Listening to the Spirit

What a week.  :P  So this week we struggled to sit with just about anyone we planned to sit with which totally tanked, but, hey, you can't mess with other people's agency. ha ha ha  We did a lot of tracking this week, a lot of door to door, stopping people on the road and all that good missionary stuff.  It wasn't a bad week, it was just unsuccessful.  I think we go through those weeks to appreciate the normal ones or the really good weeks.  We also had to drop one of our families that we were teaching because they wouldn't come to Sacrament meeting or read the Book of Mormon :(   I really kinda liked that family too, and not just because of the six potential baptisms. ha ha   We're working with people right now and we are also working with some good steady families like Rute and Antonio.  They are an older couple and we found them through another contact or member we have (that family that we married and baptized.  They are awesome!)  Anyway, we had a lesson with them on Saturday and it was really good.  We were in the lesson talking about faith, repentance and baptism, gift of the holy ghost and enduring to the end.  During the lesson I thought about the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi and their commitment to never again shed blood and how complete that repentance had been.   I mean, these were some people who really understood the process of repentance (probably better than most of us) and they stuck to it.  I forgot where it was in the Book of Mormon, but my comp found it and it worked perfectly.  It was like the spirit said, "Talk about this", and I was like, "OK, I know not where to find it".  (Nephi reference , 100 meticais to the person who can find where Nephi said that in the scriptures) and the spirit said, "Tell your comp", so he found it and related the story beautifully while I explained the steps for repentance.  I felt like the message really reached them.  At the end of the lesson my comp. told them to pray and ask for forgiveness of their past sins as an invite and I felt impressed to bear my testimony, something I don't usually do after we finish a lesson and its pretty much over.  I can't remember what I said, but I remember how I felt and I could tell that I wasn't the only person in the room who was receiving the same message. 

The power of the spirit is much stronger than any teaching technique that I have come to know and it really makes a difference in the lesson.  Sometimes it's hard for it to be there, but it's an important thing that you leave it time to speak and time for your investigator to ponder. Like they say: Today is a day of warning, not a day of many words.

That  was good this week and we had a man come to church and we have only taught him one lesson.  He goes to the Jehovah's Witness church but feels like he has some unanswered questions. (ha ha ha, imagine that)  During lessons he is really thoughtful and I think if we can get him to go from thoughtful to pondering, he's sure to feel the spirit and gain understanding like never before.

 
The companionship is going good.  Three transfers with the same person is a long time, but you also get to know each other really well and that makes a good combination for teaching.  It also makes you quick to forgive and a little more reluctant to cause trouble (not that I would cause trouble!)

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In my scripture reading I am at Omni only because I read a lot yesterday, but it's good stuff.  I decided to really try and study out the parable of the olive vineyard.  I found some cool stuff and testimonies of God's love for us and the way he cares for us.  I can also understand his frustrations when he says, "What more could I have done?" because all the trees in the vineyard are producing bad fruit.  Sometimes I feel that way when people fall through.   Then again, you can't make the choice for the people, so you have to wait and see and that is half the fun.

 
On the Easter front of things, we usually don't have much time to do a celebration because we are busy at work,  knocking doors and bringing that Easter message to someone else.  It's a good experience and I can't think of a better way to celebrate our Savior's Resurrection than through giving someone else the keys to their own.  You kinda get a new appreciation for the things that he did and how he did it.  Speaking of uplifting stuff, I saw that white guy from South Africa again this week and he is just moving right along.  A smile always on his face and getting better every day.  I wish I could tell you the kind of faith this guy has.  It's incredible, he leaves me with a smile every time we talk to him.

To respond to your other questions:  If you can't find the book, it's no big deal and the cereal I miss the most is ?????? Frosted Mini Wheats.  I really like those and they don't have them here.  Everytime I go to the store to get cereal, I get lost in that section because they don't have any :P

Thank's for writing this week.  I never really tell you guys how much I look forward to reading these emails from you guys. I can' t wait for mom to tell me about here triathlon.  All the missionaries here are a little weary of me telling them how athletic my mom is and how cool she is. I thought your wet suit story was funny and I can only guess how that is.  I am super excited to hear about all the big fish dad will catch on his trip.  Just remember though, even some of Jesus's apostles tried to catch fish and they weren't very successful. ha ha ha.   I want to thank you guys for staying with the Book of Mormon reading.  There are lots of little treasures in there and they make a big difference in our lives. I can not wait for General Conference.  I know I'm a nerd, but I have a good feeling about this one.  I can't wait to ride a bike again either.  Just the other night I had a dream about riding a bike and I think I kicked my bed because my toe hurt in the morning.  ha ha ha.

I hope everything is going good at work and that things aren't too out of hand  for you guys.  Your story about the police officer is really kinda creepy and I am glad you are all OK.  ha ha ha.  Anyway, I wanted to send a little extra love to you guys and say hi.  Tell Reid I said hi and good work on the grades. (keep it up buddy!)

Well, I guess that's it for now.

Lots of love,

Elder Proksch