Things here in New Georgia are great!! All except for the internet, of course. It's really giving me a hard day. To give a little more bulk of my words, I'm including my letter to President Roggia for you to read for this week. Time permitting, I'll add more.
Hello President!
Things here in New Georgia are fantastic! I have so much to share, so I'm not really sure where to start...
I think I'll start with Elder Willis. I'm telling you, this Elder is really solid. He's hard-working, but I think his working potential has been a little smothered with his previous companions. We have outstanding unity and love one for another. He's very devoted to the cause of bringing souls unto repentance. It's been a long time since I've experienced a companionship so sweet. Thanks for pairing us together; I promise that neither you nor the Lord will regret it. In fact, I'd even advise that you keep us together as long as possible. The work is advancing at unprescedented speed here in New Georgia.
Considering the lack of material from the other Elders who have worked here, and Elder Willis' own inexperience with the area, we've basically opened the place up all over, which is most sweet. We have the Spirit here with us at all times, so it's drawing people to us like I've never seen before. We have had tons of new investigators this week, and some of them even came to church Sunday. It's been a powerful week for me. I'm really loving missionary work these days. We have a goal of more than a dozen baptisms this month, and I strongly believe that we can make it happen.
As far as the District goes, things are good, if not a little quiet. I think the quiet is good though. Things are very friendly, and we're not having any problems there.
This companionship is reminding me of my time with Elder Bennion. Good grief, we worked so hard, and taught so many people, and we really had the Spirit with us. We had a lot of fun too. I'm seeing the same here in the coming six weeks, and I'm really going to make the most of it. I really love being here, and I really love my companion. Things are just so sweet!
Thanks for your love and support!
Love,
Elder Vaughan
This week was filled with so many spiritual experiences that they've almost been innumberable. To answer Dad's question about how the people here receive the Book of Mormon, here's the following experience that Elder Willis and I had with a woman:
This woman, Mabel, was a referral from one of our members here in N.G. We sat down, and right away we asked if she had any questions for us. She said no, and the then the member blurted in "Well what about those things you were asking about the Book of Mormon??" We got a good laugh out of that. We then proceeded to teach her about the book, where it is from, and what it is about. We sat with her and read the Introduction together. In a solemn moment at the end, Elder WIllis and I bore testimony of the book, and sister Mabel simply said "I need this book." We haven't had a follow-up with her yet, but we know that she felt something that day. It was awesome!
The key to conversion is in the Book of Mormon. Plain and simple. So, we invite others to read it, and then, if indeed that person is an honest seeker of the truth, they will find out for themself. That's the beauty of the book.
As for ideas for Joshua's mission preparations, I can't really think of anything... Just make sure he's set like I was! Maybe a decent flahslight, but I bet he'll have electricity, unlike me.
As for N.G. area, it's SANDY. We proselyte in sand all blessed day long. It's kinda fun though. I really love this palce, and I really love Elder Willis. It's amazing to me that two people of such different background and interests can come together with such astonishing unity as we have. It's just AWESOME. :-)
As for my day today, Elder Willis and I thought it fitting to enjoy as much as humanly possible today. So, we went to the supermarket in town and bought tons of chicken and pork to BBQ on an overturned fan cover. What's more, I went to the most ghetto place in Africa and bought three lobsters. Yeah, we're living the life out here!! :-)
Regadless of how comparatively underdeveloped N.G. is than Sinkor, I like it so much more. It's like a sandier version of Bo, so I'm in love with it! The weeks ahead are going to be the sweetest; oh, the very choicest indeed.
Well, I love you all! I hope you have a wonderful week! Love and adoration to all!!
Love,
Elder Vaughan
Monday, February 27, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Transfer News, Pictures & Cheap Clams
Things are good these days!! Things have been a bit hectic too. We just got our transfer news this morning (a week or so early... This transfer was bound to be a nutso one. There are 8 newly called zone leaders and 1 new assisstant in the mission. Crazy!), and I found out that I'm being transferred to New Georgia branch tomorrow morning! It's in our same zone, but on the furthest edge outward. I'm excited, because I'll be serving with Elder Willis, who will be going to USU when he returns home in two Octobers. It'll be awesome! I like having things changed around.
I'm so happy to hear about Joshua's mission call to El Salvador! I got the news this past week from Sister Roggia via text message. WOO HOO!!! I'm so excited for him!!!
Oh!! I have some pictures for you this week since I won't be able to send pictures from here on out while I'm in Liberia. Here you are. We have some pictures at the beach, one at the apartment, one of us preparing snails for dinner, one of a baptism, and one of Elder Raymond eating. It was sweet times man...
Hey, guess what? I found somewhere I could buy clams!! They're cheaper than the sand that they live in!! I bought like 20lbs of them for roughly $0.40. Yeah, sick right?? :-) Mission is so sweet.
Goodness, I'm just so distracted today... I wish I had mind to tell you more. I love you like crazy, so that's what's important right? Ha ha ha. Things are good. As I mentioned to Dad, I'm being transferred to New Georgia branch, so things are a little shook up for the time being. Times are good-o!
Love you!
Elder Vaughan
I'm so happy to hear about Joshua's mission call to El Salvador! I got the news this past week from Sister Roggia via text message. WOO HOO!!! I'm so excited for him!!!
Oh!! I have some pictures for you this week since I won't be able to send pictures from here on out while I'm in Liberia. Here you are. We have some pictures at the beach, one at the apartment, one of us preparing snails for dinner, one of a baptism, and one of Elder Raymond eating. It was sweet times man...
Hey, guess what? I found somewhere I could buy clams!! They're cheaper than the sand that they live in!! I bought like 20lbs of them for roughly $0.40. Yeah, sick right?? :-) Mission is so sweet.
Goodness, I'm just so distracted today... I wish I had mind to tell you more. I love you like crazy, so that's what's important right? Ha ha ha. Things are good. As I mentioned to Dad, I'm being transferred to New Georgia branch, so things are a little shook up for the time being. Times are good-o!
Love you!
Elder Vaughan
Monday, February 13, 2012
An Apostle Visits Liberia
Oh man, I might be just as disappointed as Josh that his mission call hasn't come yet! I'm just waiting to hear that it's the Sierra Leone Freetown mission. ;-) Wherever it is, I'll be so happy for him!
Considering that there isn't a whole lot to answer in neither yours or Dad's email, I'll just send one home this week so we can share some sweet details about Elder Holland's visit.
He arrived Friday in the late afternoon, around four. He was scheduled to come Thursday evening, but there has been a lot of dust blowing in from the Sahara, so planes could neither take off or land in all of Sierra Leone or Liberia. President and Sister Roggia had spent four days trying to get here from Salone, but because of the weather, they were only able to arrive just hours before Elder Holland did. We, the missionaries, were supposed to have a meeting with him Friday morning around nine. As the news passed around that flights were being delayed and things, it was pushed to three, four, five, and so on a so forth. We were even beginning to question if he'd be able to come at all, because the most recent news we had heard was that his plane was in a holding pattern above Roberts International Airport in Liberia. If he wasn't able to land, there would have been no choice but to return to Accra.
Faith, as it always is, was the answer. Elder Holland is an apostle of the Lord. Can he not command the dust to quiet itself to allow him to land his plane and minister to his people? Of course he can, and indeed the dust cleared, though not a moment too soon. Had he spent another ten minutes in the air, the plane would have turned back.
Sister Roggia was already at Sinkor chapel, where the entire weekend was being staged. She announced to all of us anxiously awaiting missionaries that Elder Holland had indeed landed, and was on his way to the chapel. We cheered. We were gathered together in one of the classrooms as we waited for the long-anticipated arrival of that great apostle. Elder Liufau was there too, and he was standing outside the door in the hallway. After some period of time, he slid inside the door with a dazed look on his face. "Uh, Elders... He's here." We all looked, and beheld him as he walked down the hall to where he was to wait before his first meeting with the priesthood and auxiliary leaders of the church. Quickly recovering, we had another moment to also see President Dickson, Elder Snow, Elder Sitati, Elder Mensah, and their wives coming down the hallway towards us. AH! We were like a whole bunch of school children.
We continued to wait in the classroom for the first meeting to conclude. When it was done, we were admitted into the chapel for our missionary devotional with Elder Holland. HOW SWEET!!! We all got to shake his hand, and there were many pictures taken (there were some LDS.org reporters there. They said to wait a week or two and you'll be able to see their reports on Elder Holland's visit to Liberia. You might wanna check it out, since I was in the front! ;-) ).
We heard some brief testimonies from President Dickson and Elder Snow first, which were really wonderful. The program was a lot less structured than it was originally planned to be, considering Elder Holland's delayed arrival. Instead of a Q&A session, he simply talked to us specifically about our mission and things.
He first expressed his gratitude for our diligence as missionaries, and fully acknowledged the brutal nature of this mission in particular. He said that "every other mission in the world is a 2-year holiday from BYU-Idaho." That made me laugh. He narrated how it would be with us "staggering" through the funeral doors of our home chapels, and proclaiming over the pulpit "I'm back from MONROVIA!!!" with wild and bleary eyes. That also made me laugh. Yes indeed, this has to be the hardest mission in the world. Of every mission I've ever heard of in all of the world, even in Africa, this one takes the most guts to complete. We take it as it is; just part of the call.
He then took time to admonish us to be the best missionaries we could be. He started by analyzing the mission numbers, stating that the mission has over 1000 baptismal dates for the month of February. "1000 baptismal dates??" He said, "Most missions can't get 1000 baptismal dates in ten years!! And these are only for the month of February." he concluded with a sarcastic air. He continued by saying that nobody was here to watch us do what we do, so it's up to us to maintain the mission in Liberia. The mission president is in Sierra Leone, so he can't watch over you, and "heck, I represent church headquarters, and I couldn't even get here!" He made a point by saying that "If you want to sleep in, you can sleep in. If you want to loaf, you can loaf. If you want to break mission rules, nobody will know; except for the Lord and the angels in heaven who keep score."
He concluded with talking about what we will need to do as returned missionaries. He related that the thing that makes him "go ballistic" the most is missionaries who serve an honorable two years and then go home and are less-active. "What-in-the-world kind of Latter-Day Saints are those??" He endeared us to internalize our missions; to never forget them, and to live up to those people that we served. As a concluding commentary, he said "If I find you in three or five years and you're less-active, I'll wring your necks!"
That was the majority of what he said to us the Elders and Sisters. I have a few more notes that I took, but I don't have them on me. It was really nice for us to be aknowledged as the toughest of the tough, considering that we serve in one of the most thankless jobs there is. We work and work and work, and not an ounce of "thanks" is given for anything, save when one is baptized, and even that is seldom seen. It doesn't really bother me, but it was wonderful to be praised by an apostle, especially one like Elder Holland.
The meeting concluded in prayer, and we returned home, rather late I might add, arriving home about an hour and a half after curfiew. It's okay, the apostle blessed us. ;-)
The next day, Sunday (yesterday), was kind of a zoo for us. All of the same church dignitaries were there at the church, and we the missionaries had the job of ushering and doing odd jobs for the sake of the district conference. The conference was held in two sessions: Morning session for Monrovia district, and afternoon for Bushrod Island district. We, unfortunately, didn't get to listen to much of the conference because we were counting people, guarding the bathroom so the Liberians won't dirty the place for Elder Holland, and the like (we had 800 in attendance in the first session, and nearly 1000 in the second. Sweet!!). In the end, we were rewarded for our labors with the scraps left over from Elder Holland's catered lunch ("table scraps" makes it sound bad... I've never eaten so good on my whole mission. Ka-peesh.).
We were fortunate to hear a little from the last session of conference from Elder Holland. He said that "If I were looking for a church, there are three things that I would make sure are key in the church doctrines." The first he explained was that the church must teach that God is our loving Heavenly Father, indeed in the form of an exalted man, and that we, as his children, are heirs to such a glory. He talked more on the subject, cross-referencing from various scriptures and other quotes. The second requirement for his church was an organization like that of the primitive church in the days of Christ. He said that he needed apostles, prophets, and continuing revelation, and so on and so forth. The third, unfortunately, was lost from our ears as we were carried away on another assignment elsewhere in the building.
At the conclusion of the second and last session of district conference, Elder Holland made a hasty departure, on his way to catch the plane back to Accra. It truly was a blessing and a miracle that he was able to come here and speak to us. I was sitting right in the very front and center of the pulpit during the missionary devotional, so I even got to feel the breeze of his breath, so to speak. If any pictures show up of that, you will surely see me. The camera guy got quite a few of us Elders in the front. I think that concludes my thoughts on Elder Holland's visit for now... without my book, I can't remember much else.
I DID have an interesting conversation with Elder and Sister Fife, our area doctors while they were here (I guess they're required personelle in Elder Holland's entourage). They are a real young senior couple, so I was curious as to how they landed their call as area doctors. Sister Fife explained that she was a respiratory therapist back home, and her husband was a general physician. She said that they are taking a two year sabbatical in order to serve a year and a half, after which, they will both return and continue their work as medical practicioners. It made me think of you, Mom and Dad. ;-) It won't be long before the two of you can be considering a mission, huh? I'd love that for you two. :-)
Well, that's about all I've got today. I hope it's good for you! Things are as busy as they always are. I love you so much! Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Elder Vaughan
Considering that there isn't a whole lot to answer in neither yours or Dad's email, I'll just send one home this week so we can share some sweet details about Elder Holland's visit.
He arrived Friday in the late afternoon, around four. He was scheduled to come Thursday evening, but there has been a lot of dust blowing in from the Sahara, so planes could neither take off or land in all of Sierra Leone or Liberia. President and Sister Roggia had spent four days trying to get here from Salone, but because of the weather, they were only able to arrive just hours before Elder Holland did. We, the missionaries, were supposed to have a meeting with him Friday morning around nine. As the news passed around that flights were being delayed and things, it was pushed to three, four, five, and so on a so forth. We were even beginning to question if he'd be able to come at all, because the most recent news we had heard was that his plane was in a holding pattern above Roberts International Airport in Liberia. If he wasn't able to land, there would have been no choice but to return to Accra.
Faith, as it always is, was the answer. Elder Holland is an apostle of the Lord. Can he not command the dust to quiet itself to allow him to land his plane and minister to his people? Of course he can, and indeed the dust cleared, though not a moment too soon. Had he spent another ten minutes in the air, the plane would have turned back.
Sister Roggia was already at Sinkor chapel, where the entire weekend was being staged. She announced to all of us anxiously awaiting missionaries that Elder Holland had indeed landed, and was on his way to the chapel. We cheered. We were gathered together in one of the classrooms as we waited for the long-anticipated arrival of that great apostle. Elder Liufau was there too, and he was standing outside the door in the hallway. After some period of time, he slid inside the door with a dazed look on his face. "Uh, Elders... He's here." We all looked, and beheld him as he walked down the hall to where he was to wait before his first meeting with the priesthood and auxiliary leaders of the church. Quickly recovering, we had another moment to also see President Dickson, Elder Snow, Elder Sitati, Elder Mensah, and their wives coming down the hallway towards us. AH! We were like a whole bunch of school children.
We continued to wait in the classroom for the first meeting to conclude. When it was done, we were admitted into the chapel for our missionary devotional with Elder Holland. HOW SWEET!!! We all got to shake his hand, and there were many pictures taken (there were some LDS.org reporters there. They said to wait a week or two and you'll be able to see their reports on Elder Holland's visit to Liberia. You might wanna check it out, since I was in the front! ;-) ).
We heard some brief testimonies from President Dickson and Elder Snow first, which were really wonderful. The program was a lot less structured than it was originally planned to be, considering Elder Holland's delayed arrival. Instead of a Q&A session, he simply talked to us specifically about our mission and things.
He first expressed his gratitude for our diligence as missionaries, and fully acknowledged the brutal nature of this mission in particular. He said that "every other mission in the world is a 2-year holiday from BYU-Idaho." That made me laugh. He narrated how it would be with us "staggering" through the funeral doors of our home chapels, and proclaiming over the pulpit "I'm back from MONROVIA!!!" with wild and bleary eyes. That also made me laugh. Yes indeed, this has to be the hardest mission in the world. Of every mission I've ever heard of in all of the world, even in Africa, this one takes the most guts to complete. We take it as it is; just part of the call.
He then took time to admonish us to be the best missionaries we could be. He started by analyzing the mission numbers, stating that the mission has over 1000 baptismal dates for the month of February. "1000 baptismal dates??" He said, "Most missions can't get 1000 baptismal dates in ten years!! And these are only for the month of February." he concluded with a sarcastic air. He continued by saying that nobody was here to watch us do what we do, so it's up to us to maintain the mission in Liberia. The mission president is in Sierra Leone, so he can't watch over you, and "heck, I represent church headquarters, and I couldn't even get here!" He made a point by saying that "If you want to sleep in, you can sleep in. If you want to loaf, you can loaf. If you want to break mission rules, nobody will know; except for the Lord and the angels in heaven who keep score."
He concluded with talking about what we will need to do as returned missionaries. He related that the thing that makes him "go ballistic" the most is missionaries who serve an honorable two years and then go home and are less-active. "What-in-the-world kind of Latter-Day Saints are those??" He endeared us to internalize our missions; to never forget them, and to live up to those people that we served. As a concluding commentary, he said "If I find you in three or five years and you're less-active, I'll wring your necks!"
That was the majority of what he said to us the Elders and Sisters. I have a few more notes that I took, but I don't have them on me. It was really nice for us to be aknowledged as the toughest of the tough, considering that we serve in one of the most thankless jobs there is. We work and work and work, and not an ounce of "thanks" is given for anything, save when one is baptized, and even that is seldom seen. It doesn't really bother me, but it was wonderful to be praised by an apostle, especially one like Elder Holland.
The meeting concluded in prayer, and we returned home, rather late I might add, arriving home about an hour and a half after curfiew. It's okay, the apostle blessed us. ;-)
The next day, Sunday (yesterday), was kind of a zoo for us. All of the same church dignitaries were there at the church, and we the missionaries had the job of ushering and doing odd jobs for the sake of the district conference. The conference was held in two sessions: Morning session for Monrovia district, and afternoon for Bushrod Island district. We, unfortunately, didn't get to listen to much of the conference because we were counting people, guarding the bathroom so the Liberians won't dirty the place for Elder Holland, and the like (we had 800 in attendance in the first session, and nearly 1000 in the second. Sweet!!). In the end, we were rewarded for our labors with the scraps left over from Elder Holland's catered lunch ("table scraps" makes it sound bad... I've never eaten so good on my whole mission. Ka-peesh.).
We were fortunate to hear a little from the last session of conference from Elder Holland. He said that "If I were looking for a church, there are three things that I would make sure are key in the church doctrines." The first he explained was that the church must teach that God is our loving Heavenly Father, indeed in the form of an exalted man, and that we, as his children, are heirs to such a glory. He talked more on the subject, cross-referencing from various scriptures and other quotes. The second requirement for his church was an organization like that of the primitive church in the days of Christ. He said that he needed apostles, prophets, and continuing revelation, and so on and so forth. The third, unfortunately, was lost from our ears as we were carried away on another assignment elsewhere in the building.
At the conclusion of the second and last session of district conference, Elder Holland made a hasty departure, on his way to catch the plane back to Accra. It truly was a blessing and a miracle that he was able to come here and speak to us. I was sitting right in the very front and center of the pulpit during the missionary devotional, so I even got to feel the breeze of his breath, so to speak. If any pictures show up of that, you will surely see me. The camera guy got quite a few of us Elders in the front. I think that concludes my thoughts on Elder Holland's visit for now... without my book, I can't remember much else.
I DID have an interesting conversation with Elder and Sister Fife, our area doctors while they were here (I guess they're required personelle in Elder Holland's entourage). They are a real young senior couple, so I was curious as to how they landed their call as area doctors. Sister Fife explained that she was a respiratory therapist back home, and her husband was a general physician. She said that they are taking a two year sabbatical in order to serve a year and a half, after which, they will both return and continue their work as medical practicioners. It made me think of you, Mom and Dad. ;-) It won't be long before the two of you can be considering a mission, huh? I'd love that for you two. :-)
Well, that's about all I've got today. I hope it's good for you! Things are as busy as they always are. I love you so much! Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Elder Vaughan
Monday, February 6, 2012
Snapped Back, the Divine Gift of Agency & Fisher of Men
Things are a lot better these days. I don't know what really happened, but I just snapped back into a better mood and attitude. Things are great these days. Elder Raymond and I are having a great time. I just feel awesome.
Agency is wonderful, isn't it? Think about it: Of all of God's creations, we are the only ones that are given the power to willfully disobey him. Wow. Everything else in the universe must live or die by his word. We are given the divine gift of agency, to choose joy, sorrow, or anything else in between, and it all comes from simple obedience or disobedience to the principles of eternity.
This week was pretty sweet!! Every Sunday, people come and visit the church for their first time. We figured out a sweet tactic of "netting" them (Fisher of man, anyone?): On our roster sheet in gospel essentials class, we added a column to indicate whether or not the person is a member. This makes the biggest difference for me since I'm still getting to know the people. If I don't know the person that is a nonmember, we flag them down after class and set up appointments to meet them at the church to teach them. If they come, sweet, we have a new investigator. If not, well, that's how it usually is. They come and visit and then never come again (often because the church isn't very "lively", as they would say.). Our days end up with us at the church teaching lesson after lesson with powerful investigators from noon to six. Yeah, it's awesome. Things are going on alright these days.
One of these lessons was particularly sweet. The brother's name is Bartimaeus. He came on Sunday, we talked to him small, and invited him to come back to the church the following Wednesday to meet with us. While we were in our office on Tuesday, he showed up. We told him that we had planned for Wednesday, and he replied that he knew, and that he was simply hoping to see us there. Well, we had some extra time, so we sat down and asked him a few opening questions about church and things. He said that he loved the church, and that he wanted to be a baptized member. Uh, wow! Sure! We assured him that it would be possible.
I saw that he had a Restoration tract (we had never given it to him, so I was curious), so I asked him what he knew of it. He then reiterated the complete contents of the lesson of the Restoration from memory in its entirety. From there, we had nothing more to teach, so we simply gave him a baptismal date and a return appointment. Sweet, right? He already had testified to us that the Book of Mormon was true, even though he hadn't yet recieved one for himself, because he had sincerely asked God if it was true. He explained that he had visited the church seven years ago, and had long been impressed by the teachings therein, and that now was simply the time for him to unite himself with the church. Man, the work is so sweet when we are lead to prepared investigators!! :-)
I can't really say that there's a whole lot going on these days that's out of the ordinary. For us, we haven't had any office work in three weeks, so we're just ordinary missionaries. I like that. Then we get the perk of our office that we use for emailing home.
Elder Holland is coming this weekend, which is huge. I think I mentioned that, right? I better have... At least it's been a while since I did. I'm very excited. He's having an hour long Q&A with the missionaries in Liberia. Am I excited? Uh, YES. It's going to be awesome. I'll report on that next monday. It's surely going to be a powerful experience. We're having a two-session district conference here in Sinkor. Our district is first, and then Bushrod Island District members. It's going to be crazy. I'm just excited like nothing!! Being a missionary means I get to meet tons of general authorities, which is the best. I love it so much!
I'M SO EXCITED FOR JOSH!!!! Sis. Roggia will be here in Liberia on Thursday, so I'm sure she'll tell me in person if she gets the email from you guys with the news on Joshua's mission call. :-)
Thanks for the package. I'm going to make a request: Don't send any more. I don't really need them. The love reaches me just fine through email. Now that I'll have everything that I could need, you don't need to spend any more money on me. At least, til I get back. ;-) That's what you could do, you could save it to lavish on your precious baby when he gets home! ;-) Ha ha ha, kidding, kidding. But really, you don't need to send anything else again. I think I'll be good for the next 9 months (yeah, 9 months. Crazy, right??? It goes so fast!!!). The same with Western Union. I don't think I'll need any more money until I'm a few weeks from going home, then I might need some to get me safely back. Deal?
So STAR WARS EPISODE ONE IS NOW IN 3D??? Oh man, I'm going to cry if I can't see that. Episode 1 has always had a uniquely special place in my heart. Man... I'm in awe... Yeah, I figured that 3D TVs would be available by now... Man, I want to see that so bad... Anyhow, I'll be blessed for my sacrifice.
I'm sure I'll have a lot more to talk about next week... And Josh will have his call!! Woo hoo!! I can't wait to hear about that. :-)
Love,
Elder Vaughan
Agency is wonderful, isn't it? Think about it: Of all of God's creations, we are the only ones that are given the power to willfully disobey him. Wow. Everything else in the universe must live or die by his word. We are given the divine gift of agency, to choose joy, sorrow, or anything else in between, and it all comes from simple obedience or disobedience to the principles of eternity.
This week was pretty sweet!! Every Sunday, people come and visit the church for their first time. We figured out a sweet tactic of "netting" them (Fisher of man, anyone?): On our roster sheet in gospel essentials class, we added a column to indicate whether or not the person is a member. This makes the biggest difference for me since I'm still getting to know the people. If I don't know the person that is a nonmember, we flag them down after class and set up appointments to meet them at the church to teach them. If they come, sweet, we have a new investigator. If not, well, that's how it usually is. They come and visit and then never come again (often because the church isn't very "lively", as they would say.). Our days end up with us at the church teaching lesson after lesson with powerful investigators from noon to six. Yeah, it's awesome. Things are going on alright these days.
One of these lessons was particularly sweet. The brother's name is Bartimaeus. He came on Sunday, we talked to him small, and invited him to come back to the church the following Wednesday to meet with us. While we were in our office on Tuesday, he showed up. We told him that we had planned for Wednesday, and he replied that he knew, and that he was simply hoping to see us there. Well, we had some extra time, so we sat down and asked him a few opening questions about church and things. He said that he loved the church, and that he wanted to be a baptized member. Uh, wow! Sure! We assured him that it would be possible.
I saw that he had a Restoration tract (we had never given it to him, so I was curious), so I asked him what he knew of it. He then reiterated the complete contents of the lesson of the Restoration from memory in its entirety. From there, we had nothing more to teach, so we simply gave him a baptismal date and a return appointment. Sweet, right? He already had testified to us that the Book of Mormon was true, even though he hadn't yet recieved one for himself, because he had sincerely asked God if it was true. He explained that he had visited the church seven years ago, and had long been impressed by the teachings therein, and that now was simply the time for him to unite himself with the church. Man, the work is so sweet when we are lead to prepared investigators!! :-)
I can't really say that there's a whole lot going on these days that's out of the ordinary. For us, we haven't had any office work in three weeks, so we're just ordinary missionaries. I like that. Then we get the perk of our office that we use for emailing home.
Elder Holland is coming this weekend, which is huge. I think I mentioned that, right? I better have... At least it's been a while since I did. I'm very excited. He's having an hour long Q&A with the missionaries in Liberia. Am I excited? Uh, YES. It's going to be awesome. I'll report on that next monday. It's surely going to be a powerful experience. We're having a two-session district conference here in Sinkor. Our district is first, and then Bushrod Island District members. It's going to be crazy. I'm just excited like nothing!! Being a missionary means I get to meet tons of general authorities, which is the best. I love it so much!
I'M SO EXCITED FOR JOSH!!!! Sis. Roggia will be here in Liberia on Thursday, so I'm sure she'll tell me in person if she gets the email from you guys with the news on Joshua's mission call. :-)
Thanks for the package. I'm going to make a request: Don't send any more. I don't really need them. The love reaches me just fine through email. Now that I'll have everything that I could need, you don't need to spend any more money on me. At least, til I get back. ;-) That's what you could do, you could save it to lavish on your precious baby when he gets home! ;-) Ha ha ha, kidding, kidding. But really, you don't need to send anything else again. I think I'll be good for the next 9 months (yeah, 9 months. Crazy, right??? It goes so fast!!!). The same with Western Union. I don't think I'll need any more money until I'm a few weeks from going home, then I might need some to get me safely back. Deal?
So STAR WARS EPISODE ONE IS NOW IN 3D??? Oh man, I'm going to cry if I can't see that. Episode 1 has always had a uniquely special place in my heart. Man... I'm in awe... Yeah, I figured that 3D TVs would be available by now... Man, I want to see that so bad... Anyhow, I'll be blessed for my sacrifice.
I'm sure I'll have a lot more to talk about next week... And Josh will have his call!! Woo hoo!! I can't wait to hear about that. :-)
Love,
Elder Vaughan
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