Andover week 11

So it is pretty cold. School has been canceled 5 times, tomorrow will be the 6th, in January due to -40 to -50 degree Farenheit windchills. Last year school was canceled once because of snow. So yep. It is a lot of fun. We are in the apartment until noon most days (which actually doesnt change anything for Elder Foggin and I because training mean we study more and get out at that time anyway). Tonight we arent allowed to leave unless have set appointments, luckily we have 2! Muy bien.

I had my first steak in a loooong time this week :) Our ward mission leader took us to Texas Road House for dinner then he went joint teaching with us. We dropped by Brother L's house and his sister-in-law came in yapping about the Book of Mormon being an idol and all this stuff. I wouldn't say I lost my temper, but I was not pleased with the situation. I challenged her to actually read and pray about it. Then I invited her to church sunday. She was a little taken aback. She wasn't expecting a response to her criticisms. We quickly left after that.

Then we saw Brother E. This man is a POWERHOUSE. Seriously, every time we go over there with a lesson planned he basically teaches us the lesson we had planned. Then he tells us he knows he needs to read, pray, and come to church to experience these things since he needs to act in faith to get an answer. His hang up right now is priesthood authority, but his real intent is so pure that I firmly believe the Lord will answer his prayers.

Brother G. is doing fantastic as always. He was quite sick last week so tuesday we went over and gave him a blessing. He got up teary and gave us all hugs. Thursday we watched The Restoration DVD. That video is a spiritual bomb. Everyone in the room received a powerful confirmation of the reality of the First Vision. Then on Saturday we went over and taught tithing. His girlfriend of 19 years came out and said, "I hate to admit it, but he has really calmed down since you came around." ha ha. Then we invited her to a baptism that happened sunday night. She said she was already baptized, but said it was not a great experience. She was baptized in a lake and people were screaming evil things at her. Brother G. piped up and said, "that's cuz you were baptized in the wrong church!" ha ha ha ha sooo funny. Brother G is a stud. He is hilarious. She gave him a sour look... We still took Brother G. to the baptism sunday and he said, "I'll be next" after the service ended. What I did to be blessed with the opportunity of teaching this man I do not know.

We dropped by a less active, Brother B., and he let us right in. Him and his wife have strong testimonies but havent come in like 6 years because they work weekends. He recounted a story where one time at stake conference the Stake President got up and counseled the men how to get their wives to really appreciate them. He said, "Bretheren, chocolate, flowers, and gifts are great, but just shut up and vaccum." Sister B. nodded her head and said that was very, very true. ha ha ha. noted.

We had a lesson with the C. family. Well, "lesson." I did not realize how much they loved to talk and they walked right over us for 45 minutes. They told us that they researched Christmas and found out that christmas trees are a form of Baal worship, as found in Jeremiah (dont put up and worship fir trees with ornaments) and that in a scandavian play Saint Nick is Lucifer. So they will probably stop doing Christmas each year. It was a pretty interesting conversation. We still taught about the Book of Mormon a little bit but we had been there forever so we had to leave. They are a really wonderful family, though. Absolutely golden. We will teach them!

We visited a less active Brother S. He let us right in and then asked us if we had a book of mormon on us. I said of course! Who do you think we are? Anyway, he started flipping through it and sai, "where can i find a scripture on..... well, you could probably find it easier than me." Then he handed it back. Then he said, "actually, the Lord knows what I need. You find a scripture." That was somewhat nerve wracking.. I ended up turning to D&C 82:10 and we read that. He took the scriptures from me, almost not believing what I had just read. He is in a bad way in life trying to escape so this promise of blessings really rung true in his heart. He wrote the scripture down on a sticky note and then he asked for a blessing. He broke down crying as he asked us. It was a spiritual experience.

We also visited a less active that lives 20 miles away named Brother S. He have a LOT of extra miles on our car this month due to cold weather so we are going to the far reaches of our area that we normally cannot get out to. We walked up the driveway and he was outside. We stood there looking at each other. He knew why we were there. We knew why we were there. I really have not been in a more awkward moment on my mission than this one. There was a little bit of small talk then he said, "well, I dont know what to tell you, boys." Then he walked inside. Oh man.

We also were able to teach a Liberian, Brother S, after church sunday. We pretty much have been teaching all West Africans the last few weeks. It is a lot of fun! Anyway, Brother S has started the Book of Mormon and loves it. He is reall studying it. We also gave him a Family Proclomation to the World last visit and he raved about it. He declared that the document was from God and was powerful. We explained modern day prophets and testified of that. We retaught about Joseph Smith and committed him to find out if the BoM was the word of God. He readily accepted.

After we taught Brother S. we went and dropped by Brother T. He is a Liberian man we have been trying to get ahold of for awhile. Just as we pulled up he had started shoveling his drive way. Why he was shoveling in 30 mph winds and a -20 F windchill, I dont know, but it was literally perfect timing we pulled up right then. NOT a coincidence. We pulled our shovels out of the trunk and went and shoveled his driveway. He then let us come inside and he thanked us repeatedly. He said he would have had to take many breaks to finish it. We finished it together in about 10 minutes. We talked about his family and asked him about the Book of Mormon (missionaries gave him one 3 months ago). He told us it was on his bedstand! He talked about Lehi and how much he loved Moroni. He even said he looked up the D&C and has been reading that. He believes Joseph Smith is a prophet and that the BoM is the word of God. He basically taught us the Restoration and said it was awesome how Joseph found the golden plates. Brother T says he feels like he is in the sheos of Joseph Smith, seeking direction amidst the confusion of modern Christianity. Our jaws dropped. This man is elect. We testified that the direction and belonging he yearns for will come from Baptism by proper Priesthood authority and by recieving the Gift of the Holy Ghost. This man is incredible. And he has six kids. He is a kingdom builder.

 

Service is such a powerful tool in our lives. Service is the can opener to people's hearts. Brother T's heart was softened this week. We stopped by another potential and shoveled their drive way a few days ago. When we later returned the daughter came out and thanked us for our help and then told us she wanted to study with us. When you are in the service of your fellow being you truly are in the service of your God! It is remarkable! Reaching out and serving those around you is a wonderful way to perform missionary work. After all, actions speak louder than words.

 

I love you all! I hope you are all warmer than I am!

Love, Elder Damron