Week 9

12 July 2010

So last week I vented many frustrations to Dana about last Sunday. July 4th-It rained. 0 of 5 comitted investigators and 1 of 3 comitted less actives and 0/1 recent convert came to church.

We called that 'Golden' Recent Convert and he explained to Elder Stringham and I that he did not want to go to church anymore. We immediately went down to see him wondering what could have happened. We talked about things pertaining to Polygamy, Spirit World, and anyone who believes in Jesus Christ being automatically saved as though he hadn't been taught a thing. We left with him still refusing to come to church and filled with pride that you could see in his eyes. This was 5 days after we had taught him a "Transition Lesson" aka turning him over to his home teachers. We taught about the Restoration which he loved to hear again and accepted it AGAIN. SO we were left down trodden basically on Sunday feeling pretty miserable. Elder Stringham was then notified that he was leaving.

Fast Forward to this Sunday. I was somehow hoping that James would come to church. He wasn't there but we had a couple different others there due to someone else's efforts. We are just getting done watching the video 'To This End Was I Born' (which I recommend to all) and the Spirit was very strong in that lesson. Sacrament meeting was a good one too and I taught the Gospel Principles class on Faith in Jesus Christ. With that- we were walking out and I turned to the member who was driving us and asked if he would come with us to James' house and help us out with that. it was about 8:15 so we needed him to get back on time. We did and we opened the door to a big 61 year old man saying, "Im still not coming back." and so I just told him. "Ok, Cool, let us in. We will talk about that and you have to meet the new Elder." (You have to be that way with James.)

The week before we had resolved his concerns, but he didn't ever feel the spirit through that I don't think or he was so puffed up that he didn't any longer recognize it. This week he wasn't full of pride like he was 7 days ago, but still didnt want to come to church. Anyways, we talked about the Atonement and Elder Metsaranta did a great job talking about Justice and we talked about God's Love and Mercy to all and he was then by the end comitted to coming to church and to study the Atonement from the Bible and the Book of Mormon. It was a great day =P

I love you all,
Elder Blackburn