Hallo from Assen, (actually Arnhem right now, but I´ll explain that in a minute)
So, my first full week in Assen the Christ-like attribute I was working on developing was faith. And boy we needed it. Things started out a little slow there. But at the beginning of this last week, every day of that faith paid off.
Our first Sunday night here we were looking some people up, and were debating knocking there or going somewhere else when a man rode up on his bike, just back from a training bike ride. I felt like we needed to talk to him, so we did. And he wasn´t interested. Believed in ¨something¨ but not necessarily God, not religious, and not interested. Those of you who have served or are on missions know the type. But I kept talking to him, using ¨comebacks¨ as our mission president has asked us to, and it turns out he just had a lot of great unanswered life/soul questions, all of which can be answered by the gospel. So we taught him basically the entire restoration, there on his driveway, and committed him to read the Book of Mormon and invited him to pray about it too (said he would on the first, the second he was less enamored with). We said we´d come back in a week to see how he´d like it, which he said was fine. Then, I figured we´d gotten that far, further than I expected, and so I asked him if we could pray with him right there on his driveway. He gave me about the funniest look ever, but said okay, so we did.
Then we went by on Monday, figuring maybe he´d glanced at the Book of Mormon if we were lucky. He´d read up through 2 Nephi 29 and had prayed and gotten an answer. Plus he had found D&C online and had read up through section 60. Say what?! Yes. And then he showed me Mormon 7:10 (And ye will also know that ye are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; therefore ye are numbered among the people of the first covenant; and if it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized, first with water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following the example of our Savior, according to that which he hath commanded us, it shall be well with you in the day of judgment. Amen.) So, naturally, I extended a baptismal invitation. And he said, basically, probably, but I know I need to change some things in my life first.
So we set up an appointment, in which he more or less taught us the Plan of Salvation (also online) and the Word of Wisdom. And so we´re working towards 7 September with him for his date. And he came to church on Sunday and we had another lesson with him at a member´s home on Saturday! He´s about the coolest, most prepared person I´ve ever met, and he´s Dutch, which is even cooler.
The Lord prepares people. And our faith and the faith of the members here and throughout the world and family and friends truly produce miracles as we trust the Lord and ask for those.
On a side note, I went to Brussels for legality on Wednesday (so much fun, the waffles were unbelievable and I saw nearly everyone in my MTC group again, which was the best). And we are having district P-day right now in Arnhem! (We had district meeting here earlier today). Life is the best! The gospel is true and I love you all!
Love,
Zuster Stevens
