Familia!
What a week... This was the first week in about 3 months that we didn't have anything crazy going on and were just able to focus on missionary work. It was amazing to see the miracles that happened. As we were able to focus on our area we were able to have 32 lessons and see a lot of progression in our investigators.
But, just as that week ended, reality struck again. This morning we have had missionaries losing their keys, missionaries locking themselves out of cars, missionary's cars getting windows shattered and things stolen out of the car, and now we have to help missionaries move apartments....life is great as a missionary!
Once again we have been working really closely with members and this week we have had some awesome experiences. About a week ago, Elder Murphey and I received a referral from another companionship in our zone. One night as we were doing a couple of visits with a young man from our ward we decided to contact the referral. We drove up to their home, knocked on the door, and they said they didn’t have too much time. We asked if we could share a short message with their family and they invited us in. We shared a short scripture and testified that as Christ was the center of our homes, peace and happiness could be found in all areas of life. Since they didn’t have too much time we set up an appointment for two days later.
The next day we had a meeting with the Bishop. As we talked about our investigators, we brought up this new family, the Rodriguez Family, that we had started teaching. We asked the Bishop who he thought would be a great family to fellowship the Rodriguez family and he assigned us a family who hadn’t been too active in the past couple of months. Not knowing what the outcome would be, we contacted the family and let them know when our lesson would be. Thursday night we met to have our first real lesson with the Rodriguez family. The Rodriguez family and the member family hit it off right away. We taught the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the member family testified the entire time how the Restored Gospel has completely changed their family. As the end of the lesson neared, we extended a baptismal invitation. Each member of the family said yes with hesitation in their voice.
As they finished saying yes, the Hermana from our ward asked if she could share something. She looked the mother of the family in the eyes and said, “I heard a story once of a Father who was teaching his child. As he was teaching his child he saw that his son wasn’t making some of the greatest decisions. As the father approached his son, he said, ‘Son, be careful where you are stepping,’ and the son instantly replied, ‘Father, I’m walking in your footprints.’” The Hermana from church, testified how important it is to be an example to your children, to lead and guide them in righteousness.
As she finished, The Hermano from the church started to share his conversion story. He said that for months the missionaries had asked him to be baptized and for months he had said, “I’m not ready, I will do it next month.” He talked about how one day the missionaries asked him to pray to know if he would be ready to be baptized that weekend. As he retired to his room that night, he started his prayer and asked the exact question the missionaries had suggested. As he sat there contemplating the words came to his mind, “You don’t know what lies ahead. You don’t know how long you will be here. Don’t put off the blessings.” The next day he told the missionaries that he was ready to be baptized and said it was one of the best decisions he had ever made. He continued to testify and exhort them to not put their baptisms off, to partake of the blessings that their Heavenly Father had for them that instant.
As they finished testifying of these experiences, we extended a baptismal date for two weeks away and they all accepted. It was awesome to see as they had those members there testifying of personal experiences, they were able to feel of the spirit and make the decision to follow Jesus Christ. Yesterday as we got ready for church we told them we would swing by and they could follow us to church. We got there a couple of minutes early and they were already dressed and waiting in their car ready to go. They had felt of the spirit as the members testified how the Gospel had changed their lives and they were eager to apply it to their own lives. It is amazing the things that can happen as we have the courage to open our mouths and testify about the blessings of the gospel.
As well, this week I received news that an investigator I had taught in a past area had passed away. It was tough to hear because I had gone through a lot with this investigator. When we started to teach him he couldn't overcome his addiction to alcohol. It was tough to see as he tried to stop time and time again with no success. As he truly delved into the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for a couple months he told us that he was able to quit drinking with ease. Sure, the temptation was still there, but as he surrounded himself with the Gospel that desire fell away. After quiting drinking for several months, his daily scripture study and constant prayer were put on a back burner. Slowly and surely he fell back into the trap that he had worked so hard to climb out of. Just this week as him and his friends were drinking he was killed in an accident.
Time and time again I have seen how important the little things in life are. Prayer must be constant, scripture study must be daily, and church attendance must be weekly. As these three things become a priority in our lives, it creates a safeguard for the temptations that are guaranteed to come. It was sad to see such a great man go, but I know without a doubt in my mind that in the spirit world where he now resides, he has accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ into his life.
I am so very grateful for this Gospel and the comfort and knowledge that it brings. I know it is true, without a doubt in my mind. Hope all is well. Love you all!
Con Amor,
Elder Jurgensmeier
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