June 11, 2012

Sister Randal is coming along in her training. I think she takes some things a little too lightly. We've been really blessed since she's been here in having a fair amount of work. We've been running from appointment to appointment, engagement to engagement. I think she'll have a rude awakening when in her mission things slow down. I have been doing a lot of contemplating these last few days about companions. As missionaries we are assigned our companions, luckily i have been blessed with getting companions that i can get along with. We don't always agree or share the same opinions, but we learn to get along. I must say when i come home i am going to be very grateful to chose who i want to be with for eternity. I know we'll still have our differences, but i chose him. And that makes all the difference. We had a neat experience last week right after I had finished on the computer.The Gentlemen sitting next to me was on his way out when he asked us why we wore name badges. This turned into a really good gospel discussion and he agreed to meet with us again. His wife is very set in her catholic religion and because of this we decided to meet at the Library. We met up again Tuesday in the library and went through the First lesson more in depth with him. He had several good questions that we were able to answer using the scriptures. But the only answer he wasn't satisfied with was the answer concerning the sacrament. Why do we use water when the scriptures clearly state the use of wine? We shared with him the word of wisdom and then how we believe in the modern revelation. And that it was revealed to us from a prophet of God that we should no longer use wine for our sacrament. Sadly this didn't satisfy him and discontinued our visits. From this experience i relearned that there are people all around us who searching. Who, like the scriptures say are seeking to quench there thirst but don't know how to satisfy it. Second, i was reminded that everyone has their agency. This man, if he were truly seeking and was ready to receive the gospel would not let something so minute as how we partake of the sacrament get in the way of his Eternal Salvation. Last night we had a similar experience. Sherry Mueller is a Seventh day Adventist. We had met with her on two different accounts and finally last night during our discussion she told us she didn't want to have "bible discussions" anymore. She explained that she had read through some of the pamphlets we had left her and found that our doctrine is surprisingly different from what she believes. It makes me sad whenever we are dropped or have to drop an investigator. They don't understand what they turning away. They don't understand the blessings the Lord has for them once they accept and are baptized. On a happier note we did set a baptismal date with one of our investigators this week. Angel O'Neil is the daughter of two less active ward members. We found her accidentally when we went to visit her parents.Apparently brother and sister Lemen attended church since 2000. And the ENTIRE FAMILY made it church yesterday. They all attended the first two hours and seemed to enjoy them both. Brother Lemen didn't stay for the last hour, he left and came back to pick up his family after the three hour block had finished. But what a miracle to have all of them there. love you all Sister salmon