July 17, 2017
Dear Family and Friends,
The Full story of Deborah and Me-now.
Summary for the Lazies: Deborah owns three massive Pitbulls, who
attack everyone who walks on their property, unless, you drive up in
their truck. One time her son got attacked by the dogs because he
didn't come in the truck. 2 years ago, the missionaries came straight up
to their front door and the dogs came up and licked their hands. The
second time(2 years later), we didn't know where to study and just sat next to their
house, on their property, and Deborah saw us and yelled at us because
her dogs should have attacked us. God definitely saved us from some
gnarly scars and helped share the gospel to a family who now is set for
baptism.
The Long version:
Deborah has a son named Floyd
Side Note: His mom, Deborah always calls him "apostasie", because he is annoying LOL
Two years ago, Floyd
was up at their garden house and he saw these Sister Missionaries walk
straight past the gate and up to his house. The sisters were oblivious
to the fact that there were 3 massive attack dogs on the property, which
came bounding up and starting licking their hands. This actually
scared Floyd because his dogs are evil and they have even attacked him
before. But somehow these sisters were just fine being there. When
they share their message, he decides to start taking the lessons. It
gets to the point where he decides to get married and baptized, but last
minute doesn't follow through.
Fast forward to 10
weeks ago, Soeur Durrant and I didn't know where to study so we walked up
into the jungle area of our sector and sat down on this road next to a
house. We studied "Talking to Everyone" in Preach My Gospel. Low and behold a lady
walks up and starts chewing us out for being on her property. She tells
us that she has these massive dogs who always attack people and she is
surprised that nobody had told us about the dogs on our way over here,
because everyone knows and stays away. Sr. Durrant and I just kind of
have our dumb apologetic faces on, and Sr Durrant felt guilty if
she walks away from this lady without trying to share the gospel so she
tries, and we barely even up set up another time to talk about church
stuff. The first lesson, and the ones following with Deborah was
awesome, and we started the lessons with her daughter.
Then,
for the story of Me-Now.
Deborah feared for us American girls doing lessons with her tough
Tahitian husband, so we brought our Ward Mission Leader, and granted he
did talk for the whole 2 hour lessons about crazy theories he has. But
the next lesson, he humbly listened to our message, and two nights ago
bore a powerful testimony of Joseph Smith. This burly Tahitian man who
found Christ in prison, who never wanted to say an unmemorized prayer,
who didn't want to hear anything outside of the bible, humbled himself
and is preparing for his baptism in August and the priesthood to baptize
Deborah.
We talked to Deborah this week and she said
she still can't believe that her dogs didn't attack us when we were
being dumb missionaries studying on her property. But she did know
that she has a friend, who is Mormon. And during that time, she had
prayed to find a way to go to the Mormon church. Well and there we were
the next day... her answer just squatting on her property. The
lessons started, standing next to her truck, where she wasn't sure if
what we were sharing with her was true. And now she welcomes us into
her home, with everything all set up for the lessons, she feeds often
when we come (Tahitian love is through food), and one night we left with
sweaters her husband bought in Hong Kong. It isn't anything we really
ate or took home that matters, but it is so clear how this woman and her
family have changed, and how they receive the Lord's message.
And yes, we started teaching Floyd again haha. Or "apostasie"
Soon-
So our adorable, military, RLDS ami. Soon hasn't told her LDS return
missionary boyfriend that she decided to get baptized, but.... he
proposed
anyways. It is so clear, in this sector how the Lord answers
prayers. A while ago, Soon took the lessons with the missionaries for
several months and
followed through with all the invitations, but never wanted to change.
When she had a cousin die because of drinking, and became aquainted with
this RM guy, she decided she really wanted to know what God wanted for
her. So what did she do? She remembered the last engagement the
missionaries gave her, pulled out le Livre de Mormon and read Moroni 10.
and prayed with real desire. Everything else that has happened after
that: including a proposal, her parents accepting her decision to join
the church, and her texting us to schedule her baptism all by herself,
are thanks to her broken heart and real intent. Because she doesn't
pray and leave it at that. She prays, she listens, and then she acts.
And we get to watch and help (not much though), this person come unto
our Savior. I love it.
We also had personal prayers answered this week as some ward problems have lessened.
I
am so thankful that God lets us be apart of his work, and that he
doesn't fix everyone's problems alone. Seeing these people change, and
trying to be worthy of his spirit, changes me also. As we ask people to
repent and change, I realize how important it is that I am doing that
too. This gospel is in the process of healing the world.
Love you champs! Haere i mua!
Sr Spencer
Here are some pictures from Sr Durrant's camera
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| The juice that the Faaroo fish chills in, in the sun for a couple days. I think I see Nemo in there? |
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| shoppin' at the market |
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