Dearest Family and Friends
Yesterday, we talked to a man on the street. He was willing to talk and argue, but not to listen. He went on a 30-minute rant on how there are no such things as miracles. I feel bad for this man, because I see miracles every day of my life. I hope you enjoy hearing about the miracles of this week!
I think I told you about Paul von Chinnery. After our second lesson with him, we started reading with him in the Book of Mormon every day. I love Paul. He really tries hard to understand the Book of Mormon. He takes every verse one at a time and reads it through several times until he completely understands it, then he comes up with an analogy to fit the verse, and then he figures out how he can apply it. Some days we only get through 7 verses with him, but it's incredible how much he is taking away from it (and after spending so much time on just a couple of verses, I feel like I'm learning a lot as well). The second time we were reading with him, I asked him why he meets with us. He said it's good for his brain... and he feels good when he reads the Book of Mormon and when we talk to him. We explained it was the Spirit! This morning we met with him again and felt like we needed to prepare to teach him the Word of Wisdom. He is a German man and has probably been involved in every type of drug ever created, so we knew this was going to be a struggle for him. Before we were able to talk to him about it, he told us decided he was going to stop doing drugs. He said that as we have met with him, he feels like the Book of Mormon helps him feel better than doing the drugs and the Spirit has prompted him to stop! Woah. I was kind of in shock. He didn't have a single cigarette on him and usually he ends our lessons so that he can go smoke. Miracle #1.
I know that you are all anxious about Karen. Well we met with her on Saturday and she was going to tell us if she wanted to get baptized on the 21st. She said that she wasn't going to be in town after all and she decided to visit with her Mom in Oklahoma. However, she agreed to come to church on Sunday! We were so excited to have her there. Angela and Dan were blessing their babies and it was testimony meeting! I'm not going to lie, I was a little nervous about testimony meeting and our ward has so many young families that sometimes you can't hear because of the amount of children crying. But I prayed that the children would be comforted and at peace and that she would feel the Spirit during the testimony meeting. It was an amazing meeting. The children were quiet and EVERY testimony addressed her concerns and needs. Miracle #2.
Unfortunately, sometimes people don't want to hear the message of the gospel and reject it. I'm getting pretty good at being rejected on the streets, but it's so much harder after teaching them for a couple of lessons. You really start feeling how much Heavenly Father loves his children and when they don't want what will make them happy, it breaks my heart. On Sunday, we taught Marcel again. I don't think he has the right intentions and the sincerity that we hoped. It was one of the hardest lessons that I've walked away from and it really hurts to see. But you never know what seeds we are planting. You never know what he may experience later in life and he will remember the missionaries. I love these people so much.
A less-active family moved into the ward and their 11 year old wants to get baptized! So we will be teaching her and trying to get her family activated as well!
There are many, many more miracles I've seen this week. I've been praying to notice the Lord's hand in my life more and have a greater appreciation for it. The Lord puts us in the right place, at the right time so often. It's incredible! I love being a missionary. I love seeing change, in myself and in others.
I love you all! Look for miracles.
-Sister Crystal Gardner
P.S. My ward mission leader (Bro. Horton) and I are really good friends! We talk to him almost every day. Sister Nuttall and I are the background on his computer screen :) Haha so, he said he can't wait to meet my family in 2 years when we take a trip up here! Also, he said that we are invited to stay with him and Sis. Horton and eat all the fresh raspberries and Saskatoons we could possible want when we go visit. Be excited, they are delicious. :)
P.S. Guess what? So, we've been working our hineys off... and we have the HIGHEST numbers of ANYONE in our Zone. :) Ok, well the Lord has helped us the entire time. But it's nice to be his little instrument, ya know? Well, I don't want to brag, but I wanted to tell SOMEONE. I love being a missionary girl. It's quite rewarding and the hard/stressful/frustrating times are worth every second of it. I really am learning a lot about myself and who I want to become.
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