Fl Christmas Miracle

Happy New Year!

 

We have now had p-day on Christmas Eve and on New Year's Day!  The stores were all ridiculously overcrowded while we were purchasing our groceries.  P-day this week was changed to Tuesday since transfer meeting is tomorrow. Elder Bishop and I were both very shocked to hear that we're remaining together for another 6 weeks -- neither one of us expected him to remain after being here 6 months.  I suppose that will only leave me with enough time for one more companion in the future.  I've been hinting to President Barry that I want to serve with Elder Craynor or Elder Lang before my time is up.  Lol, we'll see if he listens to the "still small voice" of Elder Howell whispering in his ear.

 

We saw a few miracles this week.  Actually, just about anything that happened was a miracle.  Gainesville has been a ghost town for the past two weeks as the students vacated for Christmas break and a lot of families traveled elsewhere.  We only had 40 people at church this week -- about the size of the smallest branch in the mission. The work has been pretty tough because of that - all of our investigators were gone!  With faith in the Lord, and by His total grace, we were blessed with 7 new investigators last week.  Then just yesterday, we were mercifully allowed to find three more!  10 investigators inbetween p-days!  Wowzer.  I want to mention one in particular.

 

Brent is a man that we came into contact with a little while ago when his fiance, Lorie, moved in with her father who recently joined the church. Brent and Lorie in the past haven't had much at all to do with God or religion and he's got tatoos all over his body as evidences of a life lived in the worldly sense. In the past couple weeks since they moved to Gainesville, he has been very humbled by unemployment and inability to find work to support his family. When he first spoke with us, it was more of a plea for help to see if we knew of any work opportunities. A few days later, we were visiting our recent convert as our last stop of the day, and Brent happened to be there with Lorie. Before Elder Bishop and I left, he motioned to us and pulled us aside into another room. "Elders, I want you to pray for me." As the words came from his mouth, his total humility was very evident. Due to a combined situation of not being able to provide for his family, feeling useless, and the anniversary of his father's death the next day, Brent was feeling very low. Instead of a prayer, we offered a blessing and he readily accepted. In that blessing, Elder Bishop felt prompted to say that if he had faith in Jesus Christ, the Lord would provide him with a job. He had tears streaming from his eyes as the blessing ended and we left to head home for the night. The next morning, at 8am, Brent was woken up by a phone call from a man who was offering him a job. He immediately recognized this as the hand of the Lord and excitedly called us up to say that he wanted to take the discussions and become a member of the church.

 

This is God's work.  He knows his children.  I am so grateful to be allowed to have a part in it. We truly didn't do anything other than witness His mighty hand accomplishing the salvation of souls.  Praise be!

 

Love ya'll!

 

Elder M.