Dinkytown week 9

One of my mission dreams came to pass this last week! Since the day I got to this mission I wanted to joint teach with President Clements. And on monday night, the last night we was able to teach with missionaries before he went home, he called us and said he wanted to teach with us! :D

He came and taught Brother SS with us. (I know it is confusing that I use initials for names but President Clements has asked us to do this. Well, the Brethren asked this to be done for the safety of the people we teach). Brother SS was being taught by other missionaries last fall but his girlfriend ruined things. Well, they broke up! And he wants to meet again. But now we get to teach him because he is YSA! He told us how he feels so much less close to God since he stopped praying, reading the scriptures, and meeting with us. He is probably the most sincere person I have ever met in my life. He told us he is pretty indecisive and when all his fears were resolved he would know this is the right path. President looked him in the eyes and told him that day would never come in this life. We always have fear and doubts. Then President held up the BoM and said that as long as we know that this book is true, then we can cast aside our fears. Then President Clements asked him if we wanted to overcome the weakness of indecisiveness. SS said yes. President opened up to Ether 12:27 and read it to him. He testified that baptism and confirmation would help him overcome this weakness as the Spirit is able to refine him. So powerful. :)

Then we went to our next lesson. We taught a hispanic girl, JL, who has been taught by a bunch of missionaries and has been bounced between the spanish branch, a normal ward, and now us. President came in and we talked for awhile. JL is super sweet and she knows it all and likes it, she just hasnt committed yet. President Clements looked at her and explained that he has priesthood keys that he recieved from an apostle of the Lord. Those keys allow him to discern when people have made a change of heart and are ready to be baptized and make a covenant with God. He then told Jessica she has made the change of heart and he asked her why she hasnt made the covenant. Jessica brought up some fears about little details about the history of the book of mormon. President Clements opened up to 3 Ne 9:13-14 and told her to imagine the pain she has in her life. Then he read those scriptures and told her those pains could be healed. Then he asked her if she believed those were the words of Jesus. She said yes. He testified of the truth in which she spake. She was feeling the Spirit then immediately brought up her concerns again. Then President Clements called her out and told her that when she feels the Spirit she gets scared and immediately thinks of her fears. She admitted this was true. President Clements declared that he knew she knew this was true. He knew that God knew she knew this was true. and he then gave her a few commitments that would help her overcome her fear and get baptized. Then he gave her his personal email so she can email him when she sets a date. It was one of the boldest, spirit filled lessons i have ever been a part of. I will definitely miss him.

 

The next day on exchanges I was down in a spanish area when all of a sudden a car pulls up and a somalian man jumps out. He asked if we were sharing the Christian message and we said yes. He then told us he was going to share the muslim message with us. So he taught us about the five pillars of Islam and a few other things for the next 20 minutes. Then he gave us a Quran and told us to read it. I pulled out a Book of Mormon to reciprocate his generosity. He didnt really like that idea too much and kept telling us that he had the one truth in the Quran and if we would open our eyes we would see how wrong we were. I testified that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and our Redeemer. The Somolian said, "no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no nO No NO!" Then he said, "Jesus was a great prophet! He was sent by God! He performed miracles! But he was ONLY a man!" I told him I agreed with 3 of the 4, testified again, thanked him for his kindness in the gift of the book and in sharing with us and we went on our merry way. I have gained 2 Qurans on my mission now!

 

President Clements went home friday afternoon and President and Sister Forbes are now here! I will miss President Clements very much but I am excited to learn from President Forbes. Everyone has different talents and abilities and I am blessed to be able to learn from two great men.

 

On sunday we went to a fireside for the YSAs of the stake about hastening the work of salvation by the stake president. He challenged everyone to pray very specifically to be God's tool in ministering unto at least 8 people by september. This doesnt mean bringing someone to church or inviting them to meet with the missionaries or anything like that, although it could be, he means to be God's tool in helping 8 of our brothers and sisters. Then he told us how he challenged one of the high counselors to do this and at work this high counselor was walking down the hallway when he felt prompted to tell a coworker that God loves him. He didnt know the man at all and didnt know how to bring it up but he stopped the coworker and said, " i dont know how to explain why I feel i must say this, But God loves you." the man got watery eyed and told the high counselor he was beginning to think God didnt even know who he was. 

I know that if we wall all pray for these experiences we will help bring souls to Christ!

I love you all! Have a great week!

Elder Damron