Miracles

Dear President,

This week was nothing short of miracles!! I don't even know where to begin.

 

 

Artemio was good for his date at the beginning of the week, but when we passed by Tuesday, he wanted none of it!! Some random person on the street had told him that Mormons aren't allowed to worship images (this person was Catholic, and before he was baptized, Artemio was also 'Catholic'". He was extremely upset at the fact that he couldn't worship his images, like he had always done. He told us that all the churches were false and that he felt bad for being a hypocrite. He thanked us for our time and and apologized. We could have walked away and nothing would have ever happened, he never would have been baptized. But we weren't going to let months of work with him go down the drain without a fight. Yes, the adversary had been working him like nothing I have ever seen before, but we are representatives of Jesus Christ. We talked him into letting us come in to share something. We found in the bible and Book of Mormon where it talks about images and false idol-ship and read them to him. His heart was softened and he humbled himself. Within 20 minutes, we were his best friends again and he was still set for the weekend.

 

 

We scheduled his interview for Thursday night, which we apologize for. Elder Jones and I take full blame for lack of planning. We will do better next time. During the interview, Artemio shared something about his past that we weren't too sure about. When we went over the questions with him, we understood that it had only been a mis-carriage, not an abortion. Regardless, we should have known the details of the past events. We soon realized after the interview that he had to be interviewed by someone from the mission presidency. Our hearts sunk because we know that scheduling interviews the day before are hectic, especially on the weekends. We called Bro. Hall and he said that he would try his best, but made it clear that all three members of the presidency had a full schedule. We went home that night in silence. We were stressed, exhausted, and just anxious. We decided to fast the next day so that Artemio could be interviewed. By 2:30pm the next day, Bro. Hall informed us that President Davis could be here at 7. A MIRACLE! It was even more so a miracle for us later when Elder Barlow told us that Pres. Davis was supposed to be out of town that evening. Whether he was or not, it was a miracle.

 

 

During this entire process (thursday-saturday) we were freaking out. I don't think I have ever been so stressed in my life! About mid-way through our fast, Christ's words came to my mind. "Why are ye so fearful? How is it that you have such little faith?" I then felt complete peace. I had an assurance that all would be well. And it all went perfectly. Artemio was baptized. Elder Jones and I are JOYFUL! We're pumped to have more soon.

 

 

Seeing Augustine in Hollister be baptized was also a joyful experience. Elder Matthias and I began teaching him when he was leaving with his girlfriend who was a RC. We got them married and he was finally baptized!! Easily one of the best days of my mission. I look forward to seeing them be sealed a year from now.

 

 

I love the new Zone!! We have some phenomenal missionaries. I'm looking forward to getting to know them all and to learn from them this transfer. It will be wonderful.

Thank you President for making the California, San Jose mission the best one there is. I love being here and I love being a missionaries. Sometimes the sorrows out number the joys, but the joys will ALWAYS out weight the sorrows. 

 

 

Elder Felt