Dear
Family,
So
things are still going good, we had a good week. So first, you asked about Elder
R. We still get along well. He’s
extremely easy going, always smiling. He’s a good listener and is humble. He learns
something new every companionship study and I’m learning a lot in the process.
He’s a good kid. But anyways, it’s been an interesting week.
So
Monday night we tracted into this home of a women with a young family, and at first had no interest in what we were saying (as
she was very set in her other Christian views but finally accepted a visit on
the terms that I would share only from the Bible.) We talked on the porch for
almost an hour before that happened and then her husband got off work and we
came in and talked an hour more. It's fun learning from others views of the Bible,
and different passages. She has it strong in her head we don’t believe Christ
to be a deity and that we are good people severely misled by Satan’s hand and
the publishings of man. They are very faithful Christians, really good people,
really active in their church with great children and very strong testimonies
of Jesus Christ. They are well studied. It kind of felt like a member’s home.
But so we talked / taught a lot about her questions, especially relating to our
belief in the atonement... that we know we can become something through Christ,
vs. her belief we are nothing no matter what, saved by grace and faith (which
she interpreted to be belief), and no works. It was really cool and I learned a
lot in the teaching process. She really felt we came by for a reason and that
was for her to teach one of us and she noted Elder R's smile and quiet
sincerity, really felt this was for him, focused in on him, bearing her
testimony, telling him not to care what I (Elder Pyron or the church thinks)
but to keep it just between him and God. He was affected by her testimony and
his eyes watered and he didn't say anything. He wasn't about to be swayed by her teachings but he sure looked like he would
have accepted an invitation from baptism by her. But they accepted a return
appointment for Thursday, and they had all their materials ready to disprove us
further, (none focused on Joseph Smith or anything, all just her apparent
"Biblical responses to what we teach"). It was amazing, I learned a
lot of new things through the Spirit, I knew I was so prepared spiritually, so
many of the verses she brought up, I had happened to study the day before or
so, and had a scripture based response to all of her concerns. It was really
cool. We talked a lot about heaven and hell, Luke 16, and priesthood authority,
and again, works being essential to faith, how the atonement frees us from the
bands of death, making us free to do good, His way etc. They
didn't accept a return appointment but still very loving and nice, and their
views of our religion I believe were truly changed.
Wednesday
we got a referral for someone that the Spanish missionaries had tracted into.
He had served as a ward mission
leader, high councilor etc, ordained 70 (when that happened oft) until he had
his records removed 7 years ago. 8 years ago his wife had major concerns with
polygamy and wanted to leave the church and stopped going and though he had no
concerns, he wanted to bring her back, so he studied and prayed much in order
to do so, and after a year decided he no longer believed it to be true. We met
with him for a long while though he doesn't care to change. He’s a very
spiritual man, (he doesn't look like one, he looks like an ordinary handyman).
He has a belief in God, and Christ, but not Joseph Smith or the church. But
every morning when he prays he thanks God for the LDS Church
We had
J at church again and he liked it again. We got to talk to his dad
Tuesday... when he was growing up his dad rented a room to missionaries and so
they heard all the lessons, really loved them as people, and the things they
taught, but not to be true. So he’s way supportive of J studying and all,
but not interested himself. He’s a great coach and mentor to J, has
done a lot for him. But they’re moving real soon for
the better high school. So this is J's 8th grade year, his first
running track. He just had his first meet, 8 schools, he got first in all 4
events. 2:17 half mile, 17 on long jump, 58 second 400, and in the 4x4 he ran
last, got the baton in 3rd place and won. And the mile is his best event
but for some reason his name was scratched off that event. He runs like a
4:50, hasn't timed in a while. When I was in 6th and 8th grade I never
saw anyone break 5. Not to mention first year running. But anyways…
So we
also taught S again, this time at the grandmother’s. She seemed
much more comfortable, asked a lot of good questions, and really likes
it. She says it all sounds true and feels good. She dropped out of
high school, but by her questions and all you can tell
she’s pretty smart, and wants to really understand. When talking about
the Spirit world, she had lots of questions about baptisms and work for the
dead came up, and it was really special for her, and she’s excited to be
baptized so she can do work for some friends she’s had pass. R loved it to
and had good questions as well. He clearly was/is a very talented good
kid.… he’s very nice and
personable, and you can tell he really is a smart guy. I really hope things
work out for them; they've got so many problems, but so much potential.
And I
guess the last big thing would be this guy S. We tracted into him, he’s
a less active member. The house had like 50 huge Samoan guys all tatted
and with weird braids, and one of them (S) came out and talked to us
outside for a bit. He was extremely nice, and wanted to meet up
again. So Saturday he came and met us at a park with his kids, and we
talked for an hour or so, it was great. He’s 25, grew up LDS and active,
mostly in San Francisco
But I’m
running out of time, hope to hear from you all some more, love you all!
Love,
Elder Pyron
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