It is hard to explain how this week went! It seemed to go well for the most part. It got super cold, and dropped below freezing for a couple of days. That was not fun! I had put away and packed up all my winter gear and had to break it all back out. Luckily it is warm again! The area is doing pretty good as well. It has had its ups and downs but for the most part we are doing great, given the circumstances. I have talked about how we serve in a very small branch before and the coolest thing happened at church this week. We had three less active families show up for church and they stayed all three hours! It was awesome to see some kids at church--all three families have children and youth. This was the first time I have seen a primary in the Richlands branch in the six months that I have served here. It brought an energy that we needed.
Our friend Chris Harmon is doing pretty good right now. Chris has never been very religious or never really went to church but we have been meeting with him and he went from being pagan or wicken to now believing in Jesus Christ! He always has a lot of questions but the man lights up when we teach him. You can literally see the spirit lighting up his life! This week he read the Book of Mormon I think every day and he has enjoyed that, he says it brings him peace. We also taught him the Plan of Salvation and he ate that up as well. My favorite parts of the lesson have been when we pray and kneel and he always is willing to say the closing prayer. His prayers are so pure and powerful. It is fun to see someone pray about the message you teach them. Our next hurtle is getting him to sacrament more often! Keep him in your prayers please!
We had a pretty fun lesson earlier this week with some people we had never really taught much before we got to our appointment and sat down with this couple, Doug and Tammie. We were about to get started when someone knocked on the door and it was her sister. She wanted to hear what we had to say. Then another knock came moments after and it was their parents. They also wanted to learn. One by one we ended up having a crowd of people to teach and it was sweet! We taught the Doctrine of Christ and they all loved it. They all want change and want to get right with God as they said. So we asked the whole room of people to set a goal to be baptized and they all accepted. It was amazing. They just poured in out of nowhere, it was pretty funny and well enjoyed.
When the people we teach experience Anti Mormon material, it never surprises me. I think everyone I have taught in the last two years has experienced it in one form or another. This week the Dye family we have been teaching told us that she told her co-workers that she was meeting with us and they pretty much roasted her for it. After a lot of discussion with her co-workers, she boldly told them, "I like meeting with the Mormons, they make the most sense out of all of you!" I thought this was pretty cool; one thing that you cannot deny is the spirit and how you feel from hearing our message. I am thankful for the spirit that is for sure. It amazes me how many "Christian People" claim to follow Christ but yet will almost crucify someone for trying to know him and follow him. It is unreal in this area! But that is what makes it unique. I guess I would have never had the same understanding of the confusion that Joseph Smith had when he was young if I hadn’t served here. If you want to find out, just take an hour in the Bible belt!
We had been praying for a miracle to find someone that is ready to really accept the gospel and we were blessed by one! We received a referral from Salt Lake saying a lady requested a Book of Mormon in Richlands. So we went and met this lady and she is incredible. We asked her why she wanted a Book of Mormon and she said to get closer to Christ because she wants to change. She had found a copy of the book in jail and read it and agreed with most of it. Now she and her husband want to investigate the church! It almost felt too real to be true, but the Lord blesses you for your diligence. I am a firm believer that you reap what you sow.
I am so thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. He is real and I have grown so much closer to him. I know that his greatest desire is that all of God’s children repent and change. I love him and am so grateful to serve him. I hope everyone has a good week!
Keep the Faith!
- Elder L. Kaleb Bingham
* We will be back on Monday to email~our transfers this month have been moved around.
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