Awesome week! What can I say more?
Probably the most exciting thing about these last few weeks
in this ward is the wide variety of experiences we have had. For example, three
baptismal dates were set in the first two days. Yesterday a lady threatened to
kick us out of her house (She is a fairly active member... lol). We received an
awesome referral that is ready to receive the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We taught another guy who started describing stuff about satanic and pagan
rituals. You never know what you are going to get in a given day! It's
exciting. Even in one day we have seriously contradictory experiences. It's a
great adventure!
I can't write everything that happened this week (Elder
Welch did and it was about 4 pages long - he was preparing it day by day for
the whole week), but I can include the most miraculous part of the week! Specifically,
that was a person that we are now teaching. We experienced the BEST way for a
person to be introduced to the missionaries this week. Literally, it is almost
impossible to imagine a better way to introduce someone to the missionaries and
be taught the Gospel. Here we go:
The lady's name is Michelle. She is a cosmetologist/beautician.
For the last ~15 years, Sister Dix has gone from just a client, to a client and
friend, to a friend who happens to be a client. They have talked about religion
and the church consistently for that time with Sister Dix helping Michelle grow
in her own relationship with Jesus Christ. Two weeks ago Michelle had a crazy
thought while camping in the mountains: "Fire your housekeeper and join
the Mormon Church." She was kinda freaked out because she has never had
something like that happen to her, much less receive a text message from her
housekeeper saying she quit two hours later! Talk about a
"coincidence!" Haha. She talked to Sister Dix about wanting to meet
with the missionaries. We coordinated a meeting with Sister Dix for Tuesday
this week to talk about Michelle. My goal going in (in addition to learning
about Michelle and how to help her best) was to set up a lesson in a member's
home. Michelle lives in our ward boundary, but her friend Sister Dix does not.
After contacting two awesome families that live in our ward that couldn't do it
this week, we felt that having the first lesson at Sister Dix's home would be
the best. Sister Dix set up the appointment with Michelle for the next night (Wednesday)
at her house. We coordinated with a lady from our ward to come as well to the appointment.
Sister Wheelwright is the nicest most loving person I have ever met in my life.
But we found out later she was the perfect person to come for two other reasons.
She has gone through hard things and has a solid testimony; and she was just
called to work with the singles older than 30 (Michelle is in that category).
We had an AMAZING lesson with Michelle, Sister Wheelwright, and Brother &
Sister Dix. We invited Michelle to come to church - Sister Wheelwright volunteered
to meet Michelle at her house so she could follow Sister Wheelwright to the
church. We also scheduled the next appointment for Michelle's next available
day: Saturday. We set it up (a BBQ + lesson) to be at the Wheelwright's home
with Brother & Sister Dix coming. Sister Dix forgot about a prior
commitment so she sent a friend of hers to come in her place. This lesson was AWESOME
too. So good for Michelle to come without her friend! Sister Dix volunteered to
go with Michelle to church, but Michelle wanted to not rely on her friend during
this learning process! Instead, she sat next to the Sister Wheelwright at
church. She actually told Sister Wheelwright she has never felt that much love
and inclusion at her first time at church! The Sunday School lesson
"coincidentally" was on baptism. Katie and Riley shared some of their
experiences being baptized two weeks ago. That was PERFECT for us because we
weren't able to invite her to be baptized yet (the lessons have been
interesting with so many members present). Suffice to say, it's going pretty
perfect thus far!
I asked Elder Welch, "Have you ever met someone like
this to start teaching them the Gospel?" "Nope!" I agree. I have
had a series of GREAT first lessons with people in the recent months, but this
was definitely the best. Being taught in a member's home is SOOOOO helpful for
conversion. We were able to bring the right member to the first lesson so we
could have the second lesson taught in that member's home. The other lady we
are teaching - Mindy - was taught two times this week in a member's home as
well. They have been learning and growing at such an awesome rate! We are truly
excited for both of them. I really LOVE doing missionary work the way that it
was designed - for the missionaries to do the teaching in a member's home with
the members becoming real friends with the people. :)
There are lots of other exciting things going on that I
don't have time to go into right now. We are teaching a Greek foreign exchange student
the Gospel who is staying in a member's home for two weeks (just finished week
one). We are having TONS of miracles happening throughout the Longmont Stake.
We had interviews with the mission president. We are helping Mindy prepare to
be baptized. Etc.
I have been learning so much out here! Have a super awesome
amazing week! :)
Elder Campbell
P.S. Referring to the title... Yes, it can be better than
this week.
But this week was particularly awesome. I am excited for
this upcoming
week to be even better! :)
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