Well, this week has been an interesting one.... On Tuesday, I met up with my new companion, Sister Erickson, and we drove up to Post Falls, not too far from Spokane.. It's about 10 minutes away from Coeur d' Alene, and I haven't seen the famous part of Coeur d' Alene that everyone talks about yet, but I am hopeful that I will get to sometime I'm here.. Anyway, the best part of the proselyting week was this:
On Tuesday when we were driving up here to Post Falls, Sister Erickson is telling me our plans for the day and says, "We have a lesson tonight with a Part-Member Family. They have a lot of LDS friends, and the wife's parents are members, and they live with them. They have 3 kids, and want to learn more about the Gospel." (TOTALLY AWESOME! Golden for sure). So, we go to their house around 7pm, they let us in, introduce themselves, and we start to teach them about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in these latter days. Well, the Spirit was super strong, so strong that we were asking them if they wanted to be baptized, when the father says, "What if I've already been baptized?" I start to go into an explanation about the Priesthood authority and how it is necessary to be baptized under Heavenly Father's authority and all of that (this is not an unusual question). Anyway, then, he nods his head and says, "What if I was already baptized when I was 8 years old?" Now, I was under the impression that he was the nonmember and she was the member, so in my head I was like, "hmm... maybe I misunderstood and she's the nonmember..."... totally clueless. Then his 15 yr-old daughter says, "What if he's the Bishop of our ward?" And then it hits me like biking full force into a brick wall on a hot summer day (luckily that hasn't actually happened yet).... I have just totally been played. WE WERE TEACHING OUR BISHOP AND HIS WIFE AND THEIR THREE ACTIVE CHILDREN, NOT SOME INVESTIGATORS...... I have a blank stare on my face and Sister Erickson exclaims, "April Fools!"... what a day. Well, I can honestly say that I've never experienced something like that before.. What a day.
Well, I hope that made you all laugh your heads off... it was definitely an experience.
Some other highlights of this week were walking... and walking... and walking some more... Oh, did I say highlights of this week? My bad... not what I meant. It was definitely not anticipated, but I did it with a smile on my face and a song in my heart. "Pioneer children sing as they walk, and walk, and WALK."... all day long in the heat of a Post Falls spring (it has been unusually hot this week - lucky me). ANYWAY... let's just say that when we had finally walked for 4 days straight, Saturday night when we got the car back was definitely a blessing and a half. Something good came of walking all of those many miles in the heat though... We were able to talk to a ton of people on the street, so that was a blessing! Also, we walked to a former investigator's house, John, and were able to have a really spirit-filled conversation on his doorstep. He opened up to us about his son's death (he believes that "his immortal soul is lost and he will never see him again" - how sad is that!?). We were able to testify to him of the Plan of Salvation and of the fact that because our Savior rose triumphantly from the tomb, all of us will rise again too. No one is lost. We will see our loved ones again. We have hope for tomorrow, no matter how dark today may seem.
Another blessing this week was General Conference. It was such a blessing to be able to listen to the inspired, heaven-sent counsel from our Prophet, the 12 Apostles, and other General Authorities of the church. I had 16 questions going into conference, and just like 6 months ago, every. single. one. of them was answered - almost directly. It was such an amazing blessing! I had two questions left when Elder Holland (the last speaker) got up and prayed that they would be answered - and both of them were. I know that we are led by amazing leaders, called by Heavenly Father to teach us those things that we need to know. Perhaps my favorite part of conference was Elder Holland's talk - we can move forward to tomorrow with every assurance and with the faith that all will be well as we move forward with Christ at the center of all we do. If you missed it, go to
conference.lds.org. :)
I know this church is true. I know that we all experience trials and difficulties in life and that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will not have us suffer a moment more than is absolutely essential for our personal growth an exaltation. I hope we can each hold on to the assurance that everything will work out for our good if we move forward with faith in Him who's perfect plan it is. Have a wonderful week! Love you all!
Also, my address is
501 W Mullan Ave #12
Post Falls, ID. 83854
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