Message—23 May 2011
We are well and happy and having good experiences as we try to do what the Lord and the President ask of us. This past week we made two trips to the Buffalo area to find a different apartment for two Elders to move in to. The one they are currently living in has a major problem with second hand smoke which filters in from other apartments. New York law requires landlords to allow tenants to smoke in their apartment; unfortunately the smoke does not stay in their own apartment. Through some divine guidance and influence we were able to arrange with the manager of the complex of apartments to transfer the lease to a different apartment building about two miles away which is owned by the same owner we currently pay and the rent cost is the same. We will be able to move the Elders in to the new apartment; which has no second hand smoke problem and is also newly painted and cleaned, on Friday of this week. With the Lord’s help we also were able to obtain permission from another apartment owner to move two Sisters in to a new apartment 5 days earlier than we originally planned which will make it possible to move the Sisters from their current apartment to the new one on the same day. It never ceases to amaze us how the Lord is in so many details of our lives and cares about little issues enough to send His influence to arrange to solve the little things. As we look back in earlier years of our life we can see so many more times than we recognized previously; when we were guided, protected, and helped by the Lord and the Holy Spirit.
One interesting experience happened this week with an investigator being taught by the Sister missionaries. This lady, who is in her 40’s, had been taught several discussions, and had read the Book of Mormon and prayed to know it was true, and also that what she was being taught was true. The Spirit had witnessed to her it was all true; she had started paying her tithing, and she was preparing to be baptized on June 4th. Last Thursday she went to the Grandin Press building to talk with the Sisters who have been teaching her. She lives a few houses from the intersection where the four churches are in Palmyra. After she left the Grandin Press and started walking home she had a heart attack and died on the street. She did not have any immediate family but she does have some relatives, some of whom are involved in satanic stuff. The decision was made to have her funeral service, which was today at 10 am, taken care of by the LDS Church. A female Episcopalian Minister attended part of the service, then got up and left. The Bishop of the Palmyra Ward took care of the service arrangements. The Sister missionaries sang a beautiful hymn, Elder Lenker who is the supervisor of the Church Visitor sites was one speaker, and President Christianson was also a speaker. Elder Lenker gave a great sermon on the Plan of Salvation and did so in a very clear and bold manner, but not overbearing. The people who are in to satanic stuff were exposed to the doctrine of the plan of salvation. President Christianson spoke last and taught some appropriate gospel doctrine even though there was a bad feeling present from the relatives. The Spirit was also present and overpowered the bad feeling. After the service a man named Danny, who was going to marry the investigator who died, talked with the President and told him that he wanted to continue paying his tithing even though he was not yet a member. He said he had started giving his tithing to the investigator to pay when she did hers. He said he had learned that Malachi Chapter 3 was true. Before he paid tithing he was only making $200 a month, after he started paying tithing his income increased to $1000.00 a month. The Bishop gave him some envelopes and explained how to fill out the donation form and explained that he should give it to the Bishop. These are just a few of the amazing experiences the missionaries are having here in the mission. An inactive sister we have visited with went on a Caribbean Cruise a week ago. She was in Florida yesterday and called us from there to tell us what a great time she has had; and asked us for our mailing address so she could send us a card. We told her when she gets back we will come and visit her and she can tell us about her trip and show us some of her pictures. We were quite surprised she took time to call us.
I had the privilege to see a DVD of some training Elder Holland gave to missionaries in the Provo MTC. In the training one of the concepts he taught was that the missionaries first needed to be converted and have a spiritual witness of the truths of the gospel so they can then teach others by that same Spirit using the Preach My Gospel Manual and the scriptures as guides. By following this instruction, missionaries can be far more successful in bringing souls to Christ. We know the gospel is true, and that the Lord is indeed going before us, and is on our right hand and on our left, and Angels are round about us. We love and appreciate all of you and pray for your well-being and happiness. Thank you for your prayers for us.
Love,
Mom & Dad, Grandma & Grandpa, Richard & Maxine
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