November 21, 2011

FAMILY.

Once again Elder Holm is blasting off, flushing out of another area. Two transfers, two areas. I feel like a wandering Jew. President Cannon and I talked about this in transfers and when I brought up how many areas I've been in his eyes shot up and he said "WOW. you may have the record for the most areas by the end of your mission!" Rats. Ah well, onward and upward to DownTown Ottawa! Sadly we're leaving 3 baptisms behind, but the sisters that are taking our place in Gatineau will do a good job. I'm a little sad leaving a french area, going to english--but at the same time I am very much excited to preach the word of God, uninhibited by language barriers and miscommunications. Oh happy day! There is a great power in testifying in your first language. The missionary work will explode in Champlain, (downtown ottawa). We will literally be starting from nothing. Opening up the area as we call it.

Okay, spiritual experience time. So we started teaching this part-member family, the husband is a member and the wife isn't. They have a little boy, 1 and a half years old. They are haitian. We'll call her Daisy. When we first met with her the first thing she told us is "Look, I don't agree with baptisms for the dead, temple work, you say the sacrament prayer wrong at your church, and families can't really be together. I've already been baptized." Ooof. But we knew that she had been pushed by the missionaries in the past, so we prayed hard and really tried to follow the spirit. Her husband promised not to push her, he doesn't even say anything during the lesson, except when we ask him to testify.

3 weeks ago. We ask her to read the book of mormon, to put all her problems on the book of mormon and to pray to know if the book is true or not. She says she will.

2 1/2 weeks ago. We change our lesson plan 5 minutes before knocking on her door. She didn't read. We read with her, Alma 32. Re-commit.

Two weeks ago. A monumental change. As Elder Leavitt was teaching her about fasting and trying to ask her to fast, she mentioned something.

"Will you fast to know if the book of mormon is true? We will fast with you.."
Daisy-- "But I already know..."

Elder Leavitt didn't catch it, he just kept testifying about the fast. My ears had perked up when I heard her mumble it, and I interrupted Elder Leavitt and asked her. "Wait a second, you know? You already know what?"

And there it was. Her little testimony of the book of mormon had taken root. She discovered in reading that it couldn't have come from man, the book of the mormon was from God. And you know what? All her problems dissolved, because of the chain. She understands, if the BOOK IS TRUE, so is the rest. How beautiful. Daisy is already inviting friends to church and passing out our pamphlets. The sisters will take her from here.

Well it's been great in Gatineau, off to Ottawa. Have a great week everyone!

Peace be the journey,

Elder Holm (1)

P.S.

I'm going to try and write Carter and Chandler Next week. Thanks for the pictures!