We had a pretty great week! We were able to bring a few investigators to the temple and help them feel the Spirit that was there! Our bishop was talking to us about taking people to the temple even before that, and he suggested that we park on the side of the road instead of in the parking lot so that we could all feel the immediate difference
when we walked onto the grounds. I missed one of the tours because of exchanges, but the one we went on went great! It was with three girls named Mahogne, Breasia, and Unique. Mahogne is 14 and took tons of pictures on her phone while we were there!
We also had Zone Training Council this week and at the end we took the zone to the temple to finish up with a training on covenants! The view is amazing!
We taught an amazing lady named Angelica when we went on splits! We had an appointment with her and got to her house and she said that her sister was gone (she thought we only wanted to meet with her sister!) but she still let us come inside and share the restoration with her. It went so well! Angelica is so receptive and told us that she was confused by all the different Christian churches and felt pretty overwhelmed because they all believe in Jesus Christ and the Bible, yet they all teach different things. She sincerely wants to know which church she should join! Well, Joseph Smith had the same question and she loved learning about the First Vision! It was another one of those perfect lessons that you think only happen in the MTC, but then it's actually happening with a real person! Angelica also wants her whole family to join her in investigating the Church and being baptized (Tree of Life, anyone?) and we taught her about why we don't baptize kids until they're eight because she has two young kids. She said it makes perfect sense! I love Angelica! She's actually moving out of our area this week, so other missionaries will get to teach her. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to teach her!
We met another awesome guy named James! His lesson went just like Angelica's! He also wants his whole family to be baptized! He has a son living in California, so we're trying to figure that one out. He doesn't know exactly where his son lives. The member who came to James' lesson has such a strong testimony! It's quite an adjustment for me to come back to a family ward after YSA though, because I'm used to always having returned missionaries come out with us who know the general flow of the lessons! It sure keeps us on our toes now.
We're teaching a guy named Lewis who is going to be baptized in a few weeks! He is awesome! We taught him about the Word of Wisdom and he stopped us as we were talking and said, "You don't really understand how true the words you're saying are because you haven't experienced addiction. I have, and I know that what you're saying is exactly right." I love it when people understand why we have the Word of Wisdom! To me, it's to protect the three most important gifts God has given us: our agency, our bodies, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. When someone is addicted to something, their agency is taken away (it was their choice in the first place to give it up) and they can't hear the voice of the Spirit because the draw to whatever they're addicted to is so strong. Then, when they can't hear the Spirit, they can't learn as much and gain knowledge! I love that promise in D&C 89 - that "all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings...shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures." That's through the Holy Ghost! "And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."
Speaking of the Word of Wisdom, I had another experience with an investigator that helped me learn something. I went on an exchange with one of the Mission Sister Training Leaders and we taught a guy who was addicted to meth. I noticed a lot of mannerisms in him that strongly reminded me of someone we taught pretty frequently in Foothills. Until that day I never realized that those quirks were because of the drug they were on. I could literally see it in their eyes, like a thick layer of fog that's holding them down in the dark. They can see the light that the gospel offers and they want it, but they're stuck behind a barrier of addiction. I just though it was how our Foothills investigator was until I met this new guy on exchanges. It's strange--it's like you can literally see Satan's steel grasp on those with addictions. Moral of the story: don't do drugs. They're horrible.
On a happier note, Lonnie, Dawn, and Alison are on track for their baptism! They are amazing and I love them so much! They've been coming to church every Sunday, but Lonnie actually missed this week because of something that happened right before. The silliest things happen to prevent people from coming! Two other girls named Katelyn and Elizabeth who are getting baptized this Saturday didn't come because their dresses were dirty. It's a learning experience for all of us--we're still trying to remember everything we need to tell people about before they come to church!
I hope you all have a great week! Give a friend a copy of the Book of Mormon!
Love,
Sister Bedont
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