Hey y'all,
This last week has been crazy!! Unfortunately I have almost no time to write, but I will share a few wonderful experiences this week.
We have been really working with George and his older brother Bentley by reading in the Book of Mormon with them and helping them understand the infinite power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We shared the amazing video called, "Because of Him" with them and they loved it. That video is so powerful and ALWAYS brings the spirit and softens the hearts of those we share it with. If you haven't seen it, I would highly recommend it! Bentley has been going through some hard times as far as giving up his Marijuana addiction, and George has been a bit nervous about giving up his belief of Polytheism. One of the recent converts in the ward, Noah Schexnayder, has been so great in coming with us to teach. He has known the family for a long time and so that is so cool. As we shared the story of Saul becoming Paul we talked about how he may have had a small belief in multiple Gods, but mostly went around persecuting the people for believing in Jesus Christ and was even throwing them in prison. We continued to share the story of his journey on the road to Damascus and how Jesus Christ appeared to him and asked him why he was persecuting him. After he was struck dumb for 3 days, Annanias a missionary in a way healed him and baptized him. Paul then became one of the greatest missionaries we can read in the scriptures. It was so amazing to relate the story to George, because though he wasn't going around persecuting anyone for believing in Jesus Christ he himself has so much potential once he accepts the gospel to share it with others. He was so excited and told us how he wants to be the example for his family! He ran inside and told his brother and Mom that he was going to be baptized. The next few days we taught him all the rest of the lessons and were planning on the baptism on Saturday. Unfortunately, his Dad, Gregg, who is extremely atheist wasn't very excited about it and since he has been out of the country for a couple weeks he said George has to wait. Definitely understandable, but sad because George is so ready and prepared. Every time we teach him and Bentley he ends up teaching almost the entire lesson haha. We then talked with George and his Mom and are planning for June 10th since Gregg will be back in town by then. That was pretty disappointing since we were hoping and praying for this last Saturday and George even prayed and decided on the date, but we know it will all work it! That is the great thing about the gospel, it is supposed to bring families together not pull them apart. We expressed our love for them and that we only want what is best for them.
Also, a tender mercy this week was that Bentley lost his drug dealer friend and is now unable to buy. Definitely interesting that this has happened so recently after we began teaching him. I know this is the Lords work and he has a plan for all of us. We were so excited about that, because he told us this is his chance to get out! Please keep that family family in your prayers.
When we went back on Friday afternoon and an amazing thing happened! We started out by reading the vision of the tree of life interpretations with George and Bentley and we talked for a while about "jumping the gap" between faith and knowledge. And how our faith and belief can become knowledge through our experiences and as we learn more about our Savior Jesus Christ. It was an interesting analogy, but it seemed to click for them :) As we were reading the Mom, Caroline, came home from work and started reading with us! It was apparently her first time ever reading in the Book of Mormon. She loved it. As we read and the spirit filled the room, she shared a couple special experiences about how she knew that God was there.
To make a long story short, when she was giving birth to George she almost lost him, but she heard a voice that comforted her and told her it was going to be alright. It was so amazing reading all together and we could tell it was bringing their family together. (Keep reading the scriptures as a family, I promise it will bring more love for each other. I have seen it.) The quote of the night though had to have been from George: "So, should we all get baptized?" -George "That would be a great thing for our family."-Caroline They are so open hearted and sincere. We all laughed that when Gregg gets back his whole family will be Mormons :) We shared our testimonies and and committed the family to read Moroni 10 together that night. They were thrilled. I love that family and I know I was sent to LSU for them if nothing else. The whole family came to church on Sunday and loved it too so that was amazing :)
We have also been working with this really awesome guy named Dylan Powers. He has been less active for a few years now and we have slowly but surely been meeting with him and reading the scriptures together. He never went on a mission and so he feels a bit out of place, but he is starting to make friends and become active again in the singles ward here. He came to the ward crawfish boil last week too so that was a start. This week he finally mustered up the courage to come to church and we met with him, us, and the bishop to get everything all figured out since he has been a "disfellowshipped" member and that has been what has kept him from coming back. The Bishop helped show love and how it is all a learning process. We all make mistakes and slip up, but Jesus Christ is always there with open arms beckoning us to come back.
Well, on Monday I will share more about the craziness of this week, but I am overjoyed in serving my Heavenly Father and sharing the gospel with his beloved children here in this area. I love y'all! Hope you have a great week!
