Bring me to tears

Email #31
Area: Grange area of the Firle Zone
Companion: Elder Danielsen-Jensen

Excerpts from Mom's email:

Hey Mom!

So this week didn't have to much happen, but what did happen were big things! My biggest highlight was definitely last night!! Last night was just really great for me. So we went to go and teach F... again and as always it went so great! We taught the Word of Wisdom in a way I never have before. His only concern was coffee, just the fact that he really likes it, but the way we went over it and what his wife said is probably the best possible way we could have taught it. He is so close! He is doing so well and we are so blessed for the opportunity to know their family. The best part of that lesson though was the end! What I felt still will almost bring me to tears. He said his first verbal prayer at the end of the lesson. It was so powerful.. what really hit us was when we looked up, his wife had tears in her eyes and it was so touching. It was the first time she had ever heard him pray. We can see more then anything else the great love they have. We could feel the spirit so strong! It is an experience I won't soon forget! It is one of those had to be their type of things I know, but it was a special experience I was able to have.

Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!

So story for ya that is pretty interesting. Earlier this week, my companion and I were looking for a place for us to contact people at night. We can't of course knock on doors at night, so we needed a place to find people even at night.  So we went to the bike paths near the beach and turns out there are a few people that walk that at night. Anyway, we came across this one guy who I mistaken for a hobo basically. He was digging through the rubbish bin for bottles to sell. We start talking to him and turns out he doesn't have a great opinion on religion, because of his past experience with it. Once we got to talking, he opened up a lot and turns out that he has had a really hard life! Probably one of the most difficult life stories I have heard. He went down to the beach that night to think about ending his life. He felt he didn't have much to live for and wasn't really even sure why he was looking for bottles at that moment. Just to pass the time maybe. We told him of the Plan of Salvation and about God's love. He didn't necessarily say he was going to take the lessons at this point in time, but we promised him there is a purpose in his life. He ended up going home to think about what we talked about. All I know is what the spirit told me. That we were sent to that spot at that moment for a reason. Not sure for the exact purpose, but I wonder all the time what happened to him after that. Guess I will find out one day.

Another cool experience this week was when we went to the temple with L... and her father, who are both recent converts. Brother S.... was baptized just two weeks ago as I told you about and he is a very spiritual man. You could tell the way he lit up at the temple on what he felt. He receives the Aaronic Priesthood next Sunday and after that he can get a recommend. His daughter L... was able to do baptisms and she just smiled haha! She was just so happy it was really cool to see. Her son, A..... will be turning 12 in a couple of months and I am really excited for him. I've gotten really close with to him since I have been here and care about him a lot. We also started teaching another young Indian boy named S...... He is one smart kid! Only 10 years old, but he just asks the best questions! His father was baptized a few years ago, but he just recently got close to us and we started teaching him this past week! His Mom is now taking the lessons from the sisters as well! So excited how the work is progressing!

Well that's all I have for ya this week. Love you so much!