Dear family and friends,
Hi from Vallejo! This week went really well :) You know, the usual.
So, I decided this week that I really love nachos. But not the fake-cheese kind of nachos - the nachos where you have fresh chips, with fresh cheese melted on top, and avacado and salsa...oh man, so good.
I realized I have subconsciously become a vegetarian! Not totally - if people serve me meat, I eat it. But personally, I don't eat any meat! I love eating black beans and garbanzo beans in wraps, but I don't even eat lunch meat anymore! Which is surprising, seeing how before being out on a mission I just loved steak.
Speaking of steak, our ward mission leader fed us this week and he lives in the BOONIES in the mountains. He fed us an awesome dinner and for the first time in a while, I ate steak! And I didn't like it!! Weird. So yes, I have gone semi-vegetarian.
Alright! This week!
First off, our investigator RQ Lin Manzon is doing so well! We set a new baptismal date for him for August 23rd, since he moves pretty slow. He is excited for his baptism and came to church yesterday for the second time. He is also attending FHE tonight! Man, he is so funny - I'll try to take a picture with him this week so you can see how awesome he is. He is the cutest, sweetest little Filipino guy - makes me slightly jealous of the missions in the Philippines...but it's alright haha.
As for our investigator Lindsay, she is really struggling with the Book of Mormon. She comes from a Southern Baptist background where they tell their members that if they are baptized into the Mormon church and/or if they read the Book of Mormon they will burn in Hell. Sometimes it bothers me that other "Christian" churches condemn us so much. But I know that all I need to worry about is making sure I keep my covenants I made at baptism and help others to recognize the truthfulness of our message for themselves.
It's interesting that came up this week with Lindsay and her old church, because in 3 Nephi 27:1-10 it talks about what Christ's church is. Our church truly does reflect everything Christ commanded His church to be. It strengthens my testimony and reassures me. As for her church preaching all of that against us, I'm reminded of a verse in the Book of Mormon (can't remember the exact verse right now): "Fools mock; but they shall mourn."
Anyhow, we are working with Lindsay to recognize the Spirit and help her see the many ways God speaks to her. Extra prayers are going up for her - she definitely needs them to get over this hump.
Sister Harmer and I also taught an amazing first lesson to a new investigator, Ryan, this week. Our Bishop's son, Matthew, is on a mission right now in South Africa and has been e-mailing his best friend Ryan. Ryan decided he wanted to meet with the missionaries, so we met at our Bishop's home and taught him the first few principles in the Restoration. He has NO concept or idea of God, so Sister Harmer and I explained about Heavenly Father and His plan for us called the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and how this plan blesses families. It was SO powerful. I don't think I've ever taught so simply to anyone before, and I don't think I've ever felt the Spirit more in my entire life than I did in that room on Thursday evening. After we said a prayer at the end, he just sat and soaked the Spirit in. We sat in silence for about a minute, and he looked up and said, "I feel like Matthew [his missionary friend] is here." :) I'm sure Matthew is rooting Ryan on, as well. I am stoked to teach him again this coming Thursday!
Guess what we did this week?! (With God's help, of course) We picked up a YSA FAMILY!! Our investigators Joseph and Tracey invited a family-friend, Alex, to join in the lessons, and Joseph's sister, Divina, is also meeting with us. They eat everything up every time we go over and are just enthusiastic and wanting to learn. They always ask such great questions that make me think, too.
It is such a testimony builder to me from what Elder Falabella told us that we need to teach families. They have concerns come up, and since they have other people learning as well, their family member(s) can relieve their concerns for them between teaching visits.
It reminds me of something we see in nature all the time. Just like a lion will attack a zebra that gets separated from the pack, Satan tries to do the same thing. He tries to make us think we are safe or we can do everything on our own; that we don't need anyone else. But we are easier targets when we are alone than when we are standing together.
That's why we have families. God knew that in families, we would be able to stand together much easier and make it back to Him. Satan attacks families because if he can get us alone, we are much easier to pick off.
On that same note, I have an inspirational quote I wanted to share from Elder Wright and Elder Carrillo from Numbers Meeting last night.
Elder Wright was telling us that earlier on Sunday they were contacting and something didn't feel right. Elder Wright turned to Elder Carrillo and said, "I feel like a truck with an empty tank."
Elder Carrillo replied, "I feel like a truck with no wheels. Hey, I'll be your tank."
Elder Wright: "I'll be your wheels."
And they continued talking to people.
It was a small story, but it really touched me and renewed my desire to make my relationship with my companion strong. Because just like I said earlier, Satan can get to us much easier when we are alone.
Funny moment of the week:
This awesome African-American guy sat and talked with us for a few minutes and at the end of our conversation wanted to say a prayer together, so we said a prayer! At the end of the prayer, he starts walking way and then turns around and yells out, "Man, y'all are like GASOLINE - you filled up my tank!"
Haha. It was awesome. I love cultural diversity - it brings all sorts of diverse conversations and experiences into my life.
Anyway, I hope you all have a good, safe, righteous week! Thanks family, by the way, for the additional funny scriptures :)
Love you!
Love,
Sister Kolee Decker
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