Dear Family,
Super good week. We have been working a TON with our
less-actives. We have reactivated several of them. There is an awesome joy that
comes from seeing people come back after a long absence. 2 Reactivations of
ours have been endowed, and our goal is to get them back to the temple. The
branch is doing a trip in March or April, and we want them both on that trip.
It is gonna be awesome.
With Enrique this week, we went into the lesson, and he
basically told us that he didn't believe. He respected us, but then explained
what he understood about baptisms for the dead and temple work. He had a
false conception that it was like a second chance for salvation, which is
completely untrue. It is an opportunity for those who did not have it here in
this life. Haha we have explained this to him several times but I think he
finally got it. I read to him in Alma 34 about how this life is our chance to prepare,
and if we don't prepare here, we won't be able to do much about it. That hit
home for him. The Spirit bore witness to him and to us that those words from
the Book of Mormon were true. He always has trouble reading the Book of Mormon,
his concern that it isn't the Bible. Well, it's not. It is more of God's word.
I don't see it as the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I see it as the Word of
God. We always asked him to read the Book of Mormon with the Bible, but I'm not
sure we ever showed him how to do so. We showed him and with him, crossed
referenced some scriptures, showed him about the Guia para el Estudio de las
Escrituras in the back, and physically showed him how to do it. He then
committed to us, but more importantly, we asked him to commit to the Lord in
prayer that he was going to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. He did so.
We are committing all our investigators like that. We have them write their commitment
down on paper, then they commit to us, and then we ask them to pray and tell God
their plan. Then, it isn't something that just the missionaries want them to
do, it is literally a commitment between them and God. This commitment method
was introduced to us by President Anderson in our last Zone Training. Pure
inspiration. We are seeing miracles come every day from it.
SUPER FUNNY STORY. There is a lady named Clydette that
prowls the lofty streets of Bridgeton. The other day, she comes up to us and
wants to say a prayer with us. She explains her life story, about what she has
been going through, about how she has been running away from God and
everything, then goes silent for a little bit. Then, she comes up in a super
loud voice and scream/sings/shouts "I'm Better!!!" and then a verse
or two of one of her favorite Gospel songs. Then she wants to pray. She
gets in between Elder Morgan and I and grabs us both by the waist. She offers
up a prayer saying, "Lord... Excuse me.... Big Man, ......" It was an
awesome prayer. Super fun experience. She didn't even ask us for money this
time!
Subject line explanation. "Oh Hablemos con Tiernos
Accentos" is "Let us Oft Speak Kind Words to Each Other" in
Spanish. There is a member in our branch that insists that we sing that song
like every other Sunday. I hate that song with a passion.
Well, last night we were walking home, and we helped this
random lady move some stuff into her house. She was super grateful. She is from
El Salvador and she invited us back this coming Sunday to eat pupusas. Best
food from El Salvador. Try some sometime. We are excited and now her heart may
be open to listening to the message of the Restoration. We are stoked.
I have loved my time in Bridgeton. President Anderson
basically sent a huge hint to Elder Morgan that I am leaving, so I thank God
for the time I have had in Bridgeton. It
has been awesome. I have loved the branch here and being able to meet, teach,
testify, and feel the Power of the Holy Ghost with all these people. I am
excited for whatever the Lord has in store for me. I love you all, family and
friends and whatnot. Keep them testimonies strong. Read. Pray. Go to church.
Fast. Go to the temple. This is true. I know it.
ElderMike Dial
1. An AMAZING tie that I just got this week.
2. Elder Dial loves
steak........
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