What a week! Seriously, we saw too many miracles to even report today! The work is going great here in Roanoke! I love it. I even started a daily video update for the rest of my mission--episodes to come!
So this week I went on an exchange with Elder Rawle. What a great missionary--he is on fire. I have never seen a missionary that has been out six months perform at his level; it is so cool! The focus of the exchange was working with members and we brainstormed a lot of ideas to help with that. While on the exchange, we went to contact a man they had met the prior week. We went to the man’s house and we discovered he was not home, but his wife answered and immediately we started teaching. She told us she was Agnostic, just didn't know for certain who God was. Without delay, we bore a strong testimony that she was a daughter of our Heavenly Father, it was powerful. Because of that entry, we taught a quick lesson all focused on her concern and on the Restoration then we set up a time to come back to teach her and her husband together. What I was reminded of is that people really do need to know who they are. A pure testimony of God’s love always does the trick.
Well we have been receiving so many media referrals, (people that order a Book of Mormon or Bible online.) It has been a blessing; these people have been so receptive. I want to share a few experiences we had with them this last week!
So we went to contact this man named Chris. We set up an appointment the week before and we were not sure if he was going to fall through or not. We got to his house and knocked and he answered and said, “Oh, I am glad you remembered me!” He was excited to see us. He told us his cat was sick and throwing up all over his house so he felt embarrassed to have us in. He asked us if we could meet somewhere else and I was like heck yeah, let’s go to the church! So he followed us to the church. We gave him a church tour and the full nine yards. We taught him the Restoration because his concern was that he didn't know what church was true and we committed him to be baptized! He had to go out of town for a business trip on Sunday, but he will be here this coming Sunday for church. Heavenly Father prepares His children!
We were asking for referrals from a man we have been teaching He gave us one for a lady down the street. We went and contacted her and she was not interested. She said I am Pentecostal and I do not want to change. It was frustrating. A few days later, we were planning and I received a specific prompting to go back to her house and try again. I couldn't ignore it, so we went back the next day. My companion was a little apprehensive, but he knew it was inspired. We got to the door and he said, “What are you going to say?” I said, “I have no idea.” Then I knocked. . Rhonda answered and got all frustrated again and before she could say anything I said, "God told me I needed to come back and talk to you." She went silent and then in a soft voice said, “Please come in.” We got in and she unloaded a ton of concerns about life, God, trials and so on. She couldn't deny that we were sent from God to help her. We had a great lesson full of tears and she thanked us for listening to the spirit. I was so thankful I was obedient.
This scripture summarizes the experience, D&C 84:85
85 Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life,
and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that
shall be melted unto every man.
We have been trying to see a less active member that has
not been coming to church. She has a down syndrome son that I love and she has
a hard time with bringing him. I know all about the struggle growing up with my
Aunt Beth that had the same disability. We went to go see Angie and it was
later she answered the door and made small talk and then I said to her, "Angie my goal is to get you and your family to church before I leave
Roanoke." You could tell what I said really softened her heart. I hope to
see her at church on Sunday. We have been thinking about how we could make it
easier on her to get her family there.
This work is so great! I really love it. Knowing what I
know now, I wish I could have more time to serve. There is so
much to be done! It really is so great. I hope everyone makes a goal this New
Year to reach out to more people than you ever have before and truly serve and
bless lives. There is no greater satisfaction than a pure Christ-like attempt
to serve our brothers and sisters.
I love you all--have a good week!
Keep the Faith!
- Elder L. Kaleb Bingham
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