A Glimpse at Missionary Life

Hello Dear Family,

     We are busy enjoying a visit from our adorable granddaughters, oh and Kelly and Stacey :) as well as beginning a new transfer. I’ll be writing our weekly e-mail tomorrow once we get our newest missionaries settled with their trainers but wanted to let you know we’ve had another great week . . .  details to follow.

      In the meantime I thought you might like to have a glimpse at the amazing letters Ted receives each week from our amazing missionaries.

 Love,

  Cathy


Dear President Bubert

    We had some really neat experiences with investigators this past week. Leo is a 20 yr old Hispanic that is being taught in our singles ward. He is a really sharp individual! We had a make or break lesson with Leo this past Friday and he lives miles away from the rest of our work. We tried and tried to find a member to give us a ride but it just wasn’t happening. When we finally came to the conclusion that the bike was the only way to get there for sure it was three o clock and the appointment was at three thirty. We went to town! I learned something through the huffing and puffing, the sweating and heat, the aches and pains that were inflicted in the blistering paced bike ride- I would have NEVER done something like that for someone before the mission. We literally threw ourselves through the ringer to go teach the gospel and there wasn’t a single complaint or sniffle about having to do something so taxing! It was as though i was able to watch myself from the birds-eye view as I thought about the motivation that must have been present as we biked and biked and biked. The motivation of course was our conviction of the gospel and the willingness to give it to those that will receive the blessings from it. It was awesome. While I am sure that loosing yourself in the work is a process I am sure that there are certain defining moments that allow you to sacrifice a bit for the greater good....that was definitely one of them. Upon arriving at Leos house we found him waiting for us at his table. He has read three chapters in the book of Mormon in the last few days since we had met him AND had two pages of written notes and questions gleaned from the reading. He will be baptized June 3rd! It was all worth it.

    We are also teaching a giant among the Samoans named Stone. Need I describe him farther...I believe the name says enough. He speaks English with a THICK island accent and rarely shows more emotion than a chuckle if things get really funny. I scarcely see him outside of his worn in armchair with his corded forearms wrapped across his wide chest as to say what you got to share I really don’t want. His family has been members of the church since birth including his wife, children, and grand children...even some of his siblings. We see him at church often. The first interaction we had with him was at church where we asked if he would like to learn about where he came from, why he was here and where he was going. His reply was a sharp "no, not really." We tried to walk away as quick as humanly possible without giving off the vibe that we were running for our lives (he is big...I am not kidding.) We decided to stop by his house to see if we could press a little harder. We got there and saw that he was watching the NBA play offs (Lakers game) and he refused strongly to turning off the tv. So while fighting every man instinct present in my body I ignored the TV and had a very enjoyable conversation with him about Samoa (I even got him to laugh once...). We visited him once after that and he offered us food so i figured that we were doing something right. At the end of the visit I got up the courage to invite him to learn about the book of Mormon. There was a LOOOOOONG pause...it puts Ammon’s pause to shame. Then he just said "fine." We said a prayer and ran out of the house before he changed his mind. The ensuing lesson was perhaps the most powerful experience yet on my mission. We breezed through the First lesson to lead into the restoration and the book of Mormon simply and clearly to overcome any language barrier there may have been. Almost as a side bar I quoted a scripture from the bible that seemed appropriate at the time and Elder P. started in on an explanation of the Book of Mormon. He held up his hand abruptly and Elder P. naturally stopped speaking right on command. Stone slowly motioned to me and said, "That scripture, what it say again?" I felt prompted to pick a clearer one found in the Book of Mormon that taught the same principle and read it slowly...silence. "Read it again!" he commanded and I quickly read it again. Stone curtly nodded, giving us permission to move on. I stopped the lesson and asked, "Why did you have me read that scripture again, Stone? What are you thinking?" He looked at me completely stoned face and said, "Well elder, I guess it mean that..." The sentence was completely cut off in his mouth and his whole body tensed. He wouldn’t look at me or elder P or his wife but rather found a spot on the ceiling and stared at it for what seemed like minutes in some kind of fierce determination. In the middle of it all I saw what had to be unthinkable- a brim of moisture was building up in Stones eyes. Finally a single tear fell down the side of his face. He tightened his lips as he realized that the falling tear had given him away. The spirit had struck this man’s heart with more power than if a lightening bolt had busted through the door to pierce his chest. Caving away under his emotions he said with trembling lips, "I guess it mean that I should do what God want." I said, "Yeah stone. That is exactly what it means." A baptismal invitation was quickly extended and accepted. Unbelievable. If the literal heart of Stone can be softened then I suppose anyone can be touched by this pure gospel. It was quite the experience. To add to what was already impressive- he actually stood up out of his chair to shake our hands at the door as we left ha! No end to the miracles you see as a missionary!

     The work is really booming president! We are trying to be in the font every week! Lola was this past week. Shawna is the coming week. Leo the next and Stone the next. Hopefully it all develops this way. Sorry for such a long report!

 Love Elder H.