9 November 2015

Good things have been happening. 

Joren got baptized on Friday and immediately left for Utah.  She asked me to confirm her and it was a very spiritual experience for me.  Joren gave a lovely testimony based on Matthew where Jesus says “if you’ve done it unto the least, you’ve done it unto me”.  Joren expressed appreciation for everything people have done for her and afterwards sent us a text with kind words.

John M. also got a job this week.  He is working at Ruby Tuesdays!  This is a big step—as we mentioned he’s had an addiction problem.  He’s been working hard and actually got another job also.  He’s really trying to straighten his life out and get back with his wife and daughter.  It is very difficult because he’s dug quite a hole for himself.  For instance, he applied for an apartment and the background check came back and he was denied.  He’s living at a motel where they don’t do background checks. 

Joseph Bizimano got the job at Walmart! He texted us about how happy he was to get the job.  He needs money to support him and send back to his family in a refugee camp in Uganda.  I can’t imagine anyone in the family rejoicing because they got a job at WalMart.

 

I went to a Zone Conference this week held at the Joseph Smith birthplace (Sandy went to Brandon’s baptism).  A General Authority, Brent Nielsen—Karla’s brother-in-law—and his wife made an excellent presentation.  His wife compared kids going out of the home and marrying with getting new companions.  She made the point that the in-laws don’t have to follow the culture that was in the Nielsen home to be loved and accepted obviously comparing this to mission companions.  Brent talked about working with members and his experiences.  He also pointed out that Joseph Smith learned as he translated the Book of Mormon.  For instance, after translating the comments in the Book of Mormon about infant baptism, he went to Emma and comforted her with this news as they’d recently lost a child.  That evening the Senior couples got together and had a dinner.  Brent and his wife talked to me about how grateful they are to have Karla as a Sister-in-law.

Bruce and Connie Latham came down for a short visit and we had them eat dinner with one of our African members, Anaclet, at our apartment.  We enjoyed the evening a lot and hope things will go well for Bruce and Connie.

We also did apartment inspections.  We enjoy the visiting with the Missionaries and seeing this beautiful countryside.  We’ve set up an incentive program which we’re hoping will improve the cleanliness of a few of the apartments. 

I had a spiritual experience last night.  I went to pick up a young man to assist in giving a blessing requested by a member.  As I was driving past a street I felt I needed to stop by an inactive we’ve been trying to visit for a while.  We’d been by several times and called.  We knew someone was there but wasn’t answering so we’d written them off.  I dropped by the house (I was alone since Sandy was still in Utah).  The woman answered the door and was very kind.  We set up a time to come back the following week. 

Also, when I got back from the blessing, I felt I should text one of our African members, Norbert, who had gone to Texas.  He texted back that he couldn’t find the church.  I contacted the Bishop who will set up someone to pick him up.  Norbert genuinely wants to do good—he is endowed and wants to be faithful and active.

Also, while trying to contact a less active, we talked to the handyman working on her house.  He was very interested in Genealogy and had also just been talking with his son about life after death.  We talked a lot and gave him a Book of Mormon and other contact information.  Hopefully, he’ll be interested. 

Hope everyone is doing well....