September 30th 2009

What a great week! Of course it's a great week! I'm a missionary! But this one was really wonderful! So last Wednesday we had an awesome lesson with Eric Morris, the less active Marine. The sisters and I felt that it went pretty good, but just didn't know how well he was receiving it all. He had it in his mind that he "knew all the basics already" but yet he didn't know the gospel was true yet... So obviously there was something basic missing! So we scheduled for another time to meet him. But the I get a call from him the next day, Thursday! OH MAN!! The phone call! Are you ready for this???
I answer the phone
ME" Hello, this is Sister Orawiec
Eric: Hey, you're just the person I wanted to talk to!
ME: Good, what's up?
Eric: IT's real!
ME: What? What's real?
Eric: Everything, it's all real!!
ME: UMM... ok, what are you talking about? Do you want to give me a littl more detail?
Eric: Everything that you've been teaching me! It's all true. I was reading the scriptures last night and the words just started floating off the pages and it all just made sense! IT's really real! DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M TELLING YOU?!
ME: ( I was at a loss for words. This hard core marine who always has something to argue about, all the sudden knows that this gospel is true)
ME: That's so great!! How do you feel??
ERIC: I feel great. I'm not confused. I finally feel that there's a purpose for me
ME: YAY!!! I'm sorry I'm kinda at a loss for words right now. You caught me a little off guard.
ERIC: I have a hard time believe that YOU are at a loss for words Sparky
ME: I'll just go ahead and take that as a compliment!
ERIC: Ok, in all seriousness... (long pause) Thank you so much! Thank you so much for putting up with me, being persistant and bold, and making me do things I didn't want to do.
ME: HA, anytime!
ERIC: I talked to the bishop last night and he wants me to start preparing myself to go to the temple in January... And I want you to help me! If I don't feel like doing something, you gotta keep doing what you're doing and make me do it! Will you help me prepare to go?
ME: Are you commiting me?
ERIC: Yes, I am. You do it to me all the time. So will you do that?
ME: HECK YEAH I WILL!!! I'd love that job!!

Anyways, that's the jist of the story. Of course it was a longer more detailed conversation, but that's about it. HE KNOWS ITS TRUE!!! AHH!! It totally made my day! And not only that, he ASKED me to bug him and keep pushing him! Usually I have to persuade people LOL And not only that, he's doing his missionary work already. So many of his friends have seen the difference in him and asked him what was up. He told them all about his experiences with the missionaries and commited them to read the Book of Mormon, to pray about it, and to meet with the missionaries! So he calls all the areas that his friends live in and sent the missionaries out there!! AND, that's not all!! He bore his testimony in church on fast sunday!!! AHH!!! Talk about miracles! And not only that, he wants us to go to the temple with him in January when he receives his endowments! We'd have to try and get that approved by the mission president, but how sweet is that? MIRACLES!!!
Yesterday kinda sucked... We had to tell Casandra Deck and her parents that she couldn't be baptized. They were not happy. They did all kinds of yelling at me. My companions just sat there and left me to break the bad news by myself LOL BUt I think I handled it really well. They just weren't happy. BUt I was calm, bore testimony and then they kicked us out. They weren't showing the commitment to come to church and what not. Took things the wrong way and that was that. Long story. But now we have no baptism on Saturday. BUt I'm still SUPER STOKED about general conference. The relief society broadcast was really good! I LOVE President Eyring!
WE've done a lot of service for a less active in the ward, Sister Tweedy. Met many of her friends and they all want to come to church with us on Sunday and many more after that. I felt like Ammon, serve and win the hearts of those around you! TOTALLY WORKS!
Transfer calls are next Tuesday. It'll be interesting to see what happens. I hope S Kim and I stay. I LOVE THAT GIRL! We have so much fun together
I LOVE YOU ALL
The GOSPEL is true!!