Monday, February 10, 2014

Aaron 2/10/14

February 10, 2014

Springtucky!

Hey all! 

First to explain the title- Everyone here is from Kentucky. Everyone. People from Kentucky decided that they'd just move to Springfield, of all places. haha.

So I forgot my planner at home today, so I won't be able to remember most of this past week. Sorry about that. I'll just tell ya'll about our investigators!

Our most progressing investigator at this point is Jake. He's a senior at OSU, but his family and girlfriend live here, and he's here every weekend. He's getting baptized on March 16! We taught him twice this past week with Brother Vandiford Jr, who is awesome fellowship for him! He's had a few concerns, but after we were able to explain and the spirit was able to teach him, he's readily accepted all that we've taught him. Last night we had a very awesome lesson about the commandments, and at the end of it he came out with one of his big concerns- the fact that as Latter-Day Saints we don't wear or use the cross as a symbol of our faith. We'd talk about it a little before, but we dug deep this time! Basically we helped him explain that while we do reverence the cross as a symbol of the sacrifice, we "take up the cross" ourselves, and, through our obedience, make ourselves that symbol of our faith. We don't need a symbol around our neck to stand out as Christians, because our actions already make us stand out as we live our faith. It was an awesome learning experience for all of us, since I've never really thought of it that way until after teaching it. Learning by teaching ftw!

Our next most progressing are still Terrance and Ciera! They've been coming to church every week, but they still haven't set a date to be married! They have a few problems that they're trying to work out, and a lot of that is due to their limited financial situation. A major step is that they'll be moving out of their apartment this week and into a real house! The Elder's quorum will be helping a lot with that!

This past week we were tracting and knocked into this awesome guy, Doug! He's in his 60's I'd guess, was recently divorced, and has been searching for more in his life. He hasn't grown up religious in the slightest, and was a wild guy when he was a lot younger. Since the divorce he's been through a lot, and a big help to him was his friend, Reverend Williams, who helped him to be "saved" by accepting Christ. Doug told us that he just did it because he was desperate, and that he didn't feel his heart was actually in it. Our first lesson was actually over an hour and a half long! The spirit was very much so there, and he had the greatest reaction to "Moroni's Promise" that anyone else I have ever met. He gets it. He loves that he can have a personal relationship between him and Heavenly Father, and when we read to him from Alma 32 about faith, and about you can have even "no more than a desire to believe" he said "That's me. That's totally me." It was awesome!

Nikki is another awesome investigator, though right now she has a roadblock with her being a "Devout Catholic." It very strange, how she knows she feels the spirit when we talk about Joseph Smith being a prophet, she loves the Book of Mormon and believes it's the word of God, and she understand and believes the Plan of Salvation. But she uses all that to help her be a better Catholic! We'll be going over the importance of Priesthood authority again, so please pray for her! 

Thanks to everyone who sent answers to my question about helping this 12 year old! They were awesome ideas, and I feel they'll really help!

Thanks for all you do! I really do feel your support and prayers! I know that this is the Gospel, and that Heavenly Father really does have a plan for us! I know that because of His Love and Mercy, he sent his son, Jesus Christ, to be our Savior and to "succor his people."

I love and miss you!
Elder Aaron Toombs


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