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

Miracles in Arizona

From Natalie Willes

Teaching in Arizona

This week we ran into an 81 year old man named David! He was a stubborn but kind old man who believes the bible is the only true thing, and that it is his religion. Interesting, but we talked with him for a while and a little boy came up the stairs right behind us and starting deliberately yelling and making noise in our direction, but we ignored them. They were just little kids, probably no older than 5-7 years old but they didn't have any supervision. So they kept at it and eventually while we were talking, they collected rocks. They than proceeded to start throwing them at us. I heard a few clink on the ground beside me, and even heard the boy say "Ah I missed!" But he could not hit me. No matter how many times he threw and aimed, he could not hit me or my companion. I felt a bit like Samuel the Lamanite! David looked very upset when one came close to hitting me in the head by a mere two inches, but it didn't hit me and instead hit his foot because of the angle it was thrown . He chided the boy telling him to return home and that he'd be having a word with his father. It was a very unexpected experience.
We also had story time this Friday. I was asked to narrate the story of the brother of Jared. I hadn't narrated for little kids in a while, So the first time we went through a practice, it was a rough go, but when we actually were about to do the skit, I prayed to Heavenly Father and asked for the words to say that would touch these precious kids hearts. And the words came. I didn't even need the papers I was holding in my hands that would simplify e story. The words were mostly smooth, not perfect, but they came. So that was a miracle.

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. 

The Holy Ghost Will Answer Your Prayer In A Way You Will Understand

From Karsten Hinckley

Teaching in Thailand 

Sister Rung this last week came into a lesson and was telling us how she was just having a really hard time. She was telling us about how her mother wasn’t accepting of her and this and that. It was really hard to listen to because she deserves better. She was just crying and I had a thought. I grabbed a few hymn books and told her that we would sing two songs. I knew that singing would help us say things that are hard to say. We sang, Let the Holy Spirit Guide and then I Need Thee Every Hour. The spirit was so strong! You could feel it so powerfully! After we sang and said a prayer she said that she was felt so much better! 3 days later we met with her again and ended up singing a song before we ended the lesson by singing The Spirit of God. It was just like the other day, so powerful! I challenge you that if you are stuck with a investigator to sing a song with them. It has really helped us and our investigators a lot! 

Brother Tong had still not prayed about Joseph Smith. He said he didn’t know how Heavenly Father would answer him. We have told him so many times that the Holy Ghost would answer your prayer in a way that you'll understand. In the middle of the lesson he asked," Can I pray and ask right now?" Well yes of course you can. He prayed right then and after about 2 minutes of silence he got his answer that Joseph Smith was true. He's getting baptized on June 12th! 

 

Today I called one of my [recent converts], she said, “Elder Hinckley my mom is interested!" That makes me so happy!

The Lord was Pointing the Way

From Karsten Hinckley Teaching in Thailand  These past two weeks I have just been so happy! I can say that we have worked really hard to deserve the happiness that we have right now but that would not be right. All of the success that we have had is from the Lords hand in the work. We cannot have done anything these last two weeks if it wasn’t for Him pointing the way. We have seen so many blessings and miracles these past two weeks. Thank you for your prayers for our investigators.  We were teaching one of our investigators sister Rung. She is Christian already and just this last week in one of our lessons she told us, “Okay, I'm ready to be baptized." That made Elder Taylor and I feel like a million pounds had just been lifted. On Sunday we sat down with her and she told us some things that had been on her mind. Her daughter is handicapped and people will make fun of her daughter for being the way she is. We expressed that we were sorry for other people and their negative words. She also went on to tell us how her daughter had not learned about Jesus before. We had only met her taught her once and Sister Rung was very happy. She cried as she told us the many things that had been on her mind. She told us," Here is where I feel I am finding my answers." She is progressing greatly! She has such a strong testimony. She has a friend that is a member here, who was once a member at her old church. That friend has been able to help her understand the Gospel. Elder Taylor and I have high hopes for her. She has a date for the 29th! Sister Nii passed her baptismal interview last Wednesday which made Elder Taylor and I very happy! We know that she is ready because she has told us. She tells us that she wants her children to come as well. She has a daughter that wants to come as well! I love that! After she passed her interview, we sat down with her and Sister Yuki and talked about the temple. We showed them a temple video that a member made about the temple and they felt the spirit. It was amazing to see their eyes as we watch the video. They are two people that are very ready to be baptized. One of our investigators the other day was telling us how she didn’t read the Book of Mormon but watched You-tube and looked on Google instead. "I did it because it was easier than reading", she told us. I flat out told her," Sister you will not know or gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon by using those things, they have to benefit." I think it hit her a little bit. The past few lessons have been really hard with her because she will just ask for blessings. It kind of doesn’t set well with us. We've tried to help her understand how prayer is more than asking, it is a communication between us and Him. We need to make a good relationship with Him. Well about two days later, on a switch off, she changed!! I was almost thrown off. She told us that she had actually prayed to Him and had a conversation. We taught the gospel and she accepted a baptismal date! She said the best prayer I've ever heard her say! I didn’t know what to think. All I thought was, “You are starting to understand!” I know that at times it will take a while for someone to understand, so don’t give up on them. Sunday! It was the best Sunday that Elder Taylor nor I have ever had on our missions. We had over a 100 people at church which never happens. We had many less active and investigators. The speakers were so good! The lessons were great! To top it off we had 2 baptisms! Almost all of our investigators saw the baptism. Sister Yuki and Sister Nii both bore wonderful testimonies! We had such a good week! All thanks goes to Heavenly Father and you for your prayers. The Church is True!