So
we finally get a new refrigerator after 25 years? Talk about
bittersweet. Gosh, I feel like a part of me has died... Will I see our
good ol' fridge in the next life? Haha I'm just kidding. You can make
fun of me for saying this, but I'll miss that old tank of an appliance.
It's all I've known! Well, life moves on.
Speaking
of life moving on - I was reading the end of Jacob going into Enos this
morning for personal study. As Jacob is finishing his account, he tells
the story of one named Sherem - an anti-Christ who is convinced of his
wrongdoing right before he dies. I haven't faced many anti-Christs on my
mission, but I can sure relate to Jacob in the way that he gets
extremely "anti'd" (aka religious bash, battle). But of course Jacob
handles the situation like a champ by confounding Sherem in "all his
words." He was simply able to do this because the Spirit of the Lord was
within him. Just as the Doctrine and Covenants promises the Lord's
missionaries repeatedly, Jacob was living right so that he was given
what he should say in the very moment he needed it. Cool stuff! Anyway,
Jacob ends his words by saying that "time passed away with us, and also
our lives passed away like as it were unto a dream..." He also calls his
people "wanderers" and a "lonesome and solemn people." As I was reading
that I couldn't help but think about how life truly does pass away like
a dream when we're living right and helping others come unto Christ.
Jacob spent his whole life doing just that. Though we may feel
"lonesome" or feel like "wanderers" in this strange world we live in, we
can also be blessed like Jacob. Soon life will pass by like a dream and
we will look back on the good times of helping people and serving God.
Just a thought.
This week sure passed by like a dream. It was
another hard working week where we experienced more of the extreme highs
and lows of missionary work. Mom, as to answer you're question on how I
deal with the roller coaster of the work - I simply pray, trust in the
Lord, and move onward. It's not always easy. Heck, Crystal didn't seem
as golden as we thought she was. Who knows, she might still be
interested, but her husband got in the way. We dropped by this week and
he answered the door. We explained that Crystal said we could come back.
His response was this, "You know, we talk to God everyday... We're not
going to be interested in what you have to share. My wife .... she's
easily persuaded ..." Talk about a depressing walk back to the car. I
feel like my heart's been broken so many times that I almost expect it
sometimes. I always get my hopes up that they are "the one," only to
find out later that they aren't.
Such is the case with Grahm (Crystal's neighbor).
We've taught him twice now and he's so prepared for the Gospel that it's
ridiculous. Both lessons were absolutely perfect and I can see how God
has slowly led Grahm to eventually embrace the truth. It's almost too
perfect. I can't help but get my hopes up for this one.
He's fascinated by the Book of Mormon. He even asked us to show him
which scriptures were most important for him to read to know that it's
true. Both Elder Heindel and I about jumped out of our chairs to show
him 3 Nephi 11, King Benjamin's address, 2 Nephi 31-33, etc. Man, if
Grahm doesn't make it somebody might just have to piece my fragile heart
back together! He's probably our most progressing investigator right
now.
Despite the
downfalls, there are wonderful things happening in our area. We taught
20 lessons and picked up 3 new investigators. 2 of them are a couple
that we tracted into named Mark and Ashley. They are hard-core
Pentecostal, but somewhat open-minded to the whole Book of Mormon thing.
We taught a great lesson on the Restoration and afterward Mark asked us
what our views were on speaking in tongues. We could tell that it was
important to them. Haha Elder Heindel basically zipped his lips shut and
looked at me to answer the question. In the most loving and respectful
way I could I explained our church's view and the way I felt about it. I
didn't want to flat out say that they were crazy. They accepted what I
said, but I have a feeling that we'll be talking a lot more about it in
the future. Hopefully they gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon before
too long :) Good grief!
I hope y'all have a great week and a fun homecoming with April. Sure
wish I could be there, but it can wait a few months. Take care, ya
hear!
Love, Elder Atkin
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