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!