Yeash, everyone…. I cannot describe how many miracles I have been able to see the Lord provided for us this week. It’s actually insane and I wanna share them so imma just talk about em!
Also, transfers happened mid week and so I am now with Elder Tokelau from Provo! And I legit love him so much!
So for starters there is a PMF (part member family) that we are working with and the dad is the non-member. He grew up as a Jehovah Witness. His name is Christian. He has been coming to church and has a testimony of our church but has had hiccups with the prophet Joseph Smith. The last time Elder Capps and I went over, we committed him to really pray about the Prophet Joseph Smith with a sincere heart. My new Comp, Elder Tokelau, and I went by and shared a new lesson. When we finished, Christian said that when he prayed to God he had a long conversation with him… then he testified that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and said he wants to be baptized! We put him on date for April 12th. The spirit was so strong in the room.
The following is a long story, but easily the coolest of my entire mission. Legit.
We got a referral last week from missionaries in the Newport Beach mission. They sent us the information for a gal named Angelina. We gave her a call and she said, “Can you meet at your church in 1.5 hours?” We said yes and then met with her and her boyfriend Josh.
Angelina is so prepared and could not stop smiling the entire time. Her boy friend Josh, on the other hand, was not into as much. In fact he stated that he wasn’t really interested but would support Angelina. The next day we all met again and this time Josh didn’t come into the room with us for the lesson. He just sat in the hallway instead.
During that lesson we prayed for him to be able to have a softened heart. (Remember that!) We had another lesson with Angelina a couple days later and Josh didn’t even show up. So we didn’t think anything of him ever being interested. Angelina is the sweetest person ever She is so elect and LOVES THE BOOK OF MORMON!! It’s actually wild. Angelina reached out to a member that joined us in a previous lesson and asked, ” How can I get Josh to take these lessons with me and help him come closer to God?”
Our member told Angelina to invite him to join us at church. Angelina follow the council and invited Josh to come with her to church. He said he would think about it. That night, Josh said a prayer. Yes, the same dude who wouldn’t sit in the same room as us. He had prayed for a sign from God that this is something he should do.
He then was watching some YouTube when randomly he saw an ad from ” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints” He said when the ad came up he was filled with the spirit. He took that as a sign that he should meet with us. They showed up to the next lesson and told us his story and, Wow… the spirit was so insanely strong. Elder Tokelau and I were on the verge of tears seeing the light of Christ in them.
We put them both on date for baptism for April 5th and we couldn’t be more excited. They came to church and loved it. Angelina texted us after and said “How can I make a church account so I can start paying my tithing so I can make it to the temple and get married one day?” WE HAVEN’T EVEN TAUGHT HER ABOUT TITHING OR TEMPLES!!!! It was so crazy. At the next lesson Josh shared another miracle. During the closing prayer in Josh said that he felt 2 hands grab him on the shoulders!! It was so insane. We know that God has prepared these precious souls.
Our friend Bill is doing great as well! We have been teaching him and things are going great! He is on date for March 29th!
I have loved my time with Elder Tokelau and we have seen nothing but great miracles from our Heavenly Father. This week I saw some of the most success in my entire mission. The Lord has provided us with the ability to help so many people come closer to the Savior. It’s been such a privilege to be apart of this great work.
On another note, this week I have said good-bye to some of my favorite people that I have met here on my mission. Elder Evans headed out to Tennessee, and man, saying bye was a hard moment. I love and miss this Elda so much haha.
I know that my Savior lives and that he cares so much about these precious souls! I am grateful for the opportunity to share the Gospel to the people of Long Beach and the people of California. I love this work and I love the Savior. Please keep our friends in your prayers. I love you all so much.
Elda Lando
Also, please hit me up if you have a second would love to hear from you!
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