Hey
everyone! I hope you're all doing well!
Another
week here in Ivano. Another chance to work hard, and to find
those miracles that the Lord is preparing. Another great
week on the way!
As you
probably know already, our mission has gone under the policy of
tracting not being effective and therefore a discontinued practice
over all in our area. We do not knock doors here, as it has
been found to have a more negative impact on peoples' impressions of
the Church than positive in our area. That being said, that
requires us to be better at stopping and talking to people on the
streets, using our area books, and working with our members.
The real miracle of our area right now is that the members are very
excited to get things rolling here in Ivano. Our area hasn't
had a baptism yet this year. The last baptism in
Ivano-Frankivsk... well, he's gone inactive because of having to work
every single day to make ends meet. I'll talk a little more
about him in a bit. Basically, everyone here understands that
the work is suffering. NOBODY is ready to quit though.
With a new,
excited branch president, we're about to see a lot of great things
getting in motion here.
We had to
be at the church at 9:00am on sunday to talk with him. He
talked to us about all of our investigators, expressed his concern
for the lack of progressing investigators that we have, and offered
the help of the branch. It was awesome. I already am
loving President Bantsov.
Our
investigator, Serhiy (The big bus driver with the steel cross around
his neck), is finally making some progress. We watched the 20
minute Joseph Smith clip with him, and the spirit was so powerful in
the room. He was touched by the film. He has a problem
right now with mistrusting the idea that there can even be one true
church, which is a common problem here. He has accepted
more full-heartedly to read the Book of Mormon and pray about Joseph
Smith. Keep him in your prayers. It can be difficult for
us to find someone as willing as him to listen to us, and to learn
about the Gospel.
We
finally met with Brother Norchenko! He was the member who was
last baptized, about a year ago. He has got a rough deal going
for him... and essentially is looking for work and taking odd jobs
just to make ends meet. This requires him to be constantly
working... which means he never comes to church. I've
met with him only once before this because of how much he works.
This is my 3rd transfer in this area! He's a busy guy.
Keep him
and his daughters in your prayers as well!
Overall,
we've just been working very hard to try and find new investigators
(like always). You can't find enough people who are interested
in the Gospel! There will never be enough time in the day for
finding! Gotta help people find Christ!
The Bantsov
family has nick-named me "Elder Carey" after Jim
Carey. I don't see it still.
My
companion has opened my eyes to how many times I actually get sworn
at each day. I find that hilarious.
"HELLO
:D! May I talk to you for a second, sir?"
"!@#$!
I'm in a !@# hurry !@#! #!"
"Okay,
well, you have a nice day then! :)"
Elder
Rubliuk - "Did you understand that?"
"Nope."
"Good."
Don't fear
them, or their looks people. We've got a work to do. Set
your face like a flint, and mercifully destroy them with
kindness :)
I love you
all!
Have a
great week, and share your testimony with someone this week!
They could
use it, I'm sure!
Elder
LeBaron
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