Week 96: We Arranged A Marriage??

Wow what an eventful week!

First off, we literally arranged a marriage. I didn't know that was in my job description haha. So here's the story... We met an inactive member (Julian) and his fiance (Eliannah) a few weeks back and finally were able to set up a lesson with them this past week. We taught them the restoration and they asked if we could help them get married in the church. We contacted the Bishop, got Julian's records moved into our ward, and set up the marriage for the next day. Julian and Eliannah asked if we could be the witnesses and of course we said yes. They thought their marriage license expired a couple days later but as the Bishop was signing it he realized it expired that day! It's crazy how things just lined up. Julian also told us that the same day we met them missionaries found his mom and brother who are also members. How cool is that? Anyways, Eliannah is interested in baptism as well so hopefully we'll put her on date soon!

As we were riding home one night a guy yelled "Mormons!" from across the street. We stopped and could see him waving us over. It was dark but I didn't feel bad about going over to him so we turned around. When we got closer I saw that there was a knife hanging from his shorts and a wine bottle in his arm so we kept our distance. He told us that his wife is a member and that she's been wanting us to come so we followed him into his apartment complex and met his wife. Patrick (the husband) was freaking out and almost crying. He kept telling Candy (the wife) to get us juice and that she needed to tell us about her mom. They were arguing a lot and she told him about 5 times that he needs to "get baptized Mormon". It was getting late so we were trying to get out of there but Patrick was trying to feed us ground beef on bread with mustard and mayonnaise (which was falling all over the floor and on his shorts) and he kept telling us not to go. I was so close to just eating the food so that he would let us go faster but he was blowing cigarette smoke in our faces and there were cockroaches everywhere so I was scared about the quality of the food haha. We basically just walked out cause there's no other way we were going to be able to leave. We found them a ride to church though and they came! We also have a lesson on Tuesday with a member so we'll see how that goes... Hopefully more normal than our last interaction. 

On Friday while tracting we knocked on a guy's door, he invited us in, and then told us how religion is founded by the devil and that we don't need to go to church. He even gave us a comic book that explained why! Someone also put an anti-mormon pamphlet on the church so that's been fun to read haha.

Jose unfortunately was not able to get baptized on Saturday. He still has to overcome an addiction, but he still wants to get baptized. Keep him in your prayers.  

Good news is we had 6 people at church plus 3 inactive members though! Kimiko is getting baptized this Saturday as well so that's exciting!

Oh and one last story... Saturday night while heading home we decided to walk down one last street and after about 10 seconds of walking we met a lady named Tamyra. Tamyra has been going through it recently and us coming by was a sign that God is aware of her and loves her. It was amazing to see how God sent us there to help out one of his struggling children. Being a missionary is amazing!

2 Nephi 28:30 says, "For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have."

I'm so grateful for a God who continues to teach us and gradually build upon our knowledge. I have seen Him do this for me on my mission. When I started my knowledge of the scriptures and doctrine was very minimal but as I've dedicated my time to the Lord I have seen Him to wonders in my capacity to quote scripture and relay the doctrine of the gospel. I never imagined that I would have this type of confidence in teaching others about Jesus Christ. I know that God has truly increased my knowledge and taught me line upon line and I'm excited to keep learning throughout my life. 

Pics

☆ Catching the elders snoozing during lunch

☆ Atomic bomb??

☆ Chalk art in front of the Sister's apartment

☆ Foodbank!