We
went on exchanges on Tuesday, so Elder Hillyer and I were each with
another missionary. My temporary companion and I were on foot, so we
made it a goal to boldly talk to every single person we saw (a pretty
easy feat in rural Idaho) and find a new person to teach. We talked to a
good handful of people, and even though none of them were interested,
we had a pleasant experience with each of them. Hopefully those
conversations will soften them to the church in the future. But we were a
little bit disappointed to have not found anyone new to teach. After
all, we had prayed about it, and felt confident that God wanted us to
find that person as well! A little bit put out, we walked back towards
the church to meet up with our regular companions. But 2 houses down
from the church, there sits Leo. We considered just ignoring him since
we were already running late, but decided we could boldly talk to one
more. And BOOM! Leo was prepared and interested! We had a great
discussion, he accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon, and he wanted us
to come back! The miracle came AFTER the trial of our faith!
While
I was experiencing this miracle, Elder Hillyer and his temporary
companion met a lady named Nicole and her 4 kids on the street, and they
were suuuuuper ready to receive the Gospel. Her husband wasn't home,
but they set up a time to come back. Elder Hillyer told me about Nicole
and her kids that night, and I was excited! The next day, we exchanged
with another set of Elders, and the miracles continued! At dinner that
night, my new temporary companion and I met a guy named Steve. He's the
mechanic for the family we were eating with, so they invited him over
for dinner. The conversation went as follows:
Steve:
"It's actually kind of funny that I'm eating with missionaries tonight.
My wife and kids just met some missionaries on the street yesterday..."
Me (putting pieces together in my brain): "Your wife's name wouldn't happen to be Nicole, would it??"
Steve (probably mildly creeped out): "uhhhhh yeah that actually is her name."
Long
story short, Steve and Nicole saw the miracles in this situation as
much as we did. We had a a great lesson with them on Friday, and they
want to be baptized with their two oldest kids in about a month! And
since we introduced them to everyone at stake conference yesterday, they
now know the bishop, the entire stake presidency, and a member of the
Seventy! Life is good.
A
quick thought from Stake Conference: "when we obtain any blessing from
God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated"
(D&C 130:21). So if you want more blessings, figure out which
commandments you need to start keeping or improving on to qualify for
those blessings. And if you feel like you've got lots of commandments
and rules and restrictions placed on you, it probably means that God is
trying to find more reasons to bless you.
Love ya,
Elder Doyle
