Week 3 - Frisco Texas
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1:29 PM (1 hour ago)
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I
will say this every week but how is it Monday already again? Geez, time
flies out here. I am halfway through my first transfer! What??
Time is limited so I'll keep it short but I wanted to share a
story. The day we got into Frisco three weeks ago, we met with a member
of the bishopric for the 3rd ward (every ward has a bishop and two
counselors who help him). We got a referral to go back and check on a
less active member named David that this brother had met a few weeks
earlier and had just been thinking about a lot since then. We went over
that night and talked with David for a few minutes. He was interested in
seeing us the next day, so we set up an appointment. When we showed up,
we got to talking. David's girlfriend Lisa was there as well. David's
been less active in the church for about 12 years or so. He has been
going through some nasty legal issues with his divorce and the custody
of his children for the past few years. Lisa has also been going through
the same sorts of things and both were really distraught. As we talked
to them, they grew less and less nervous and anxious about all their
legal troubles and the stresses they face. We talked a bit about Jesus
Christ and how he can encourage and bear us up in times of trial. Turns
out Lisa has read from the Book of Mormon and has completely read
through the Doctrine and Covenants (a collection of modern revelation).
She was really enthusiastic about learning more. So we set up an
appointment for lunch the next Friday. That Friday came around and when
we showed up, David said he was surprised to see us because he thought
Lisa had cancelled. David was moving out of his house and had people
working on things so we couldn't talk much but he said to keep calling
Lisa. He was going back to Utah the next day but encouraged us to keep
in touch. A few days passed where we couldn't seem to get ahold of Lisa
but we kept trying. Finally we got in touch and set up a teaching
appointment at the church. We met up and went over the first lesson
about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Book of
Mormon. We had a great conversation and, at the end, she said, "Do y'all
have any more questions or anything?" When we said no, she said, "Ok
well good because I know it's true. And I want to get baptized." We were
blown away! Unfortunately for us, Lisa lives 9 miles outside of our
mission, up in Aubrey, Texas. She's technically part of the Fort Worth
Mission. So we talked her through that and explained the process to
getting her transferred over to her ward and the Fort Worth Elders. It
took a LOT of faith on her part and ours to trust in the organization of
the mission and the church. It felt like we were sending her out
without any help; we had no contact with the Fort Worth Elders or her
future bishop. She also seemed uncomfortable and uneasy about leaving
the relationship we had already established. For me, it was trying
because it was such a huge blessing to meet with her and to have her be
so confident and receptive. I felt like I couldn't wait for others to
step in and take over; I wanted to get it done myself! But I prayed hard
and just relied on the Lord. We didn't hear much from Lisa for the past
two weeks, until Saturday evening. She called to tell us that she and
her two children are getting baptized on the 28th of July. It was such a
miracle. She said that the night before we knocked on David's door, he
was telling her that he kept feeling like he needed to go back to church
but couldn't figure out why. She said that he was questioning whether
or not he even believed in God. David is now back at church and
preparing to take part in the baptism of Lisa and her family.
It's a testament to me that God knows His children. He knows each
and every one of us so well. And all we have to do to bless and help
others is to do our duties. To reach out to others and to be there for
them. To lift where we stand as President Uchtdorf says.
Anyways, that's a HUGE blessing for us and for Lisa and her family.
It's an incredible thing to see happen. Miracles do happen in our area.
No pictures this week, sorry friends and loved ones. I haven't seen anymore cats, that's the main reason.
I'm well-fed and happy. Very very busy. But the weather has chilled out.
Today I'm buying a can opener!
I love you all so much. Write me letters!!!!
Love love love,
Elder Christman
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