This week has been so much fun. We have stayed super busy all week
long, and have had some good success. On Monday, we had a FHE with
Brother Owen and William. We planned on watching Mr. Krueger's
Christmas, but we had to go and pick it up from a recent converts
house. She is usually always home in the evenings because she is a
bus driver during the day. But today she had a field trip so she
wasn't there, but two of her friends were there because they wanted to
surprise her with a clean house. One of them was really interested
and wanted to talk with us, so we stayed in the front porch and had a
lesson with her. She had had such a thought life, and has gone
through so much pain with seeing close family and friends committing
suicide right in front of her. We set a baptism date with her, and she
really wants to know why all of these things are happening to her. We
then gave her a priesthood blessing of comfort. She felt the spirit
so strongly, it was amazing. But later on in the week she dropped us
and told us that she didn't want to meet with us anymore. We're not
sure what happened, but it's just not her time yet.
Tuesday we had another great lesson that I won't ever forget about.
It was with Charley, and this was our second visit with him. Charley
is a Jewish man that has been dating a member. He came to church
three times now with her, and Elder Ware thought that he was a member.
So we set up an appointment with him to come by and get to know him
more. Tuesday was our second visit with him. The first time we set
expectations with him and that a little bit about the Restoration. We
left him with the commitment to pray about Jesus Christ, and to ask if
he was the Son of God. When we followed up in that commitment, he
told us that he had, but that no bells or whistles had gone off yet.
He had just said the opening prayer before this, then we asked him if
he would say another prayer right now to ask specifically if Christ is
the Son of God. We told him to take a moment of silence afterwards to
listen to what the Spirit was telling him. We waited for about three
minutes, then five minutes, and it was still absolutely quite. We
weren't sure if we should say anything yet or not, and kept saying
silent prayers to know what to do next. We thought that there might
have been a small chance that he had fallen asleep on us. We waited
for a few more minutes, and after five minutes of total silence,
Charley looked up at us with tears running down his face. He then told
us of what happened. That he had seen a vision of Christ walking, and
his three wives and daughter that had passed away walking behind Him.
He told us that he also had heard a voice telling him not to worry,
that they are well taken care of. Charley then said, "I know that
Christ lived on earth, and I guess that he is the Son of God." It was
such an amazing Ammon experience, probably the best that I have had in
my mission so far. It was so great. We had also set a date the first
visit and committed him to pray about it, and he asked if he could
push back a week. So he has a date set right now for December 27, but
that might have to change because he doesn't live in our ward
boundaries, so we will have to figure that out this week.
Wednesday was combined district meeting the entire zone, and we played
dodgeball right afterwards. Then we all headed down to Fort De Sota
beach for the FTM Christmas party. Same place that I went last year
for it. I hash so much fun there playing ultimate frisbee, singing
Christmas songs, and watching the beach sunset. I was sore for a few
days after the party from playing dodgeball and frisbee, but it's all
good.
Thursday morning started off with interviews with President Cusick.
Really not to much to talk about there, besides I got my very first
hug from him at the end of the interview. Hugs from President Cusick
are unheard of, so I was really surprised when he told me to give him
a hug.
Not too much happened on Friday besides having dinner with Bishop
Bangerter. Sister Bangerter makes some really good food.
On Saturday, we went to a Christmas parade with Kevin and his family.
It was a lot of fun. And on the walk back to his house we sang
Christmas carols, which turned out to be pretty sad because none of us
knew all of the lyrics to any songs. We went back to his house for
homemade cheesecake that his mom made for his birthday. Afterwards, we
had an awesome discussion with his mom about temples and how someone
prepares themselves to go to the temple. Kevin walked out to the car
with us when we were leaving, and he told us that he wants us to set a
date with his mom when we come back. He has been telling us to hold
off all week, but after how open she was tonight, he wants us to go
for it. So we all prayed that night separately, and came back the next
day to church and talked about it. We all felt like the second week
of January would be good. We extended that date to her yesterday after
church, and now she is praying to know if it is right for her or not.
I will let you know what happens with that next week. Also on
Saturday, we got our transfer email. I am staying in St. Petersburg
for another transfer, but I will be receiving pa new companion.
Elder ware is leaving, but we won't find out where he is going until
transfer meeting on Thursday.
Sunday, Felix came to church with William! It has been about two
weeks since we have talked to Felix. Since that time of not talking to
us and not going to church, he has noticed that his life has started
going down hill with work and health. He is going through a difficult
time right now, and also just found out that he had blood clots in his
legs again. Felix told us that he wants to start meeting with us again
and coming to church every week. After sacrament meeting, we had a
lesson with him and gave him a blessing. We also set a date for
January 10 for baptism, but there is a chance that it might be moved
up from that time. We will wait and see. I'm excited to start working
with him again.
It has been an exceptional week, and I'm excited to have another one
just like it! I love you all so much. Thanks for all of the love and
support!
Love,
Elder Leavitt
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