Sister Callista Chaffin: Week 33: Lead Me, Guide Me

Saturday: March 23, 2019

Today was amazing! Where do I even start? First of all, we did some updating and things to get caught up this morning! We had some lunch and did some studies! It all started when Christine, a person we are trying to get a large Book of Mormon to, had to reschedule because she couldn't get some where on time! We were pretty bummed out about that. But then we went to an area that needed the gospel and we needed to go there at that time. We went and checked on a few people that asked to come back. We checked on them and they weren't even available at the time.. so we checked on a few more people in that area! There was a guy from Mexico named Emmanuel that said he has met with missionaries before and that he would love for us to come back!! So we got his number, to set up a time and we will be coming back! We kept going and knocked on a random door and a girl, who new some one in our congregation and has been to church, opened the door! She was awesome! She was open to receiving a pamphlet and she started talking about her friend from the congregation! We then went and checked on another guy that our area book said had moved, but someone else lived there! This guy had moved from Nepal! He is awesome! He asked which ward (congregation) we were in! (He really had been to church and met with missionaries before if he knew our lingo! Haha) we got his number. It's amazing that we were able to catch these people, they all were going to be somewhere else soon. So if we had gone at a different time, we wouldn't have met them. If it weren't for Christine rescheduling we wouldn't have been in that area, at that time! God's divine hand is amazing!

After meeting these awesome people, we then went to a neighborhood, just across the busy street. We met about 3 more people who were searching for the gospel and we were able to meet them, now we get to go back and teach them! :) truly amazing! We drove down the street again to another place near by to knock on another person's door! He wasn't too interested at all. So after that, I was being silly and spinning around in circles, so that when sister Minaker said "stop" I would point in the direction I would go... I was spinning and she was trying to be silly and go somewhere so I couldn't find her when I was done spinning.. but, then this guy and his dog start to walk up to us! I was still spinning with my eyes closed, I swear I was almost in the road. Then I heard a car, so I stopped so I wouldn't get hit. Then sister Minaker was near the corner almost talking to this guy... this guy was awesome, we got his number and said to come back tomorrow! If we had not stopped by this random guy who wasn't even interested, and if I hadn't been sitting there spinning, we wouldn't have met this man! Wow! What series of events!!

This wasn't even the end of it!!

We had a dinner scheduled for that night with a member, but the member had a "lot on her plate" (lots of things going on) and really was not able to feed us that night! She was talking to another member on the phone and the other member said that they would like to take us out to dinner! Her name is sister Joseph! So she texted us and asked where we would like to go! We had no idea where we were going to go eat, and so I said what about Mexican, it just so happens that the Joseph's are Hispanic! So the only other Mexican restaurant other than Chipotle in that area was Qdobas, so Qdobas it is!
We get there and ordered some food! It is actually a lot like Chipotle! We got our delicious food, went and sat down and I noticed this man right behind us in a bright red coat, the spirit prompted me to give this man our card or do something! We sat down, had a prayer over the food and started to eat. Sister Minaker had the sun shining in her face from the window, and we were trying to figure out how to make the blinds so as to shade her face, but the blind was broken. The man behind us offered to help. Seeing that it was obviously broken, we started to pick up our stuff to move it to a different table. As I went back to get my water I had said "thank-you" to this man and then asked him what his name was! He said Martin, and I said "Nice to meet you Martin, I'm Sister Chaffin!", and then we exchanged handshakes! We stood there for a minute, he commented, saying "What a firm handshake you have there", and I said "thank you!" Then he asked, "I heard the words Jesus Christ, do you believe Jesus Christ is the Truth, the Light and the Way?!" I said "of course!!" As he is still shaking my hand, awkwardly standing there (Sister Minaker had just told me a story of this creepy guy that one time shook and held her companions hand for way too long... hahah I was dying!! Not okay!!!) He then let go and started to ask more about us!! He perceived that we are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! We started to talk about the Book of Mormon-Another Testament of Jesus Christ! It just so happened that he has a Book of Mormon sitting at home! He has a really strong Faith in Jesus Christ and in the Bible! He was quoting scriptures and stating things he believes, we were totally agreeing and he couldn't believe we believed so much in the Book of Mormon! We helped him by explaining that we completely believe in the Bible and explaining what the Book of Mormon is--another testament of Jesus Christ.

I absolutely love the Book of Mormon and connecting it to the Bible! It makes so much sense! God is truly a God of Order and a God of Love! The Gathering of Israel is absolutely amazing and such a tender mercy of Gods love!

We explained that the Book of Mormon is the promise of the Gathering of Israel! He really thought that was cool. At the end of the time of the conversation and exchanging thoughts, stories, and beliefs, we invite him to read the Book of Mormon, specifically Moroni 10:3-5 and to pray about the Book of Mormon and ask God if it is true! He promised us that he would and that he believed us! I seriously could see him as a bishop, Stake President, mission president, and even a sealer!! There is so much light in him! The Book of Mormon will change his life and put so many missing pieces together!! I am so excited for him!! He doesn't live in our area so we got his phone number!

It was truly amazing to be able to experience this natural missionary experience! To be able to have the members there to experience that! I was shaking the whole time because I felt so strong about helping him understand The Book of Mormon! It was strange, I am never that nervous to talk to someone, but it always can get nerve-racking when the spirit is so strong!!

At the end of that night we went and visited the person who couldn't have us for dinner and told her that it was part of God's plan that we didn't go to her house for dinner! We helped her know how much of God's plan things were! And that this man needed to hear of the restored Gospel at the time and she was a big part of that miracle! She broke down in tears! how amazing and heart touching!

I know that God is aware of each of us and our desire! He has a way of giving us the blessings we need right when we think that everything that we had in our plan goes wrong!!

Sunday: March 24, 2019

Sunday was so beautiful! It was 66 degrees outside and time for the Lord's day! :) So many sweet blessings come on Sunday's! Sacrament meeting was a revelatory experience! It literally was on deepening our conversion, personal revelation, and prayer! haha Would you look at that! The Hymn we sang really rung true to me. Hymn #185 Reverently and Meekly Now "At the throne I intercede; For thee ever do I Plead. I have loved thee as they friend with a love that cannot end. Be obedient, I implore, prayerful, watchful evermore, And be CONSTANT unto me, that thy Savior I may be."

I want to be more constant to my Savior!! :)

A good talk to read is "Faith in Jesus Christ" by Elder Oaks!! It was all through out our Sacrament meeting!!

Tonight we found Davon!! He had been on date for baptism and we were going to take it off date but he was sitting on his front step when we went to go see him debating his life and he had so many questions! It was the most amazing spirit there! I've never testified with the spirit prompting me in such a direct blunt way! Davon is now on date again for April 20th!!

These were the most impactful days this week!! They truly were lead and guided by the spirit!!

God is great, God is real, Jesus Christ is a living resurrected being who felt everything we have and can run to our need as we ask for the help! Jesus Christ and God are not an abstraction.

I love the name "Abba" used in the bible for father! God truly is our Father and Jesus Christ is our brother!

Love you all! Have the best Week! And always choose the right! God will lead and guide you in the right direction to be where you should be to helps others and yourself!

Siempre el amor,

;) Hermana Chaffin