I Call Them My Answer Book

From Mason Blettenberg

Teaching in Ireland

We had such a blast this week. I think what made it so good is how much me and my comp studied the scriptures together; that’s what changed it. There is just something about the scriptures that draw me in like a bug to a light. i just keep reading to find answers. I call [the scriptures] my answer books.

We have one investigator with a date to be baptized, so that is exciting. But the highlight of my week was visiting a less active man name Mike. Mike is a long-term less active member of the Church and he has so many addictions its not even funny. He is literally in his house all day smoking, drinking, and doing drugs. He just can’t stop what he is doing. But he loves elders so he lets us in. so we made a plan to clean his house so he could feel the Spirit. I have seen a lot of dirty houses in Ireland and Scotland, but nothing like this. So we brought bags to just start slow and pick up rubbish. We started but he did not like it; it made him feel bad that we had to do it for him. So I prayed and fasted over what to do. He is on my mind all the time. I love this man, so we went over to try once again and same thing happened: he did not want to do the clean up. Then I looked at the fireplace and the still small voice whispered to me and told me to use the fire. So we made a fire in the fireplace and slowly started to put things in the fire. Now that felt good! We did not stop him from drinking or force him into anything, but we had a campfire and had some small talk about his life and the Book of Mormon. I love this gospel and what I’m doing on my mission. I will return with honor.

 

Elder Blettenberg

I Had Goosebumps!

From Karsten Hinckley

Teaching in Thailand

This last week Elder Taylor and I have just been so lucky to be teaching amazing people! Great investigators. We were talking the other day and we came to the conclusion that we don’t want to go home. It has been amazing to see how the Lord has worked the past three months. We have seen so many miracles. 

One miracle was a former investigator that we contacted the other day. We made an appointment with her and she came. She is only 16 years old and she is one of the most prepared people that I have met. Her only problem is that her parents will not allow her to be baptized. I really dislike that. Sometimes parents just need to trust their children with a decision like this to follow Jesus Christ. We asked her," Have you ever felt the spirit before?" She wasn’t sure. For the next two days that we met with her we told her how the spirit could feel and how she could know. We fasted with her that her parents would open their hearts. Yesterday at church, after the fast was over, we asked her how the fast went.  She replied, "I did what you told me to do. I waited while I prayed and I felt something that I have never felt before in my life! I had goose bumps! I loved that feeling!" Oh, that made Elder Taylor and I very happy. We told her to write a letter to her parents about how she feels about Jesus Christ and how she would like to be baptized. Well, she did that and when she is ready she will give the letter to her parents! I am sad that I won’t be able to work with her anymore but that is okay. I was still able to see her progress! 

Sister Yuki told us of some missionaries experiences that she had the other day which has really strengthened her testimony of the Lord. She was in a taxi telling a friend about what she had learned at church. Her friends got out of the taxi and she then went home. In the ride home, the taxi driver started to ask her questions about what she was telling her friend. The driver was interested and she got his number. She then called us and told us she had an investigator for missionaries in another area. She was really happy to share the gospel with that person. I am telling you all that sharing the gospel is not hard at all and that it is possible. All you have to do is be ready to open your mouth when the time is right. 

A Sweet Feeling of Peace and Joy Came Over Me

From Karsten Hinckley

Teaching in Thailand 

When your investigators finds out for themselves that what you have been teaching is true, you get a sign of relief. That happened this last week. Last Monday we met with Sister You-Gee. We have been teaching her for over a month now. We told her that we would watch the Restoration video with her the week before, but never got to it. We got to it Monday though. After watching the video she told us, "Mormon is true. I felt it myself - the Mormon is true." A sweet feeling of joy and peace came over me and I was just so happy! She went on to tell us that every time she comes to church she feels great! After she told us these things I then asked, "What's next?" She said, “I have to keep the commandments." That is what I like to hear. She doesn’t have a baptismal date yet, but we are still working on that. It's not when we want it, it's when she wants it. I love my missionary experiences! 

… This last Saturday we started our fast like normal. I fasted for our investigators and for miracles. We didn’t think that any of our investigators would show up today because they told us that they couldn’t make it. Some of our investigators came today and together with the sisters we had ten investigators at church!! Yeah!! The sisters had a baptism today which was great and their investigator asked me if I would baptize her. I thought, “Well, she doesn’t even know me. Okay, well if this is what she wants, okay.”  So yesterday I baptized someone! Also we had about six less active members  return to Church! One of the less active brothers was given the priesthood as well, which was awesome! 

… I am seeing so many miracles just about every day! The Lord works in mysterious ways!!