Even dead ends have a purpose...

I signed up for an elective that is both time-consuming and sometimes pointless. It takes three hours out of my week. I often daydream during those three hours. However, into the semester I began receiving the prompting to give a Book of Mormon to one of my class-mates in the same elective course. Two weeks ago I gave him a copy and the following week he came up and thanked me for the gift because he has started reading it from the beginning. Moral of the story: If you can't find a purpose in life, do missionary work!!

Domino's

A few weeks into this semester, after finally remembering to pray for missionary moments daily and actually think about through out the day, I recognized someone in one of my classes. He had been in the class the entire time but I never saw him till then, a guy I knew from basketball at the rec center. Had a feeling I could at least introduce him somehow to the church. That Sunday they announced and started stake basketball. It was all perfect timing to introduce him to the church and hes going to come play in a game with the team soon. It was amazing that the pieces had been there the entire time but it took me pushing over the first domino and realizing an opportunity for anything to actually happen.

A Night at the Laundromate

Usually I have my iPod on while I do my laundry. Tonight I went down without it and began throwing clothes in the machine. In walked a guy who began his clothes across from me. I asked him how long he had lived in the complex and we began chatting. Not long into the conversation I learned he was a high school religion teacher. He began telling me of a book he's reading that connects the Jesus of the Old Testament to that of the New Testament. I asked him if he ever read The Book of Mormon, to which he replied he had not. Then I cast out the invitation: "I have an extra copy, can I give you one?" He accepted, with not a trace of resistance. I told him briefly of its content and said I would drop it off at his door in the morning. I had prayed for a missionary experience and would have missed it with my iPod. I guess tonight reminds me you actually have to get your hands dirty in the soil to plant seeds.

A night with the Elders

Tonight Anna and I went out with the Elders. We visited some member families. By the end of the night me and Anna were marveling at the optimism amongst the members of the ward as they spontaneously shared their testimonies of the Gospel and its role in their lives. Our first visit took us to some recent converts. The husband's mother, after four years of searching, has finally decided to be baptized! We left them in good spirits and then visited another recent convert and his three kids. This good man has been a member almost one year now and continues to bear testimony of how the Gospel has changed his life. We learned much from him tonight, especially watching his happy kids. He lives and leads a life of logic, love and empathy.

Alma

Spence and I, super enthused about family mission plans after the RS/Priesthood lesson last month, made a mission plan for our tiny family. As part of it, we made a goal to pass out a few copies of the Book of Mormon this year. Just a few weeks later, I worked with a girl named Alma who had never even heard of the Book of Mormon. Even without our family mission plan, I don’t think I could’ve resisted telling her that she was named after two of the most amazing prophets in history! I began to tell her a little about it. But, in the hustle and bustle of the job, the conversation did not last long. For days I thought about the conversation, hoping I would work with her again so we could finish the conversation. Then, the other day it dawned on me that I could wait forever for the opportunity to fall into my lap again, or I could make it happen. So today, I did it…I sought her out, gave her a copy of the Book of Mormon, showed her the parts with Alma in it, and explained a little about the book. It was really short, and I didn’t have the courage to tell her all that the book meant to me….But it was a start! “I just placed my first Book of Mormon,” as Elder Calhoun (Best Two Years) would say. I don’t know if she will read it, or if it will impact her in any way, but I know that at least she has access to the truth of the gospel now. And even if it does nothing for her, it was a blessing for me to be able to think about how much I love the book and want others to have it. And it was a practice…I hope I will grow more confident in sharing my testimony and letting more people know the awesome truth about the Lord and His plan. Plus, it got me more enthused about the missionary spirit. I know the Lord puts specific people in our path for us to teach and reach out to. I can’t wait to see who else comes my way!

Stopped Time with Missionaries

Tonight I went out with the missionaries to an appointment on the other side of town. By the time we arrived the appointment fell through. We made a quick, cold contact on the street and then got back into the car. The Elders decided to visit a member. She lives in a nice apartment near Fort Lowell and Balboa. While visiting her we were able to share some faith-promoting stories. The special part of the night, however, was hearing her faith-promoting stories detailing God's hand in her life. A visit to a member's home is always a reminder that God loves each one of us despite our circumstances or differences with others. After a brief message (Elder Omstead shared 2 Kings 6) we sang "How Great thou Art." We followed this with a prayer and soon were on our way. It's a blessing to accompany the missionaries on their visits. When I'm with them, time stops, it almost doesn't exist, unless it's past 9:30 pm (: My life and it's issues get put on hold and I can focus on others. I'm so thankful for the missionaries. I know that without them I never would have laughed at this great member's jokes tonight because I probably never would have visited her tonight.