July 25, 2016
Heylo Eberyone!
The mission continues to amaze me. There is no aspect of this work
that isn't miraculous. We had four of our investigators come to church
this week (more than we've ever had before), people who we tried to
contact forever finally came out of the woodwork, and at the end of
all these miracles, we were blessed with even more miracles!
This past Tuesday, we were biking to the church to prepare for a
lesson we had later in the day, when I had a distinct impression to
ask Elder Pavlakos which way to go. After a little bit of thought, he
decided to go a direction we didn't usually go. I followed his
direction. Then, at another point on the route, I felt that we should
make yet another variation to the route we were expecting to go.
Unsure of why we felt we needed to go this way, we took this new
route, one we had rarely ever used. Not two minutes later, Elder
Pavlakos suddenly stops and begins to turn around.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"We should go talk to that guy."
"What guy?"
Unbeknownst to me, we had just passed a man sitting by the sidewalk
next two his bike and two empty water bottles. We asked if he needed
some water. He gratefully accepted, and we began to talk. He told us
his name was Esteban, and he had just gotten a job at the nearby
Albertson's supermarket. We sat down next to him, and the three of us
were making conversation like we'd known each other forever. He told
us about his history, and the many struggles he's had, but how he was
able to keep God in his life, and how that's blessed him. We took the
opportunity to teach him about the nature of God as our Heavenly
Father, and he loved that concept. By the end, we were calling each
other brothers, and he asked if one of our churches was nearby. We
gave him an address and directions, as well as a start time. He told
us he would do his best to make it, and that he was eager to attend.
He then told us that he lived about 20 miles away, and he had to bike
home! We filled up his water from our packs, and he was off on his
way. He wasn't able to come to church this week, because he had to
work; he did, however, tell us that he still wants to come.
This circumstance reminds me of a passage from the Doctrine and
Covenants. In section 61, the elders of the Church were riding along
the Missouri River, and Joseph Smith received revelation from God,
saying, "it is not needful for this whole company of mine elders to be
moving swiftly upon the waters, whilst the inhabitants on either side
are perishing in unbelief". While Esteban had faith in God and Jesus
Christ, because we had taken the time to follow the promptings of the
Spirit on which direction to go and when to stop, we were able to
minister to him both physically and spiritually. Esteban now knows
there is someone he can turn to in his hour of need. There is no work
greater than this, I am sure of it!
Thank you all for your prayers and support! I can feel them every day.
Love,
Elder Grover
1-3: Ping-Pong Fun!
4: A McLaren!
The mission continues to amaze me. There is no aspect of this work
that isn't miraculous. We had four of our investigators come to church
this week (more than we've ever had before), people who we tried to
contact forever finally came out of the woodwork, and at the end of
all these miracles, we were blessed with even more miracles!
This past Tuesday, we were biking to the church to prepare for a
lesson we had later in the day, when I had a distinct impression to
ask Elder Pavlakos which way to go. After a little bit of thought, he
decided to go a direction we didn't usually go. I followed his
direction. Then, at another point on the route, I felt that we should
make yet another variation to the route we were expecting to go.
Unsure of why we felt we needed to go this way, we took this new
route, one we had rarely ever used. Not two minutes later, Elder
Pavlakos suddenly stops and begins to turn around.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"We should go talk to that guy."
"What guy?"
Unbeknownst to me, we had just passed a man sitting by the sidewalk
next two his bike and two empty water bottles. We asked if he needed
some water. He gratefully accepted, and we began to talk. He told us
his name was Esteban, and he had just gotten a job at the nearby
Albertson's supermarket. We sat down next to him, and the three of us
were making conversation like we'd known each other forever. He told
us about his history, and the many struggles he's had, but how he was
able to keep God in his life, and how that's blessed him. We took the
opportunity to teach him about the nature of God as our Heavenly
Father, and he loved that concept. By the end, we were calling each
other brothers, and he asked if one of our churches was nearby. We
gave him an address and directions, as well as a start time. He told
us he would do his best to make it, and that he was eager to attend.
He then told us that he lived about 20 miles away, and he had to bike
home! We filled up his water from our packs, and he was off on his
way. He wasn't able to come to church this week, because he had to
work; he did, however, tell us that he still wants to come.
This circumstance reminds me of a passage from the Doctrine and
Covenants. In section 61, the elders of the Church were riding along
the Missouri River, and Joseph Smith received revelation from God,
saying, "it is not needful for this whole company of mine elders to be
moving swiftly upon the waters, whilst the inhabitants on either side
are perishing in unbelief". While Esteban had faith in God and Jesus
Christ, because we had taken the time to follow the promptings of the
Spirit on which direction to go and when to stop, we were able to
minister to him both physically and spiritually. Esteban now knows
there is someone he can turn to in his hour of need. There is no work
greater than this, I am sure of it!
Thank you all for your prayers and support! I can feel them every day.
Love,
Elder Grover
1-3: Ping-Pong Fun!
4: A McLaren!
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