This week has
been a bit rougher, but it's all good. The hotter weather has made a
couple people slightly more edgy, and the rain "storms" have sent most
of the Koreans... all the Koreans... running, but we have been able to
meet the people we were supposed to meet. We met one man who met
missionaries more than 20 years ago in a basketball game. He didn't
convert then, but he's willing to meet again. We met a devout atheist
who really just wanted to push our buttons and see what would happen. It
was fun to see him be completely caught off guard by Elder Pons's
response that he could find his answer through prayer. He was making
claims about scriptures and revelation, but all the anti-theological
books he read didn't prepare him for a suggestion to pray. We didn't get
to get his number, but we left him feeling a lot better than when we
met him.
It was fun to see that every single "question"
(arguing point) could be answered by the plan of salvation. Every
"logical" argument he had could be refuted with a sliver of doctrine. We
didn't argue. We barely even discussed. We simply heard him out and
told him we got our answer through prayer, and he could, too. He was
knocked off-balance. So often as members of the church we don't realize
what we have. Just like that story of the Ph.D. in Germany you sent a
while ago said, we have the answers to questions people have had since
before history began. That is an incredible thought.
Not only that, it was fun to see that, though every
argument he had could've been refuted through logic alone, it was the
simple testimony that we have an answer, and that he too can obtain one
that really made him think. Never forget the power of an invitation to
act. We could've just said "we know," but that wouldn't have helped him.
It was sharing the idea that he can do something besides rely on his
fears, the words of others, or even logic that made him feel there is
something more. I hope to hear from him someday, but it's all on him to
take that invitation and act.
We had a music night as a finding/ward-building (branch-building) activity. It went well, and quite a few
people came. The missionaries did a lot, but the members were grateful,
and love getting to do things here and there. If the ward back home
were to try something like that, I'd be all for it. It's a great time.
It really all comes down to people inviting their friends, though.
Missionaries are great and all, but it is the members that make things
happen. ... Excluding miracle people who speak a different language than
the ward... less of a problem in Utah. On that note, Zack is still
doing super well and is working on finding a wife. We can't really do
anything for him there...
Things continue to be great out here. Thank you for
all your support. I am always happy to hear from you and to hear about
what you are learning. We should be learning something new every moment,
but, if that seems too hard, every day is okay, too. :) I love you all
and am blessed to have you in my life. Thank you.
Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ.
Best wishes,
Elder Jones
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