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On Saturday we had a wild day to say the least. We had a lesson with our friend Trinity at the church and did missionary work as usual. We then got a call from the AP's saying to come to Fogo De Chao for both lunch and dinner hours stacked. All I can say is what an experience, we spent quite a bit of money but it is just some incredible mission lore that I have now. Afterward we then blitz'd the AP's for the rest of the day. I was with Elder Verdine and we just had a great night. We had a lesson with one of their friends Arraina who's getting baptized soon. We went over Priesthood and temples and she basically already knew what they were so that was fun. We then ditched the cars from 6-9pm and proselyted on bikes for the rest of the night, it was the most fun I've had proselyting. We biked around and taught some amazing people and ended our night. What a day.
We had another exchange with Southside and I was with Elder Canfield on friday. We had some fun downtown and found some cool people. We then had a lesson with our friends Shaniyah and Erica. We went over the first half of the plan of salvation and the spirit was strong. We then found this cool lady named Leslie who instantly accepted a copy of the book of mormon to read for herself and we set up a time to meet with her this week. After dinner we knocked into this elect lady named Brittany who had talked with missionaries in the past without our knowledge and she wants to meet with us, we got her number and apparently we already had it so that was funny. I just love Elder Canfield.
God is accelerating His work here in the Northside. We received a referral for a woman named Trinity. She has believing blood. She’s been searching for a new church, so we taught the doctrine of Christ’s restored structure with prophets and apostles leading today. We met her Saturday for a church tour before our exchange with the APs, and the Lord prepared everything. Sister Potokar, one of our faithful members, came with us. Trinity brought her 2-year-old, Sway, and Sister Potokar ministered to Sway the entire time. That freed us to focus on Trinity. After teaching about sacrament worship, we took her into the baptistry. The Spirit was strong. She told us baptism is exactly what she’s been seeking. We stepped into the empty font and walked her through a mock baptism showing her precisely how the ordinance is performed. While standing in the font, we extended a baptismal date for June 7th. She accepted and is committed to work toward it. She asked, "Can someone only be baptized once?" We testified that we are commissioned of Jesus Christ Himself, holding His priesthood authority. When the ordinance is performed correctly, by that authority, it need only be done once, and that authority is found only in His restored Church. She came to church Sunday and loved it. Thank God for Trinity. Extending baptismal invitations early and often truly works miracles.
The Lord also blessed us with Emmanuel from Sierra Leone. He too has believing blood. He was contacted by other elders at his job at Subway. We’ve taught him and his Vietnamese roommate, Bou, several times this week. Thursday morning at 9am we had a Zoom lesson that was filled with power. Emmanuel had read all of Alma 32 and came with deep questions about faith and how to nourish it. He testified that his seed is finally growing and he feels joy. We taught the baptismal covenant in Mosiah 18, he loved it. We extended May 31st for baptism. He accepted immediately and is excited. Both Emmanuel and Bou came to church. It was Bou’s first time ever attending any church service. He felt the Spirit and wants to keep learning. He currently has no knowledge of Jesus Christ, so we will teach him line upon line. God bless Emmanuel and Bou.
The field is white. The doctrine is true. We’re moving forward with faith.
Hebrews 11:13 says of Abraham, Sarah, and others: "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." Abraham left Ur with a promise he wouldn’t fully see in his lifetime. He bought a burial plot in Canaan, but never owned the land. Yet he "embraced" the promise because he saw farther than the dirt under his feet. He lived as a stranger to the world’s way of measuring success, and a pilgrim moving toward something God had shown him "afar off." In Abraham 2:11 the Lord tells him, "I will bless thee above measure... and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed." That’s a huge promise for a man with no inheritance and an aging wife. But Abraham "believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness" . The Book of Mormon adds why this matters to us: "For we walk by faith, not by sight", and Alma 32:21 defines faith as "hope for things which are not seen, which are true." Abraham’s life was Alma 32 in motion. He planted, watered, and waited, knowing God would give the increase long after he was gone. Abraham died with only a cave in Machpelah to his name. But 4000 years later, millions claim him as father, the Savior came through his line, and the covenant continues. He was persuaded, he embraced, and he kept walking. So if your promised blessings feel "afar off" right now, a family, healing, peace, answers take Abraham’s posture: look up, be persuaded, embrace it, and keep walking. The city God has prepared has foundations Hebrews 11:10. We’re just not home yet.
With Love,
Elder Batman
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