Another week as a missionary just flown by. Gosh what has
the world come too? We are sad to hear the tragedy down south in
California. We were in the middle of helping a family move when one of
them came in declaring what had just occurred. They kept us up to date
on the attack and those effected by it. We even took the time to stop
and pray for all those affected by this event. It's sad but was also
predicted, as we look over the past 10 years the world has changed for
the worse faster and faster and as scriptures has stated these things
will get worse before they get better. But this is the time more than
ever that we do not let the world consume us. That despair may not
take place in our hearts, but that we can stand as an example that
goodness still exists and that happiness and peace still can be found.
As we have been it and about teaching, along with the incident,
Christmas has brought out the better sort of people. Many have opened
their hearts to hear more about Jesus Christ. We have share the new
Christmas video A Savior is Born! (Christmas.Mormon.org) go check it
out and share it yourselves, it's a touching video that reminds us not
only what Christmas was originally celebrated for. But also asks the
question why? Why do you or I need a savior? It would be cool to hear
your thoughts on that and to tack on another question, why would you
want to know the savior?
This week has been one of our more successful weeks as we visit
these people. One of the best miracles this week was a member family
who called us up, they asked us if we could come teach their son they
had adopted. He is 16 and from the Ukraine, he has had a hard life and
hasn't had much chance to learn about Jesus Christ through his life.
So we went and shared the first lesson with him. When we sat down and
started teaching him, he was very quiet and closed off person. He
would kinda stare of into space and during the lesson it remained
mostly the same, but here and there as we shared the message I saw his
ears perk up and something in his eyes stir. Especially when we
talked about someone he could trust, about a savior who would love him
and always be with him through thick and thin. He did accepted a Book
of Mormon and a chapter to read. And we planned to come back and visit
him again. Although it didn't seem like much, knowing his backstory of
where he came from in the Ukraine and the society he was raised in
where it's every man for himself and no one else will care. It felt so
good to see light fill a soul!
Another miracle was Sean, he is a man we have taught for a while
now. The crazy drummer guy who seems to be all over the place. When we
went over and shared the next lesson we Taught about God hearing our
prayers and answering them. During most lessons he cracked jokes and
laughed. But when we asked him to pray it became serious, he told us
again he did not want to pray. But me and Elder Poulter looked at one
another then bowed our heads and folded our arms. I knew he was
looking at us like we are crazy and started yelling saying how he
should smack us over the head for trying to get him to pray and a lot
of other things he kept yelling. Finally it quieted down, he stood up
and walked over to another chair by his drums. After a long several
minutes he started to pray, he thanked Heavenly Father for this
day....that us missionaries would put up with him and come help him.
That although he jokes he really loves what is shared and hopes
someday he can honestly understand it. He added at the end that he
hopes he can be saved and that we are safe in all we do. It took a lot
for him to be able to say that and particularly to admit any part of
his feelings truly. I don't know if I will see him become baptized but
I'm glad to be part of helping him get there. Then right after the
prayer we left him a little surprise....we hid two random rubber
duckies and rubber monkeys for him to find in his house. (he is a neat
freak) hahaha so we left him searching everything for them.
Well this week was fun, the spirit was strong, and the food has
been good. (thanksgiving left overs for days) I hope you all had a
good time during these last few weeks and I along with every other
missionary look forward to Christmas. Love ya lots.
Elder Heckel
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