This week went by way fast! We've had the opportunity to help a lot in the temple with the Spanish speaking people that come in and it's been a great opportunity. I've found and some days, even though I don't even go inside the temple, I can feel the great spirit of the building just standing outside.
Sadly, there have been a lot of protesters at the temple, but from what I hear it is quite common at temple open houses. There is a man that sets up his tent everyday just right off the temple grounds who claims to be an ex-bishop of the church, but Pres. Cleveland said he researched him and he never even was a bishop. It's just more evidence that this is the truth. People will do whatever they can to attack it and defame it, but we know that the "work will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent" no matter what the world does.
Sadly, we haven't been able to meet with C. since she went to the temple, but we had a good experience with Bro. Bello on Friday. We had a lesson scheduled with Catarina, and Elder Hansen was with me in my area on exchanges so we invited Bro. Bello to come with us to the lesson. As we were driving to C's house, Elder Hansen pointed out the house of an investigator he taught 6 months ago when he was in my area.
We got to C.'s house and knocked about 100 times before finally giving in to the discouraging realization that she wasn't home. I, being a little discouraged, started walking to Bro. Bello to apologize for dragging him out here, but Elder Hansen immediately thought to go visit that person he had pointed out as we were driving by. We drove over there, and there she was sitting on her porch. Her name is L. and she has 2 kids and takes care of 3 more and she kept expressing to us her stress and lack of peace in life. It was a great opportunity to invite her to the temple and testify of the peace found there. After the lesson, Bro. Bello said, "As soon as we left C.'s house, I just knew that this lady was going to be home and that she was the reason we're here." It's incredible how the Lord guides us to people even though we may not know it. L. has invited us to come over and teach her some more.
Elder Markward and Elder Latu had a baptism in the branch on Saturday. Elder Markward told us he is so surprised they were getting baptized because they didn't seem interested at all, but one day they went to their house and the father of the house and suddenly just dropped his habit of drinking and said he knows he needs to get baptized. I have never seen anybody more prepared. As we arrived early to the baptism, there were a lot of members from the branch cleaning the chapel, and I was surprised to see J, the man who was to be baptized a couple hours later, was helping them clean! He had come to help clean the church and he wasn't even a member yet. He said the opening prayer in front of everyone at his own baptism and thanked our Heavenly Father for guiding him to this point. Then we went to the temple open house after the baptism as a branch, and J. showed up with a brand new suit. He truly understood the importance and sacredness of the temple. It's great to see people who are so prepared.
We are teaching a 16 year old girl named L. and her mom. Her dad is Catholic and a little more stubborn, but L. has shown a lot of interest and is really ready to learn. We brought President Coffin (branch president) and his 19 year old daughter Natalia to the lesson and Natalia and L. hit it off. It was great to have that lesson with the member support.
Other than that, not much has been going on. It's been awesome to have a temple here and it is such a great tool to teach investigators and members alike. I just hope the branch is this excited about the temple in a few months and that they continue going to do work there.
I love you mom! Yep, you have the right address! Thank you for everything you do! I hope you guys are all doing great. It's sad to miss Lake powell for the first time ever, but it's worth it. Have fun and be safe!
Love you
Elder Thayne
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| We got a picture with Dwayne Johnson! I'm pretty excited... |
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