over the last transfer and a half i have learned some key things from president barrow that have changed my mission. and it all comes down to working by 100% faith. i could go on forever about what he has taught me. but i want to tell you two stories about what has happened this last week or two.
last saturday, we were sitting up in our apartment getting ready for english class and eating dinner. when all of the sudden at about 5:30 the Assistants come up and tell us that there is someone who came an hour earrly for english class. so me and my companion albeit a little unwillingly go down and start talking to this woman and her two children. she is a very nice lady, and came to learn englsh. some other missionaries had wrongly informed her of the starting time of the english class so she came an hour early. so we ended up teaching some inglihs for a little while. as we were teaching brother Lee, a member of our ward walks into the room and says' I know you!' and proceeded to tell the woman exactly who she was. well it turns out that the woman had came had been baptized over 30 years ago, and because her husband didnt like religion at the time she stopped going to church. we had tried to attend other churches over the years, but really only liked our church. she didnt say it but we are pretty sure that she wants to come back. so a few days later me and elder km, my companion are sitting down thinking about who we can invite to our thanksgivinig dinner at president's house. when all of the sudden elder km says' lets invite jennifer!' thats her name. so we call her, and she is very excited to come! so the big day comes and we are excited, the Assistatns also invited an investigator so the night is going to go great. well as soon as we arrive, we get a call that says that the Assistants investigator vicky cant get there until 8 or so. so w think, 'its ok' just keep going on with dinner and we can teach the message when she gets here. so jennifer, and her two kids arrive, and they have a great time. the kids are so cute, and me and her son do dishes together an as i talk to him i find out that he belives in God and thinks that God is a great person. and that his father doesnt seem to oppose religion nearly as strongly as he used to. which is amazing! and then Vicky the other investigator shows up. and it turns out that she is a teacher at the same school that jennfers kids go to, and their daughters are great friends. i dont know if it sounds as great coming from this end. but it was a miracle! there is no doubt that the Lord led them to us.
the second story is about a man who has attended english class for years. and ill be honest i did not see this one coming. we planned a movie night to watch Meet the Mormons wiht all of our english class student san investigators. tommy shows up and we watch the movie. and afterward we are all eating refreshmets together. so we ask tommy about the movie; what he thought? if he liked it, etc.. an d he said he LOVED it! especially the last part talking about the missionary mom. he said that part touched his hart and took away alot of the bias that there was about the church. and he liked how it showed how the church helps us overcome our trials. so elder smith invites him to church, and he says yes! the next day he doesnt show up to sacrament. but he shows up to sunday school. and for the third hour of church we meet with him, elder george, and brother Lee. it was amazing. we talked about God. how he answers prayer. and we invited him to be baptized when he knows the church is true. he said he would. and he even prayed at the end of the lesson. there was such a sweet spirit there and i know that the Lord's hand was in that lesson.
Miracles are everywhere, and lately they are a little more visible.
I know God loves us and when we do it his way Miracles can and do happen
Love,
Elder Dobbins
last saturday, we were sitting up in our apartment getting ready for english class and eating dinner. when all of the sudden at about 5:30 the Assistants come up and tell us that there is someone who came an hour earrly for english class. so me and my companion albeit a little unwillingly go down and start talking to this woman and her two children. she is a very nice lady, and came to learn englsh. some other missionaries had wrongly informed her of the starting time of the english class so she came an hour early. so we ended up teaching some inglihs for a little while. as we were teaching brother Lee, a member of our ward walks into the room and says' I know you!' and proceeded to tell the woman exactly who she was. well it turns out that the woman had came had been baptized over 30 years ago, and because her husband didnt like religion at the time she stopped going to church. we had tried to attend other churches over the years, but really only liked our church. she didnt say it but we are pretty sure that she wants to come back. so a few days later me and elder km, my companion are sitting down thinking about who we can invite to our thanksgivinig dinner at president's house. when all of the sudden elder km says' lets invite jennifer!' thats her name. so we call her, and she is very excited to come! so the big day comes and we are excited, the Assistatns also invited an investigator so the night is going to go great. well as soon as we arrive, we get a call that says that the Assistants investigator vicky cant get there until 8 or so. so w think, 'its ok' just keep going on with dinner and we can teach the message when she gets here. so jennifer, and her two kids arrive, and they have a great time. the kids are so cute, and me and her son do dishes together an as i talk to him i find out that he belives in God and thinks that God is a great person. and that his father doesnt seem to oppose religion nearly as strongly as he used to. which is amazing! and then Vicky the other investigator shows up. and it turns out that she is a teacher at the same school that jennfers kids go to, and their daughters are great friends. i dont know if it sounds as great coming from this end. but it was a miracle! there is no doubt that the Lord led them to us.
the second story is about a man who has attended english class for years. and ill be honest i did not see this one coming. we planned a movie night to watch Meet the Mormons wiht all of our english class student san investigators. tommy shows up and we watch the movie. and afterward we are all eating refreshmets together. so we ask tommy about the movie; what he thought? if he liked it, etc.. an d he said he LOVED it! especially the last part talking about the missionary mom. he said that part touched his hart and took away alot of the bias that there was about the church. and he liked how it showed how the church helps us overcome our trials. so elder smith invites him to church, and he says yes! the next day he doesnt show up to sacrament. but he shows up to sunday school. and for the third hour of church we meet with him, elder george, and brother Lee. it was amazing. we talked about God. how he answers prayer. and we invited him to be baptized when he knows the church is true. he said he would. and he even prayed at the end of the lesson. there was such a sweet spirit there and i know that the Lord's hand was in that lesson.
Miracles are everywhere, and lately they are a little more visible.
I know God loves us and when we do it his way Miracles can and do happen
Love,
Elder Dobbins