So
we had a pretty hard week. It was rough. No lessons, no potentials, no new
investigators. We were working harder than ever and nothing was happening. Then
on Friday an investigator dropped us. She said she felt like it wasn't her time
for the gospel. We tried explaining that the gospel would help her learn to
better solve her problems but she didn't really listen. It was sad but we got
over pretty quickly by going straight back to work. Then on Saturday, we had a
lesson with our golden investigator. She was running pretty late but we didn't
worry and we passed the time by doing some GQ'ing (asking people Golden
Questions). When she arrived 20 minutes later she looked rather depressed. She
told us that while on vacation, she spoke with her mother about the church. Her
mother was dead set against her joining and apparently her friends were being
very discouraging also. It was probably one of the most painful experiences on
my mission. We were so attached to her. She was getting answers to prayers,
saying that she felt the Holy Ghost, and that she wanted to get baptized. To go
from being one of the best investigators on my mission to being very
stand-off-ish was so hard. It felt like all of our efforts had been for
nothing. Then Heavenly Father showed us His merciful hand the next day.
While
at church I was fasting and praying for the Spirit to be with me once more. To
be rid of these negative thoughts and feelings. (I think that if I had to deal
with these trials a year ago I would not have succeeded... I have grown a lot)
Then while in sacrament meeting, our phone buzzed. I normally don't check the
phone in a meeting but felt like I had to. It was a text from a former
investigator who had about a month ago, just disappeared. He never answered the
phone and we couldn't get a hold of him. It was a text saying that he wanted to
meet with us in the City (the mission has a teaching office in the Brisbane
CBD, it's really useful). So we went, not expecting much. He was a little late
but showed up with the brightest smile on his face. We walked to the office
building where the teaching room is and caught up along the way. We opened up
with a powerful prayer. As we discussed what had been previously taught by
missionaries (I had never taught him) he said that he prayed and that he knew
that the Book of Mormon was true, and that he wants to be baptized. Zain will
be baptized on the 30th of January! He was so excited. We are meeting with him
on Wednesday. Then we had another lesson following his. So after we closed up,
we went back to the streets to GQ some more.
Our
investigator was late but she eventually made it. As we opened up with some
questions, she expressed the concern that she though all churches were good,
but also had some terrible evil to come along with the organization. She was
very worried that our church would be the same. We did our best to follow the
spirit to resolve the concern. It went pretty well. She is from Columbia. We
felt prompted to watch a portion of "Meet the Mormons" with her.
Since she speaks Spanish we thought it would be good to watch the story about
"The Fighter". She loved it. She said she really wants to join the
church but still wants to study things out more. Unfortunately she returns to
Columbia in March, but she looked up the closest church to her city. She was
astonished (as were we) to see 9 chapels within walking distance of her home!!!
Another miracle from the Lord.
I
apologize the past months for not writing very much. I have been dealing with a
lot. I have been put in hard situations, have had to overcome some things from
my past, and have had to commit to a lot of things that made life on my mission
a bit overwhelming. I am doing incredibly well now. I am happy, clean from my
past sins, I have lost weight and am a lot healthier, my knowledge of the
gospel and the infinite Atonement have increased greatly, but most importantly,
my spiritual growth and relationship with my Father, Savior, and Comforter have
increased 1000 fold. I am a new me. I have abandoned my past traditions. I have
grown so much. When I return home in 2 months time, you will not recognize me.
Get ready to meet a new and changed, Elder Bullock. I love you! I love my
Savior Jesus Christ. I KNOW HE LIVES! I know that Father in Heaven loves us and
wants to help us, we just need to turn to Him. I can testify of the reality of
the Atonement. I love repentance! I am grateful for Joseph Smith. I know he was
a prophet of God and that he translated the Book of Mormon, the most true and
correct book on this earth. I know that Thomas Spencer Monson is a true and
living prophet on the earth. Once again I love you. In the sacred, blessed name
of my Eldest Brother, Savior, and Redeemer, even Jesus the living Christ, amen.
P.S.
We were helping set up for a conference meeting at the chapel this morning and
got to meet the Managing Director for the Temple Department of the church. He
was checking out the Brisbane temple then heading to Suva Fiji to prepare for
an open house/re-dedication. He talked to Elder Bodeeletkasaem about the
Bangkok Thailand temple and gave us some inside info... haha. Kind of. He said
that it would not be ready upon his return home but it won't be to soon after
that.
