As for the numbers, this week was not as impressive as last week, but I feel that we accomplished a lot, and I don't feel bad about the lack of numbers. Monday and Tuesday were days spent in the company of a couple of the families in our ward. We were able to share in their Christmas traditions, and celebrate the birth of our Savior. Both families were great, and I am very thankful that they would open their homes to us as we are away from ours. Calling home on Tuesday was a special experience. I was so happy to be able to talk to you guys, especially Emily and Eric, who I haven't seen in a very long time.
Wednesday we were able to start teaching. We met with the Williams in the morning, and were able to talk to them about the scriptures, and the blessings that come from study and prayer. We were also able to meet with Josh. We met him a couple weeks ago while tracting, and he was interested in learning more. We went over the Restoration, and he asked a lot of questions. He asked about the Word of Wisdom, and we talked about that with him as well. He told us that he always had backaches, and once he stopped drinking coffee, the backaches went away. I thought it funny how he had seen the blessings of abstainance already. He said he started drinking coffee again, but would try to cut back. We also had a lesson with Dirk. We went over the Restoration again, and really focused on the prophets, and the priesthood. He told us that he hadn't prayed about the Book of Mormon yet, but that he would do so this week. He has kept all of his commitments so far, so I am sure that he will keep this one. He will be baptized soon.
Thursday we had all of our set lessons cancel. We did have a cool experience though. We were walking to see some potentials, and we met a man, who was using a flashlight to look for something on the ground. We asked if we could help. He first said no, but we helped anyway, he was looking for his glasses. Elder Lott asked him if he had prayed. He said no. I said a prayer quietly to myself, and immedietly after I found his glasses. He was very thankful, and we were able to walk with him for a while, and teach him about God. He doesn't have a faith in God, and thinks that because of the way the world is that God makes a lot of mistakes, and gets too much credit. It was a lesson on agency. Our chouces affect others, and God, no matter how bad our choices are, will not stop us from making the choice. It was a concept he did not understand, nor want to, but one that I appreciate.
Friday we found T Graham again. He is a homeless person that has come to Church before, and we've talked with a couple times. We found him, and talked with him again, and after telling him that we were speaking in the Branch on Sunday he agreed to come to Church. He did, and stayed for all three hours. We also met with G Smith that night. He has just been released from prison, and he found God in there, and was taking a bible study class from the missionaries there as well. He felt the most comfortable with us, and sees how it can help him change his life. I am looking forward to meeting with him, and I am sure that he will also be baptized. He is still on parole, and may have to wait, but it will happen. Unfortunatly he wasn't at Church.
Saturday we met with Ken and Angela. Ken is getting baptized on January 12 at 6pm. We went over the baptismal interview with him, and made sure that he didn't have any questions about what we have taught. He didn't. Our only concern with him is his reading and prayer. He will do both every week, but not every day. We talked about the importance of daily study and prayer. He wasn't at Church this week though. We also had dinner with Sam Roberts that night. He is a recent convert, and he is really intelligent. His understanding is amazing. We had a very good conversation with him about prayer. He is working on family history, and he already has over 50 names to take to the temple. He is going there for baptisms for the dead on January 18.
Sunday all of our lessons cancelled again. We were able to have a lot of nonmembers at Church though, besides people we are currently teaching there were two others that came with friends in the Branch, and one that came in the Ward. It was a really good day at Church as well. The 5th Sunday discussion was about same-gender attraction. We went over the Church's new website mormonsandgays.org. It was an interesting discussion. There was a member from the Branch who is openly gay, but an active member who spoke. He used to be fully practising, he had a partner, but the missonaries found him seven years ago, and he quite living that lifestyle. He still has those feelings, but he no longer acts on them. He has a temple reccomend now, and helps others to change as well.
Thats about all for this week. I have been a little less motivated this week than I should be. I talked with Elder Lott about it last night, and he is going to help me work harder. He is such an example to me in his desire to work. I love serving with him. He is a great missonary. I am looking froward to see how transfers go next Monday, hopefully we will be with each other for one more.
Love Elder Schultz
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