Not much has happened this week. We finally got one of our
long-term investigators on date. He is married to two women and needs to get a
divorce from one of them before he can be baptized. He doesn't live with either
one of them though. He doesn't even know where one of them is... Anyways he has
finally started saving up to get the divorce. We are hoping to baptize him in
January.
We also just started teaching a women named Mereciana. She
is originally form west Africa and that culture still plays a big role in her
life. She was a referral, so when we first met her we could tell that she was
really nice. She invited us into her home immediately and fed us dinner. It was
a lot of fun. now that we are teaching her she is making really great progress.
We have tickets to go see the Phoenix temple open house to show her where she
can be sealed to her family.
We are also teaching a new person named Tamia. I guess she
was originally a male and changed her sex. We met with her last night and she
is super excited to meet with us. Last night she told us that she wanted to be
baptized... We didn't really know how to respond, so I just told her that we
should get through all the lessons before we get to that point. We called our
mission president that night and asked him what we should do. I guess if she as
had a sex changed she can't get married in this life. It is just so upsetting
to see how Satan has got such a strong hold of people. There has already been
so much damage that has been done it will be really really hard for Tamia to
achieve Celestial glory- it is just so so so so sad. I am so grateful for
parents who raised me in the church and kept me safe. They helped me stay on
that straight and narrow path from the very beginning.
On a happier note, my companion and I got to talk in
sacrament meeting with our ward mission leader. We have an amazing ward mission
leader and some great ward missionaries. We both gave about a five minute talk.
I gave my talk with just bullet points to help me get through it. That was the
first time I have ever done that and I think it went pretty well. At the end my
companion and I taught the restoration to the congregation. I got to share the
part about the first vision and I felt the spirit so strong. It was really
amazing. I thought it would have been a good idea to share the first lesson so
members could be more familiar about how we teach. It was actually really
successful. We had a couple members that wanted us to come into their home and
teach their friends that same thing we taught at the pulpit. I think once we
showed them that the first lesson would not offend anybody in any way and that
it really isn't that weird, they were more receptive to letting us teach their
friends.
Our bishop also gave us a guitar, which I have played
everyday for lunch since I got it. Playing guitar is a great way to relieve
stress.
Well that's about all I have for this week. Before I finish
I just want to thank my two older brothers for being a great example. You guys
sound like you are really great Elders and I think it is so cool that Elder Joe
Anderson is a zone leader and Elder Jacob Anderson is a district leader. I pray
for you guys that you will continue to have success.
- Elder Joshua Anderson
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