Miracles!!

Friends and Family!

I wish that I could share all of the absolute miracles that we saw this week but that email would take a week to write! I will stick to the most incredible experiences for time sake, but know that the Lord is so merciful to his people and wants everyone to recieve the Gospel. I have never seen that more than I have this week!

The first miracle came from a referral that Elder Wright and I recieved Wednesday. We called him up (his name is Victor) and the first thing he said is that he's Catholic and not really interested--he just downloaded our Bible app and clicked on the "order a free bible" ad to get it to go away. After a little conversation though, he agreed to meet with us and we set up an appointment for the next day. 

Well the next day rolls around and we start our lesson with Victor and he immediately starts off with how he feels like God isn't hearing his prayers and that his life is a real wreck right now. As he just kept talking and talking about all of his problems I just kept feeling more and more bold in how to address this man until finally we just said, "you know, Victor, sometimes the Lord humbles us so that we're willing to accept him". He thought about that for a minute and then said, "You know what? The day that I downloaded that Bible app is the day that all of this started to happen... Can I come to your Church this Sunday?"

Yea...we didn't really know what to say other than YES!!!

The next miracle comes from this woman, Joy, who is the saltiest person I have ever met. We met her on the bus and SHE asked US for some of our pamphlets. So we gave her some and set up a time to meet with her. When we got to her house two days later she was super excited and we were able to give her a baptismal date on the spot! She was super sassy, but it was so much fun to teach her and to sass her right back. Man, I have gotten really bold out here on the mission field!

The last miracle I want to share is with this guy, Mike. We were just minding our own business in the McDonald's bathroom when this guy Mike walks in and starts talking to Elder Wright. He kind of stares him down for a minute and then asks, "so what are you selling?" Well Elder Wright explains that we're missionaries and starts talking to him a little bit and then we leave the bathroom, sit down at a booth in McDonalds and teach Mike about the Plan of Salvation. We even left with a prayer and set up another time to meet with him. Just goes to show that there are people everywhere to talk to and to teach.

Well, I'd better close this email, but I just want you to know that I know that this work is true. Elder Wright and I even promised eachother that if either of us went less-active, we'd punch eachother in the face. Pretty harsh, but sometimes, we just seem to forget the same Father in Heaven who has provided this life as a wonderful opportunity to learn of Him and to learn to be LIKE Him. Please don't ever sell out your eternal destiny for a few years of fun and excitement. This mission has been the hardest experience of my life and it seems like I just keep losing thing left and right. But looking back, I have grown so much and changed in so many ways. I love this Gospel and I love what the Lord has done for me. If you ever feel weak in your testimony, you can lean on me for a while because I KNOW THAT THIS IS TRUE!

I love you all and I pray for you often. One of my favorite quotes from my last companion Elder Hale is, "Whether you can or can't, you're right." I love Romans 8:31--"What shall we then say to these things? If God be with us, who can be against us?"

There is nothing we can't do with God, so never turn your back on Him, because he never turns his back on us.

Good luck this week!

Elder Arkoudas