about this and discussed how we could be the best at it. Three little children stopped and said, hey you were just in our block. We began to talk to them and it was cool. We then went into a near by block and the children followed us and helped with our block knocking. It was tons of fun. Then walking home we both felt very promoted to talk to this young women. We will see Marti what comes of that. It was a fun experience.

Mission Miracles from Sora Amy Smith

July 13, 2009

Here's how we got Five new investigators when we only expected maybe 3:
One of our investigators that we've been meeting with for a month invited her friend to our lesson during the week, and we gave her a Book of Mormon. We started teaching her, too. I don't know if it will go anywhere but for now we are teaching them both. Talk about a “two for one-er”-- this week was full of those actually. Then we had something really cool happen. Last Sunday we were contacting in the park and we contacted these two guys in there 20's and I asked if we could set up to talk another time. They were like yeah sure next week, same place. I was like ok Saturday at 2:30pm right here ok? And I wrote it down for them, but when we left we were like, yeah right they were just being dumb boys, they are probably not going to show, but I was like well if they do, we will have two new investigators! So we went on with the week, and about Wednesday I get a phone call from one of them. I will have you know that is probably the first time that someone has ever called us back! I was in shock. He said I was just making sure this is your number and seeing if we are still meeting Saturday. I was like, yep we will be there! So that was surprising, but I didn't expect his friend to be there because he wasn't interested at all I didn't think. So we showed up Saturday and they both were there and we got two new investigators. He also came to church on Sunday so that was really cool. Then the other cool thing that happened was that last week, we met this guy who was 22 and going to law school. How we met him was at the bus stop. I just felt prompted to talk to him, but I was like what to say... so I asked him if he would do a short survey (5 questions we'd written in a notebook) and he was like sure and we started talking and found out that he wants like proof God exists and stuff and we talked on the bus and he's like lets talk but not this week I have finals, so we took his number and told him we'd call him in a week.Well I decided to invite him to church Sunday and he couldn't come but we set up to meet later. He asked if his Girlfriend could come (YES!!) and so we had a lesson in the park with them Sunday night. 2 More new investigators. They are so cool too, I am excited to meet with them, but it is going to be hard. He is a smart kid that basically doesn't believe in Faith but we'll get him...we'll get him.... haha. Ok, so have you been counting, that my friend makes 5 new investigators for week one of this transfer. Talk about a miracle! It was really cool. The Lord will give you work to do if you are willing to do it!

Mission Miracle from Elder John Hardman

July 5, 2009

We went with the sisters to an investigator that lives in our area so that we could begin teaching her. As we were talking together a neighbor kid was outside working and shouted in for us to come and visit his family too. So we asked him his address and as soon as the lesson was over we went and visited with his mom and another woman. He is one of 4 children and they are living with an older woman with 8 children. They were very receptive and are very nice. They immediately accepted a return appointment and are excited to meet with us again. Unfortunately, they weren't able to come to church this week, but we are excited to be teaching some families. I know that they Lord puts things and people in your path when you are earnestly striving to do what is right. I am so grateful to serve as his servant and to see His hand in the marvelous work of the salvation of His children.

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!

Mission Miracles from Sora Amanda Gibson

June 22, 2009

Ana Boci, is a referral from family Price. She's their elderly neighbor and despite her earlier excuses to them that her requests for information about our church were for 'the history', she's accepted us very well. The first time we met she said she'd heard the name before but didn't mention where. Then next time we took Sora Price with us. Doamna Boci was so surprised that we were connected. She was much more receptive. And as the lesson/discussion moved on we understood that she's been searching from religion to religion seeing what there is. So when I told her that in Joseph Smith's first vision Christ told him there wasn't any church that was truly Christ's her eyes got really wide. I could see how it took her back. She paid even more attention after that, and accepted an invitation to church and came. We're excited to meet with her again this week and in the future.
The second neat story is Mirela. She's a medical assistant that Sora Richards and I met on the street but lives in our neighborhood anyway. The first lesson we had with her was awkward but at the end of the second lesson with her she was a lot more open and friendly with us. She's excited to meet with us again.. even if it means her roommate will be upset at her.
And the third is Vali. She's a chemistry student from la tara. Sora Richards and I had a good discussion about many things the first time we met. She came to church that Sunday and really liked it. Then Sora Smith and I had an awesome lesson with our member friend Ana. We're all about 22 yrs old. She asked if she could take a Plan of Salvation pliant to show someone.. We gladly let her have one. We also showed her what she has to learn/accept/gain a testimony of before she can get baptized. It didn't phase her and she kept asking good questions about different topics. I'm so excited to meet her again and teach her some more!

Mission Miracle from Elder Zachary Bunting

June 21, 2009

On Sunday Marian set up a baptismal date for June 21, and I honestly had no idea if he could make it. He had only had one lesson, and leaves Monday morning 100km away to work for the week, coming home on Saturday night. Well, I think what happened next is evidence of "the Lord works in mysterious ways." On Wednesday night we were in the blocks and we got a phone call from Marian. He said that he was in Craiova and wanted to meet. So we went to the church and he told us that he had to return to Craiova to go to the hospital because his kidney stone became infected, and he couldn't work the rest of the week. We took advantage of this opportunity to meet every day, and he took advantage of the opportunity to read the entire Book of Mormon. He knows that it is true, and is so excited to be baptized. He said, "My entire family is against my decision. They say, 'We were born orthdox, and we must die orthodox,' but no one can keep me from doing this." He prays that over time they will change their opinion and open to the teachings he has learned. Now just the interview remains and he will be baptized on Sunday. I think the following two statements that he made will give you the best idea of who Marian is. One: "If we hadn't met in the park that day, I would never have learned these things or known about this church." The other, when we started to teach him about commandments, he said, "From the moment I started heading to this church for the first time I said to myself that I must keep God's commandments, and I intend to do that. If I hadn't made that decision, I wouldn't have come." He doesn't know when he's going to Italy (now France is in the picture too), but he is going to stay for three months at the most, and then return.

We also had a totally different type story. A young man we were teaching decided to hold off on baptism after having a discussion with his parents and a visit with the Orthodox Priest. Well, after I got off the phone with him right after church, I obviously was devastated and sad, to the point that I just wanted to mope around. But I knew that I needed to go out to work -- that I wouldn't get in a better mood by pitying myself or feeling sorry for us or for this young man, so we left. Being a Sunday, the streets are almost completely bare, but the first people we came across we contacted. This is what Elder Bednar talked about as a tender mercy of the Lord. When I was in dire need of a boost to realize that God has scores of prepared children here, he put in our path a couple. They were in their late 40's, and I said very briefly the message that we have, and I don't even remember the question I asked, except that it was about prophets. Ionel, the man, didn't answer the question I asked, but said, "We would like to know." Then his wife said, "We want to be on the Lord's side. When can you come to our home to tell us more? I have four children and I want you to teach them too; they are 23, 18, 15, and 1." Well, that single contact reminded me of the reason I am here; not for me, but for them.

Mission Miracle from Elder Alden Campbell

June 8, 2009

I just wanted to tell you of an experience I had on exchange with Elder Anderson.
It was amazing. We had a really good exchange. We planned out a decent day...covered all aspects of missionary work and got drenched in the rain storm! It was sweet. I want to relate an experience from this exchange though. He had asked me to teach him how to learn to be better at thrashing out the weefy people and concentrating on those who want to listen. I brought to his remembrance Alma 32:6-7 and then we talked about that for a bit. Near the end of the exchange it was starting to rain a lot harder and so Elder Anderson chose a block to knock. We went in to the block and no one was really interested. We got to this one lady who told us to go to her neighbor and that she would talk to us. We went to the next door and told the lady at the door that her neighbor told us to come talk to her. She said...are you Mormons...? Well yeah we said and then she invited us in and we sat down and started talking. She told us that she had been investigating the church for about 2 years off and on and had talked with the missionaries on numerous occasions. Before long it was apparent that she wasn't really interested as she would get up and complain about the lights or something else in the house. At about this time her daughter (about 40's..?) walks into the room and so we get her history too. She actually wants to listen to us and so while her mom was in the other room we talked to her. We discovered that she wants to know if the BOM is true but that she didn't get an answer and so stopped trying. We explained to her what was expected of her and what "her part" was so that she could do it. She accepted to read from the BOM and pray with real intent and keep coming to church (she had been coming for a while but had missed the last 2 weeks). Alma 32:6-7 was put into practice in to different ways. First of all, we left the door that said she didn't want it and went to the door that wanted it...then in a more "refined" way we stopped talking to the mom that "accepted" us and talked to her daughter...the one that wanted to receive us. It was a good lesson for both of us.

Mission Miracles from Elder Tyler Sorensen.

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!”

Mission Miracle from Sora Kara Staley

June 8, 2009

I have one exciting story for you. Aurelia (the two year investigator who said hi to you at the church) came to church this Sunday. She was sitting next to me and said, "Sora Staley, my heart is pounding. I feel so good. Can I bear my testimony?" I told her she could if she wanted so she went up and bore testimony of God's love and how she hopes the Book of Mormon is true. She began to cry and said, I feel so good here and I know that it is the Holy Ghost, just like the Sisters taught me. She pleaded with the members to support her and help her have courage to change. We made a baptismal calendar with her. She has come a LONG way from where she was. Yesterday she called us after church. I asked her what she'd been doing that afternoon and she said, "Reading the Book of Mormon." She then told me that she was out walking in centru and there were a lot of people there. She exclaimed, "If I had pamphlets I would give them to people. You should get over here quick. I want to do missionary work with you guys." So we went contacting with her yesterday evening. She gave away a Book of Mormon after helping me explain it to a woman. The Lord truly has a way of teaching people when they finally open their hearts! And that reminds me....On Saturday when we asked if we could meet before English she said, "I can't meet in the morning because I'm going to clean my house." She went on to explain how she was thinking and decided she needs a clean room if she wants to feel the spirit there. Who taught her that? I sure didn't.