Dear Family,
I have decided. I'm not leaving Bangna. I'm sorry but I can't. It's just too perfect. Sister Embley has to stay too because she too is perfect. I am ridiculous joyful right now. Yesterday Brother Nat and Brother Joe got baptized. They too are perfect - or at least as close to it as possible seeing how they just washed away their sins. They were soooo elect. It's just - it's astounding. It is sooooo humbling to be a part of God's work and to be a part of the miracles. Sister Embley and I have a work policy and it is as follows: get out of God's way. Translation: work as hard as we can, be exactly obedient, and expect miracles (faith) so that God truly can make miracles happen. Let me tell you about the perfection that is Brother Nat and Brother Joe, starting with Brother Nat.
Brother Nat is a designer and engineer - he works with car or car parts or something like that. He is in his early 20s and met with us because he wanted to know the history of Christ. He got a lot more than that. :) The sisters before us were the ones that first contacted him but we were the ones that first taught him - our first Saturday here in Bangna. During that lesson he accepted a date but he said he couldn't ever come to church because of work so he kinda just disappeared. Honestly I can't remember what happened back then but...anyway. So two Wednesdays ago (21st) we are going through records and I see his number and decide to give him a call. Why? No idea. I just did. The Spirit, man. He's great.
So anyway, I call Nat and see if he wants to learn again and guess what, he's free that night. We teach him (gospel, word of wisdom, law of chastity, and Sabbath day holy), he's great, accepts a date for the 1st of June (not sure how much he understood what he agreed to :)), and - the icing on the cake - is free on Sunday to come to church. We also invite him to come to Sports Night on Saturday. He does. We teach him beforehand (restoration and follow the prophet) - he's doing good and still good for getting baptized in two Sundays but he says that he doesn't feel anything when he reads or prays. He has a great time at sports and all the members love him. He comes to church the next day - 30 minutes early. Monday we teach him the Plan of Salvation and the 10 commandments. He's great..but still not getting any answer. We commit him to keep the commandments which means can you please stop wearing your buddhist idol necklace. Tuesday. His Japanese class is canceled so he comes to our English class. Guess what he wasn't wearing. I think this made me the happiest person ever because prior to this, I wasn't sure how sincere he was. He's fantastic!
AND! So we had him say the closing prayer at English class and at the next lesson, he told us that he felt "good" when he was praying because he was thanking God for stuff. Yes feeling the Spirit! I told you, he's perfect. That night we taught him Tithing and Fasting. Wednesday he interviews and passes. Friday we read in the scriptures with him. Sunday he comes AN HOUR early - "I just woke up early and had nothing to do so I came to church early" - and gets baptized. Sunday night (last night) he texts us with a question he has from his scriptures reading - he reads a chapter (or more) every day. Like I said, he's perfect. He is sooo keen and has amazing understanding. At church, he acts like he's been a member for a while - he just picked it up so quickly. And he's not afraid to ask questions - he wants to understand. And his questions are soooo good too. He really took the whole Alma 32 experiment-on-the-word approach to gaining faith.
Brother Joe's timeline was much the same but his experience was different. He is also in his young 20s. We met him on Wednesday (the 21st) and taught him on Thursday. We asked him why he wanted to meet with us - "I want to change religions." Oh, good. "Ask the missionaries. They can help you" right? He also comes to Sports night but we don't get a chance to teach him. And members love him too. It's great. Comes to church Sunday and we teach him. Agrees to everything. No concerns. Teach him the rest on Wednesday. Review with him on Thursday. Friday, interviews and passes. Sunday baptized. No problems or concerns. Easy. In. Out. Done. He has just childlike faith - completely trusts God even though he doesn't understand everything yet.
How did these two miracles happen? Don't ask Sister Embley or me - we have no idea. I really think it's the whole "get out of God's way" thing.
K. So we have to go. I LOVE YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!!!!! =D I will send pictures...eventually...oops :)
~Sister Slaugh
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