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.