As some of you know we have been teaching a man named
George Reay. He is a less active who enjoys our visits, but is having a hard
time coming back to church. Which is completely understandable. Get this - he
has not been to church since he was 12 years old!! (He is almost 60 now). Now
keep that in mind as I continue writing. I love Brother Reay and he says when I
am off my mission he wants to come visit AZ and meet my family. God provided an
incredible instant connection between him and me. I love that man. Anyway, this
leads into one of our investigators. Don't worry, I will make it all connect
soon.
We are teaching a man named Robin. He is in a wheel
chair and has some physical incapacities, but is fully there mentally. We were
walking one day and I saw him sitting in his wheelchair smoking. I told Sister
Okano that I felt we needed to talk to him. So we crossed the street and
introduced ourselves. He was very loving and welcomed us to come back sometime.
Well, he was the one last week that said he felt like he was in Heaven. This
week when we taught him, more incredible things happened. We taught him the
restoration, the story of Joseph Smith and The Savior's church. When I finished
reciting the first vision to him, he was staring in my eyes and I asked him
"Robin, how do you feel abut that experience?" He replied in a very quiet voice
and said "Sister Biggs, it just makes sense". Oh how that warmed my heart. The
message of the restoration DOES make sense! After a couple more precious
moments, I invited this wonderful man to be baptized. After the invitation, he
looked up with tears in his eyes and said "Most definitely. I want that." Then I
asked him how it would feel to become a member of Christ's church and be
cleansed from all his previous sins. He said "Sister Biggs, I would be
speechless with joy. This is where God has led me." I could not contain my
emotions. We talked a bit more about him being baptized toward the end of May.
He could not express his excitement. We then talked about him coming to church.
He said he wanted nothing more! We taught him on Saturday and he said he would
like to be there the next day. Well, he is in an electric scooter and we don't
have anybody in our ward with a lift in their car. So as excited as we were for
his desire to come to church,. I was nervous about how we were going to get him
there. Then I remembered Nephi's promise in 1 Nephi 3:7. The Lord will NEVER
give us a commandment that we cannot keep. I knew this applied to Robin. But I
also was reminded of the Brother of Jared, and how HE was the one who came up
with the idea of lighting the stones. HE had to find a way for the light to come
into the barges. I knew we had some work to do. So, with only 3 hours left in
the night, we cleared out our night and put forth all of our effort in finding a
way to get Robin to church. If we could get him a wheel chair, it would be much
easier. But the home that he lives in would not be able to provide him with one
until next week. Long story short, we spent HOURS calling everybody to see if
they had a trailer, or some way we could transport this heavy electric scooter.
We had no luck for about 2 and a half hours. We called Brother Reay and asked if
he had any trailer. He said no, but he had some ramps for his quads that
somebody could use to get his scooter into the back of a truck. He said he did
not want to come to church, but somebody could borrow the ramps. Well, we were
at a loss because nobody had a truck. We prayed harder than we have ever prayed
before. Finally, 15 minutes before we have to go in for the night, Brother Reay
calls us back. He said "Hey, I was thinking. I don't want this man to miss
church. So I will bring my ramp and he can put it in my truck, and I will just
come to church." Now, you cannot fathom the emotions that were going on in our
minds. There was silence on our end of the phone, as our eyes filled with tears.
We did not know what to say. After assuring him that we were still on the phone,
we thanked him and made arrangements for the next morning. I know this may seem
long and drawn out, and I apologize for that. But I am struggling to put this
experience into words. Brother Reay has not been to church in over 40 years.
Robin has never been to church. And suddenly the Lord soften Brother Reay's
heart enuogh to be able to provide a way for both of them to go.
Well, Sunday morning came, and sure enough there was
Brother Reay dressed up so handsome walking next to Robin in his chair. I felt a
small glimpse of Heaven as I watched them enter into the church. During
Sacrament meeting Robin leaned over to me and whispered "I was just thinking
about the way that we met. And you know what, you were sent by God." Among this
and other things he told me, I felt the Spirit so strongly that meeting. I asked
him after how he enjoyed it, and all he said was "I felt like I have finally
found home". Brothers and Sisters, I wish I could express the joy to you that
was felt while experiencing this day with Robin and Brother Reay. My cup surely
runneth over, to say the least. Brother Reay expressed his joy. And although he
felt very overwhelmed, it was evident that he felt the Spirit and he had a
desire to return as well.
About a month or two ago, I met a less-active member who
had not been to church in a couple of year at a member's home. It was only for a
moment, but I felt something strong toward him. I wanted to find him. The member
did not know where he was living at the moment. Well, on Saturday as we were
walking around, we saw him sitting outside of what I assumed to be his home. My
heart leaped for joy as I hurriede over to him. After talking for a bit, I asked
him if he would like to come to church tomorrow. He smiled and said absolutely!
It made me think. Some of these less-active members are just waiting to be
invited. They want to come to church, but they do not know how or are afraid of
being welcomed. They need OUR efforts to invite them
back!!
Brothers and Sisters, this work is about finding the
one. Whether they be less active, nonmember, or any one of God's incredible
children, God wants us to find the one. As we have spent weeks with Brother
Reay, I sincerely thought it would be months before I saw him go to church. But
the Lord had something different in mind. I am so grateful to be able to humble
myself enough to submit myself to his will. How much greater my joy is when I do
this.
I hope that each of you understand my testimony of this
Gospel. It is true. Joseph Smith saw what he said he saw. He could not have made
up the Book of Mormon in 90 days. But most importantly, this work COULD NOT
progress as it is if it was not true. God would not allow it. Especially with it
being in the hands mostly of 18-25 year old young men and women. This Gospel is
true.
This week's challenge is for each of you to pray DAILY
to find out whether the Book of Mormon is true or not. This goes for those who
already have a testimony of it. We need a daily reassurance of its truthfulness
if we are going to survive in this world. I pray each morning before my personal
study for God to tell me if the Book of Mormon is true. And daily I get an
answer from Him, that it IS. I challenge each of you to do the same. I promise
you, God will answer you. Just as He has answered 15 million other people in the
world. This church is true!
I love you all, and I am grateful for the support I have
from you. My heart aches knowing that some of you do not have this glorious
Gospel of Jesus Christ in your life, as I know how much it will bless your life.
It aches even more for those of you who have found the truth and then fallen
away. I apologize if I am being direct, but I cannot express how much joy comes
into ones life for accepting and living these Gospel principles. Seek after the
one, and love them. I love each of you and I will write again next
week!
Love,
Sister Biggs
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