Howdy Y'all,
This week was pretty busy, but we made sure to stay productive and work hard. We had Mission Leadership Conference (MLC) at the mission home on Wednesday and Zone Training Meeting (ZTM) on Friday. MLC was super motivating and I felt like I learned so much. President Hansen gave some great insight when it comes to bashing and finding common ground with our investigators. I think he got that idea from the experience that I will share :) The AP's then instructed on finding those that are prepared and interested in hearing our message and gave the example of Paul and Barnabus in the New Testament when they started teaching the Jews, but once they were rejected by the Jews they turned to the Gentiles that were actually prepared and willing to listen to them. Definitely a key idea here in Louiville. For ZTM Elder Jensen and I were able to give an instruction to all of the missionaries in the zone about finding those that are prepared and ready for our message. We shared how we must find those lost sheep that are just waiting to hear the voice of the Savior rather than trying to find the Prodigal Son investigators that are still on a journey and haven't turned back yet. I think it went really well!
Transfer news: Elder Jensen is getting transferred since he has been here for 6 months and I will be getting a new ZL companion. Not sure who it is yet or any details, but it is going to be crazy taking over the area and I guess "training" a new Zone Leader. It is sad to see Elder Jensen get transferred as we have become such great friends and really started rolling, but I know that it is what is best and that the Lord has a plan for the missionary work in this part of His vineyard. I hope and pray that I will be able to continue furthering the progression of our investigators and help them receive the restored gospel. I know that this is the Lord's work and he loves each and everyone of us. He is giving us the opportunity to take part in His work and for that I will be forever grateful. I pray that I can bring the holy ghost unto the hearts that we teach and allow them the opportunity to accept the wonderful message.
Here are a few highlights of the week:
Alright so this was a pretty classic story. Since President Hansen had to do our interviews he told us that he would go with us to Free Speech Alley on campus and do our interviews at the Institute building. We all walk over there and find this massive group of pilgrim looking people passing out Satanic Pamphlets saying that Satan is the God of this world and that we are all condemned to Hell. It was intense! They would take turns standing up on this wall yelling repentance and condemnation to everyone and saying how horrible of sinners we all were. They were even ranting from the Bible. Maybe they forgot about the scripture, "He that is without sin, let him first cast a stone at her??" Bless their hearts I guess. It was pretty sad honestly. They were called the Consuming Fire Fellowship and come like every month from Mississippi. They were totally off their rockers, but it was hilarious because President Hansen took on a huge mob of them and was totally destroying them with the Bible haha. Missionaries in the past have encountered them, but it was my first experience :) What was cool though was that everyone that would walk by would thank us for not yelling and cussing at them haha. We even put up on our white board, "God loves you no matter what anybody else says" ;) It was actually pretty great to talk to so many people and I feel like just the fact that we were kind to them will make the biggest difference later on. For some reason I just don't see Jesus Christ yelling about how horrible everyone is. I know that He was kind and so that is what I am going to try and be. It was a very intense experience. They even had big signs that listed off who all is going to Hell and Mormons made the list hehehe you can only laugh about it :) Hence why President Hansen's instruction was on bashing and finding common ground. I think he had way too much fun though haha.
One of the nights last week Elder Jensen and I had the determination to get out and find new people to teach that were truly prepared. As the night became later and later we just didn't seem to be able to find anyone that was even slightly interested. It became almost the time that we had previously planned we would go back, but we still felt like we weren't satisfied in some way. It was the weirdest feeling. Just before we almost turned back we knocked on one of the final doors and met a girl named Hannah. She might have been one of the most interested people we had ever met tracting. She told us that she had gone to many churches, but wasn't ever raised in a church/religion. She started naming off a ton of different churches and her thoughts about each one. Once she finished we asked if she had ever been to an LDS or Mormon church. She excitedly told us that she hadn't ever and that she has always wanted to! We taught her an awesome restoration lesson and she eagerly accepted a follow up appointment. We went back with a member, but unfortunately she wasn't home. It is hard when the students are so busy, but we are going to continue to stop by at different points of the day to teach her again and invite her to church. I feel like she is so prepared.
We also met with our two most progressing investigators Jackson and Savannah. We had the plan of inviting them to church so we brought a member. I wish I could say that they are just progressing as smooth as butter, but we are running into a few obstacles. Nothing we can't overcome though! We followed up with their reading in 1st Nephi and found that they are moving along, but Jackson started bringing up questions about the details in the 10th chapter. Basically questioning the authenticity of the Book of Mormon. So, Elder Flores and I (while on exchanges) had the idea of reading Joseph Smith History and his whole story. It went really well and we both bore testimonies of the Prophet Joseph Smith's first vision and profound question. Camille, the member also bore her testimony about prayer and coming to Church. The spirit was so strong and I know they felt it, but Jackson sadly started bringing up random anti-material.... I couldn't believe it. He is very stuck on secular evidence like DNA of ancient inhabitants and what not so that makes it difficult. We addressed the issue and are going to come back with that gospel essay, but regardless we invited them to church. Jackson declined... and Savannah said she would only go if he did. AHH. Savannah seems so solid and prepared, but the tricky part is going to be with Jackson. Savannah even thanked us afterward for our testimonies and I could tell she felt something that night before Jackson started bringing up his questions. We are going to keep working with them!
Funny story: I had the chance to go on an exchange with Elder Flores one of the Spanish missionaries. He is from Mexico and is super hilarious, because he is still learning English. We were out finding and one of the apartments had a bunch of trash bags that needed to get taken to the dumpster. So we decided to do it and went on a journey to find the dumpster carrying several bags. Well, long story short we were walking everywhere trying to find one and I finally was like, "Elder Flores, where is the garbage, what are we going to do with these bags?" And he was like, "Elder... River." HAHAHAHA as we were walking passed this small stream. It was so funny. The stream actually did have garbage in it, but luckily we finally found the dumpster. We even hit a Taco Truck for dinner :) It was classic.
Overall a great week! Hope all is well for everyone. Thank you so much for your prayers in my behalf. I love y'all a bunch.
Love,
Elder Wilson
