I Know You From Somewhere!

From Jonah Bench

Teaching in New York, USA

Karen is an excommunicated member who recently got re-baptized! She was a drug addict, an alcoholic, a smoker, coffee drinker, and had three of her four kids out of wedlock with two different men. She's broken most of the commandments and, as a result, ended up in a really dark place. But one night she prayed for help and the missionaries stopped by the next day. She let them in and started taking the lessons. 

This was about the time I got transferred here and the first thing she said to me when I walked into her house was "I know you from somewhere!" There's no way I have met her on earth. But I very firmly believe that we were very close friends before this earth. She quit smoking, read the entire book of Mormon, quit coffee, kicked the people out of her life that were a bad influence, and completely changed to become ready for baptism. We went to the temple to do baptisms for the dead last Saturday and also went to the sacred grove. It was awesome! 

There may only be one person that you will find on your mission who you are able to see change. "But if ye should labor all your days and bring save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with them in the kingdom of my Father." It's true! Keep going!! 

The Lord Will Change Their Hearts

From Cambree King

Teaching in Honduras 

We went to bring Jeimy and Astrid and Ivan to church and, after fishing through all of the excuses of no clothes and whatnot, they just said they don’t want to come. They [told us] we can go visit them every day if we want, but they don’t want to come to church. It was pretty hard to listen to, but we can’t change the desires of their hearts. At lunch, we took some time to pray as companions and we just plead that the Lord would let the Spirit touch their hearts and help us to know what we could do so that they understand why they need to go to church. 

At night, we went to teach them and, without even asking, Astrid said that they will never ever miss another Sunday in their lives. They said they promised to be in church no matter what happened. We were super shocked and so I asked Astrid why. She said the whole hour that they would have been at church she just felt something in her heart. Jeimy said the same thing and they said they knew everything we had taught was true. I was literally amazed. That’s the lesson I learned this week: That if we have faith in the Lord and put our trust completely in Him, He will work the change of heart in the people.

Softening Even the Hardest Heart

From Jonah Bench

Teaching in New York, USA

So we had a lesson with a guy last night named Billy Jack. He ran up to us while we were getting in the car to go home at around nine at night and asked us to teach him. Not many people more prepared than that! He wants to quit drinking and wants to fix up his life.  He has tattoos all over him and looks like he has had a rough past, but the Atonement of Christ will fix that. He wants to be clean, and to be free from addiction and from Satan. 

The greatest miracle I have seen on my mission is the softening of even the hardest heart to hear the word of the Lord and to change. Change is not easy for people! Billy Jack is super sincere! He accepted a baptismal date [during] the first lesson! So we have him down hesitantly for July 11th! He is a funny guy! But he said the closing prayer and it was super genuine! He is ready to change! He said after the prayer, "Yep,this is my church!" 

The Power to Change Lives

From Federico Llanos

Teaching in Tampico, Mexico

This last Saturday I had the amazing opportunity to witness ten people enter into the baptismal waters and make their first covenant with our Heavenly Father. I am so happy and my heart has so much joy. It is amazing to me how the hand of the Lord works in so many ways. After four months of hard work, prayer, patience, and so much more, these people have truly changed their lives and are so happy to be members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know this Church is true and I know the message we contain has the power to change any person’s life. 

Happy to Serve!

From Allison Hepworth

Teaching in Pennsylvania, USA

 The Spanish elders and the zone leaders both had a baptism yesterday, and we wanted to go to the English speaking one, but somehow missed it and ended up at the Spanish one! It was super fun! I didn't really understand much, but it was a great experience! She looked so happy, and I can't wait to find an investigator who truly desires a change in their lives! I guess I will just keep working and whether or not that happens, I am just happy to be serving our Heavenly Father who has done so much for me!

A 180-Degree Change

From Carl LeCheminant,

 Teaching in Texas, USA

I would love to share an experience about finding an investigator who is particularly close to us at this time. Joe is an Active Duty Medic in the army, and at very pivotal points in his life he served with some amazing members [of the LDS Church] in his Battalion. One of which was his commanding officer who saw a lot of potential in him that even he didn't see in himself. Because of the influence of these wonderful members of the Church, and recognizing the peace they had as something he wanted, he was moved upon to come to church with his less-active wife. They approached us about teaching him the lessons so he could learn more. 

Since meeting with us he has changed his life 180 degrees and is making major decisions that will bless his life in amazing ways. He has yet to reach the waters of baptism and he is deploying within the next few months, but he is persistent on learning more and I know that as he continues to search the Book of Mormon, his life will eventually reach the point that he is hoping for.