Well, here's the news: It was transfers and someone was in line to get transferred: Elder L went to Shelton, and I got Elder R, who just spent the first two transfers of his mission in Shelton.
He is from West Jordan Utah, sings bass, and has a sweet testimony. I'm way excited to work with him this transfer and we've already seen the miracles coming in.
We went tracting after our transfer meeting yesterday and Edwin, a 14 year old kid, got permission from his mom and let us come in so we could watch Finding Faith in Christ with him. He loved it and we started talking about baptism, and he committed to be baptized on the 2nd of October. We'll need to work with his Mom to get permission, but we're way excited to work with him. And I'll add that it was the very first door that answered to us in this transfer.
Afterwards we went back out to work and we found another kid (18-19ish), JJ, who wanted to come down to the church so we took him down then and there to the church. He isn't on date, but we're not going to give up on him.
Last week on Thursday we finally saw Mari, and we had a way powerful lesson with her and she committed to be baptized on the 25th. She came to church (stake conference) and we had a broadcast from Salt Lake that was legit. She has some issues with a couple things she didn't like and wants to wait on baptism, but she's still way open and as long as we follow the Spirit we'll be fine.
She doesn't like the idea of tithing, though that's just because she doesn't understand it very well so we can take care of that. President Packer also talked about a story from when he was in the military, and Mari was anti-war even before she joined the Jehova's Witnesses; she told us that she believes that it's wrong to kill kill people and even though we obey the laws of the land, when they conflict with God's laws, His laws take precedence. So admittedly, it's a legitimate concern and we're not entirely sure how to help her. Obviously she just needs to gain a witness of the Bood of Mormon. We're thinking of sharing the story of Captain Moroni with her too, but we'll see.
Mari still says that she feels a fire, a joy whenever we're over and teaching her, and says she knows we're full of the Holy Ghost, so it'll be a matter of time before she gets baptized. She just wants to wait until she's more sure.
I'm way excited to serve in Spanaway! It's hard work, but we have faith that baptisms will come, and more importantly our brothers and sisters coming unto God by accepting that first ordinance.
I hope you all are well, y ¡siempre recuerden que les amo! Sean fieles, y para siempre Dios esté con Uds.
Con cariño,
Greg
