Friends With An Iranian

Hey All,

This week has been crazy and amazing. Just plum full of miracles. We are now meeting again with Michelle and Devyne. They will be getting baptized sometime in the coming weeks. It is only a matter of time with their Uncle working with them. He was a Baptist Minister who converted to Momonism and now preaches to congregations of Baptists about the restoration. Just what we needed.

I had a really interesting experience this week. I met a Pentacostal preacher on the street. I began to discuss gospel principles, prophets an so forth with her. I don't have any idea where the scriptures were coming from, but every time she would bring up a point, I could use a scripture, then testify. It was amazing. She wasn't getting it at all. All of the sudden, I felt the Spirit begin to withdraw. Just like a candle burning out. It just faded and then exingruished. I sat there as she ranted about soemthing, I had no idea what she was talking about, and felt so empty. I just couldn't understand what had happened. It dawned on me that I had done all that I could do. I bore my testimony, offered to visit another time, and excused myself. As we left, I was pondering why the Spirit had left me. I was ging over things I had said right beore, trying to figure out if I had offended the Spirit by saying something stupid. I couldn't figure it out. Then I felt the Spirit come back and I learned a very valuable lesson. I will fight for as long as I feel the Spirit to save a soul. I will not give up, but there is a scripture that talks about how if you don't have the Spirit, you shall not teach. When I feel the Spirit leave, that's my que to shut my mouth. The next day, a similar experience happened. In the middle, I felt it stop me. I turned to Elder Bode, who doesn't usually say much in a discussion on the street and he took over. He confounded this man. Valuable lesson. Teach by the Spirit, but if you don't have it, let the one who does speak. Without the aid of the Spirit, I am a fool.

Yesterday we were getting ready to go out and visit a recent convert and I decided to look outside and see what the weather was like. The clouds to the north were black and I could tell it was going to rain. No big deal, I have been out in the rain before. We checked again before we headed out and the building in North York had disappeared. Pretty soon, we could see a wall of rain moving our way. It was cool to watch. The next thing we knew, the rain was blowing sideways and coming down so hard we could not see the buildings across the parking lot. The roads filled up with water...and trees. It was so funny. Then it stopped and the sun came out and dried up all the rain (and the intsy, wintsy spider...ha ha I'm so funny:) Weather patterns here are strange.

Parker: Sounds like you are getting some playing time. That is sweet. Even got a sack! Way to go. You guys hung with Juan Diego better than we did. Keep up the good work. It will pay off. Remember what you are learning too. It will help you in the mission field.

Lyza: I haven't heard about much going on with you. Are you going to do the plays this year at the high school? You and Alexandra should. It would be fun and get the both of you busy. Stay out of trouble.

Special: (In Gammons last letter to Braiden he said, "I'm not Special. I'm just better than you!") What's up? When do you start your football games? I want to hear about all your adventures. Shoot Cade for me eh? (airsoft) By the way, I am saying eh instead of huh now. Don't you make fun of me when I get home.

Gex: He he he, I know you hate that. So guess what? Chicken butt! Ah, ha, ha, ha, just kidding. I have a friend in Scarbourogh named Elder Langston. He called the other day and was really bored so I read him that stupid joke book and we laughed so hard. Thanks kiddo.

We had a really cool experience with ESL this week as well. We always talk about church with our students. Five came to church yesterday. Son Jin and Kelly adn from Korea and Elder Jung and Elder Payne are working with them. Angela is from China and is Catholic. She came to our ward once and like it so much she said she would have to ask the God if she needed to change3 churches. Tha's fine by me. That's all we ask anyway. The best is my good friend Talebi. He is from Iran, and was an officer in the Iranian Nathional Air Force. He worked on the Tom Cats long ago. He is Islam but doesn't like it. Elder Davis, a farcy elder, and I taught him yesterday. He is getting baptized on September 18. I never thought in a million years I would be friends with an Iranian. I have also made friends with a couple from Russia and they are teaching me some Russian. I can say "hello" in quite a few different languages. I am also learning how to say "feed me". It works too. I am getting fed twice this week. I have also picked up an interest in Spanish and can now have a minor converstion in Spanish. Can't teach, but I can bear testimony, ask for a number, and introduce myself as a missionary in Spanish. Figured I could help the Spanish find some investigators. (When Braiden was set apart a full time missionary by our Stake President he was blessed several times with the gift of tongues. What a wonderful thing in such a diverse place!)

Well, I got to take off and get somethings done. Thank all of you for being such a great support for me. Remember, nomatter what happens, no matter what you suffered through, someone has been through worse. Don't whine and complain, it's just not worth it. I love you all so much. I can feel your prayers. Thanks for everything.

Elder Ashton