One day we were knocking doors down on of the main street in a small town. We had not received much success in meeting anyone who will talk more then two seconds. But we came upon this large log cabin styled home. We went and knocked and sat their waiting......and waiting.....and knocked again and waited...and waited....and waited. We for some reason took an unusually long time waiting. finally as we turned to leave the door actually opened, and an older woman asked us immediately "what church you from?"....we paused and replied "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." She stood as though processing what we were saying then asked if we could stay for a minute and talk. We gladly accepted and enter in speaking with us and asking all the usual questions. We finally sat down in the front room and asked to teach a lesson in which she happily accepted and listened as we taught the restoration. Once we finished that we extended a soft invitation to baptism and she kinda smiles and with a grin said "I would gladly do it, but I'm already a member." oh boy were we surprised! And with shock and stunning reflexes my companion extended another invitation to come to church!(I was stuck confused and feeling baffled hahahahahaha) She told us she had been through a divorce and had not been to church in 8 years because of it. Now she had been really thinking of going back to church and getting into it again....but she is scared and really is afraid of everything that has happened since then. So she talk about praying that some would help her and somehow God would give her courage. She told us we are her answer, so now we are going over every week to teach and help build her confidence until she finally can come to church. And the members have been phenomenal in befriending and visiting her. The Stake presidnet even visited her for us. (and and his wife are also in our ward and absolutely some of the best member missionaries yet) but with her she is progressing very well and moving at a moderate pace to full re-activation.
Well one other miracle of this week is we had the chance to visit with a part member family, The Fui's! This family is a mix up from a earlier marriage where she divorced and had half custody of the children, their is an older son and 2 daughters that have been baptized and a younger son who isn't. Then she married a very large Simoan (i spelled that wrong?) who had one child with her. The mother is also baptized and we had been helping her and her daughter to get ready for the temple. But when we stopped in for her lesson her son and his two friends were staying for the day. we really have not spoken with him at all, but took advantage of this moment to speak to both of them. (Mother was scare of what would happen when we talk to him) we talk about his family what they did for baptism and asked what he thought about it. He told us he thought it was good and always went to church with them before they stopped, we then put out the question asking if he wanted to hear more. He was instantly sparked and immediately asked us to teach him a lesson. We taught the restoration of the gospel, spending a lot of time helping him to feel a connection with each part as we taught. When we committed him that if he found these thing to be true that he too could be baptized (11 years old). We share Moroni 10:3-5 with him and invited him to read with the family. And the friends who joined him were involved in the lesson and were very curious, they even promised to listen when we come over anytime. Which we hope will open more doors in to the future. I also leave the challenge for anyone who has not had the chance to read it or hasn't read it in a long time should read again and accept that challenge Moroni gives.
Otherwise this has been a very slow week. We are going and teaching our usual people our lessons and members who request an occasional lesson. We also went and did service for a couple people this week. There is a program called 'JustServe' in which members and community business can post for help and U.S missionaries go out and do work for them. We went out and picked up trash though a huge neighborhood. We also went and helped several members to clean out homes that will be sold soon. Many hobos had been using it as hide aways while it was not in use....so ya super nasty but way fun at the same time, I dont think I laughed harder watching members who have never seen this before freak out!(in funny ways of course) but overall its been a fun week. Oh ya we also got to go to another war Sandholes the. Tract for a day with their members....us and 7 other companionship a with a blitz which was really fun and crazy to see how different the area is even though their only 30 minutes away. I am so very thankful for the chance i have to serve here in California, this truly was the place I needed to go! And I am so thankful for my parents and two sisters who set the example for me to go out. It really has helped to build my testimony and understanding of life in general. I read a scripture today in Helaman 5:12 "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are guilt, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." If I am even allowed to give any advise at all about a mission to anyone, for I feel I have so much to still learn, I would say read your scriptures, pray and build a testimony. For when you have that knowledge and truth of it, you can and will be able to fearlessly teach others. You will be able to peach and testify to those you meet with stunning conviction, not having any doubt or worry to what you are delivering. I love you all so much and will talk to you all next week.
- Elder Heckel
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