June 3, 2013

Hey guys,

Sorry I wasn't able to email last week. Memorial day had all the libraries closed and even the tech center was closed. We had a pretty fun memorial day though. The Tongan ward had a party and they fed us and we played basketball and other sports. Everyone was at least a little sunburned. We've been out hitting the pavement so much these past two weeks that someone the other day commented about me and Whiting that we looked tan. What! Me? Apparently I'm a little darker haha.

 

Anyways. We've seen lots of miracles mission-wide as everyone has been working harder. Two weeks in a row, we've had 2 non members at church (3 different guys) which is pretty exciting. However, 2 don't live in our area so we've forwarded their info on to the missionaries that do cover those areas. The 3rd is the 12 year old boy who we should finally start teaching this week. His mom was sick and they were busy and then his mom and her boyfriend (not husband like we thought) have been fighting. Bishop met with them and said he (the bf) probably wont be coming back to church. Great. Valmore (the boy) and his mom came yesterday though and we're seeing them on Thursday. He's been 3 times now so he just needs the lessons to be baptized.

 

We found another investigator this week. Finally huh? The only bummer is we might have to give her over to the YSA ward, especially if her older sister starts taking the lessons but her parents don't. Her name is Taylor and she's 18. She went to temple square and really liked it and filled out a missionary request. She has a lot of "well what about this?" questions - she's a very fact-centered person. Like one of her questions was about all the wars in the Book of Mormon but the lack of archaeological or other evidence. What do you say to that? haha. We emphasized the importance of answers through revelation, truths and convictions that can't come from fact-finding. She's super nice and invited us back but she didn't come to church yesterday. We should be meeting with her again tomorrow. If that lesson is positive (or at least not negative), we'll bring up the YSA ward and possibly give her over to those missionaries. It's kinda an odd transition age. She probably wouldn't be comfortable in the YSA ward unless she was with her sister. So we'll play it by ear this week.

 

Lots of tracting lately. I don't like saying "there goes another lost soul" or anything like that when people don't want to listen. I prefer just moving on, thinking something like "it's not their time yet" or "they just need more preparation; maybe someday they'll be ready." People can't truly reject the gospel unless they feel the spirit and understand what it means. I believe many will run into missionaries and members throughout their lives and never agree to listen to the message but also never understand what they passed up until in the spirit world. But we don't know that line of understanding, acceptance, rejection, etc. God knows if they had adequate chances and plenty of opportunities on earth. Even if they did completely reject it, they can still accept it after this life, although chances at celestial glory will have been lost and their eternal sphere of glory will be the terrestrial kingdom.

 

Anyways. Dunno why I got on that subject. We had another cool thing happen this week. So you know that guy that I mentioned lives in our area but has been going to another ward? When Elder Whiting and I met with him, we were bold and committed him to really seek for an answer as to what God wants him to do. He's really been seeking for an answer or sign as to whether or not he should get baptized. He met with the missionaries on Friday and said earlier that week he was in his car pondering and saw me and whiting riding our bikes and took it as a sign that maybe he should get baptized. Another time either that day or that week, he saw us again riding our bikes and knows he needs to get baptized. haha! Works for me I guessed. People have joked with us now that we can quit working and just ride our bikes around all day. haha. If only it worked that way! But he's super gung-ho and wants Elder Whiting and I to be the witnesses at his baptism on the 15th. He's moving with his wife to Oregon in July.

 

It was quite hot on Saturday; hot enough that I was dripping with sweat by 11 in the morning. I can manage some heat but when it's at or near or over 100 I just melt. I'll probably just have to work in hour spurts or something when it gets hotter, taking time throughout the day to cool off. Hopefully it'll be manageable that way.

Had to buy new running shoes... all the rough basketball tore a hole in the end of my shoes. Its been coming for a while though. Found some on sale at Big 5 which was lucky.

 

Apparently, those that stay in the Rancho mission will have a 7 week transfer, meaning they'll go home on their original date (Jan 28th for me). Those that go to Redlands will stay on their current schedule (Jan 21st).

 

There's the 2-week update. Peace!

Love,

Elder Nelson Browning

 

Helaman 3:35 (33-35)