So funny story from this week! We were walking to go teach someone and the Branch President’s son, who is thirteen, rolled up on his bike and started talking to us and telling us how excited he is to serve a mission when he is old enough--great kid. Well we were talking and this red car rolls up to us and this old lady yells, “Are you Mormons?” We said, “Yeah, we are missionaries.” She then proceeds to start yelling at us and trying to yell at Conner to run away and not get brain washed. She was horrible! She said they sound good and look good, but they really are of the devil. She kept cussing us out and we were just looking at her like she was a loon and then she doesn't realize that she took her foot off the brake and is now rolling into oncoming traffic! So I said, “Lady, watch the road!” She barely avoided an accident and drove off. It was something else. Some people!
This last week we had a follow up lesson with some of our friends, Danny and Suzie. If you remember, last week they were found by some members in the branch taking us to their home. Well, this week the members invited then to their home for a dinner and a lesson. We were in the Newton’s home kind of giving the layout of what would happen when they got to their home and what we would teach. They were a little late getting there but when they pulled in, Brother Newton yelled they are here and excitement from the members and us filled the room. They came in, we had some small talk, then jumped into the lesson and started out by asking an inspired question, "What do you want most in this life". They responded and said peace and direction. We had a great lesson on the Restoration and they continued to love it. We were reading the introduction to the Book of Mormon and we asked Danny to read and he declined the offer saying he had a hard time reading and it was hard to see. So I said, “It’s okay, I will read it.” I read it and after he got teary eyed and said, “You know what, as you were reading, God opened my eyes and I could follow along perfectly.”
We were all in tears and the spirit was so strong! They accepted a few commitments and it was overall a great success. The dinner afterwards was great as well, getting to know each other and continuing to answer questions. Elder Burgener and I agreed that there is no better opportunity then teaching with members in their homes.
We have been having a hard time getting one of our friends, Chris, to come to church. We always have killer lessons with him at his home but he suffers from social anxiety, so it is scary for him to commit to coming to church. We had a lesson purely on how coming to church would bless his life and we could tell he was feeling the power from it so we asked, “Will you come to church with us this Sunday?” He said he would try and then we came back and said, “What are you doing tonight, in an hour?” He had nothing going on, so we arranged for him to come to an Easter fireside that we had planned and were putting on. So he agreed to come and came! A member gave him a tour while we were setting up and he enjoyed the program. It was a big start for him; we are excited.
The Easter program we put on in our eyes was a train wreck. . . nothing seemed to work out how we had planned and it was rocky and we were stressing about it the whole time and it was not fun for us. But then people were coming up to us and saying it was great and they loved it and how they felt the spirit and had a good time. We were like really? You really think so? I guess sometimes we forget that the spirit really does the talking and the teaching and when you put forth your best effort the spirit does the rest!
We had a cool experience with a girl that is learning about the church in North Carolina but was down here for the Easter holiday visiting family. She came to church and came to Gospel Principles and loved it; we were teaching about the Priesthood and organizations. After we were done with the lesson, she asked if she could have a blessing to quit smoking and help her prepare to get baptized so of course we gave her one. I was the voice of the blessing and it was really cool. I have never given a more simple blessing in my life that was that strong. I really felt the love Heavenly Father had for this girl and he talked through me to her so clearly. I loved the experience, it was a top off to a great Easter Sunday!
Don’t worry Mom, the Earp family had us over for dinner last night. It was a good time and we got stuffed with great food! Hope everyone had a great Easter and enjoyed remembering our Savior, I love Him!
Keep the Faith!
- Elder L. Kaleb Bingham
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