So many miracles this week it's just been ridiculous. We had two
investigators at church, Sheila and also Steven and his little boys (Steven and
Sheila are different families). Steven found his own ride to
church and wore the white shirt I gave him and everything. Sheila, someone
that had a bad experience at church 30 years ago, came yesterday! Sheila's had
bad knees the past couple years and they were getting
progressively worse just as Sunday was approaching. She was doubting that
she would be able to make it to church, even in a wheelchair. But we gave her a
priesthood blessing and the next morning she woke up with a lot of her pain
gone, her knees were feeling healthy and she decided she wanted to go
to church. And she did! She had a good experience! Both are coming next
week as well!
Both Steven and Sheila have had smoking problems. And
before we had taught either of them about the Word of Wisdom they both
told us that they wanted to quit smoking. Their desires had simply changed as
they felt the spirit from reading the Book of Mormon. That's the
power of the Book of Mormon! Of their own free will they decided they want to
quit smoking. The spirit will teach us what we need to do to better ourselves
if we just allow his guidance in our daily lives, and what better way to
provide ourselves a spiritual boost than from reading the Book of Mormon?!
Sheila has already gone 2 weeks without a single cigarette! She tells us that
whenever she wants to smoke, she reads the Book of Mormon until that desire is
gone. How incredible!
Another cool experience. We were tracting up in Medway, a
rural town with a small lake at it's center (and lots of mosquitos that found
me). The first house we knocked we met an older lady named Penny. She promptly
told us that she's glad we were not Jehovah's Witnesses but she still doesn't
believe what Mormons do. She didn't like the whole "work for the
dead" idea that we do in the temples. But we briefly explained the plan of
salvation and her concern was resolved. She asked us "So what's the
difference between Mormons and other churches anyway?" Golden question
that every missionary jumps at the opportunity to answer. We proceeded to teach
her the restoration on her porch (While I was getting eaten alive by mosquitos-
great fun). Elder Brown allowed me the opportunity to teach her Joseph Smith's
first vision. As I related to her Joseph's words about his experience in the
sacred grove she began to cry. She felt the spirit so strongly. It seemed as if
even the mosquitos were reverenced for that moment and took a break from
nibbling on me :) She no longer thinks Mormons are weird and we return
next Thursday to teach her again!
The spirit is so strong in the testimony of the Restoration of the truths that
we enjoy in this church! I wish I could tell more but time is up! Love you All.
Tengan una buena semana! -Elder Kevin Graf
