Hiya!
What a blast of news that email just was! I'm glad to hear you were
able to chat with Jeffrey (Moss), and Richard (Cunningham) as they now shall be known.
Also, I will mull over the idea of coming home for Dallin's farewell,
I'm sure President Preston will talk to me about it more when I see
him this week.
We have been blessed this week with another progressing investigator,
Roxie from Portugal. She was street contacted and taught on the spot
in no other place than my former home of Swinton, by the Elders that
replaced Elder Palmer and I. We went and saw her at the beginning of
the week, and had a great first lesson helping her to understand the
Restoration. We then saw her again on Saturday and went over how the
Bible and Book of Mormon go together, and how they testify of each
other. It brought a great spirit of unity into the lesson, and into
her understanding of the Restoration. She then also mentioned how she
went onto to mormon.org and came across "baptisms for the dead" and read
up on it. It was very prevalent to her with losing her grandpa a
couple of years ago. She said that she was sad at the time knowing he
had not been baptised. We were able to teach more about it and share
how it is part of the Restoration. Near the end part of the lesson we
again extended the invitation to be baptised, she accepted and said
that "It feels right, it must be God telling me." The next day she
came to church and enjoyed all three hours. The Preston YSA was a
great help at introducing themselves and helping her feel welcome.
Roxie now has a date for the 17th of March, and we will be seeing her
three times this week.
We are still seeing Ben and he is still coming along. This week we
had two lessons with him, both being on the Plan of Salvation. He was
able to understand it remarkably well, but not in the sense of just
knowing the steps, but understanding the base principles such as the
need for a Saviour and how the Atonement reverses the affects of the
Fall. He was able to identify how it all fits together. He is just a
very bright man with an unfortunate situation. But the great thing is
that he doesn't let his illness define him and does not allow it to
be an excuse. That is what has allowed him to achieve so much. For
example, after the lesson he was sharing with me what he learned about
Biology the other day and he had me going in circles. It is amazing
to see what a man can continue to do in his life despite all of the
odds going against him. That has to be one of the greatest strengths
someone can posses: an indomitable will combined with an awareness of
what he can do, and not just seeing what he can't do.
We have already become great friends and he continues to do very well.
His illness is the only thing that is holding him back at the moment.
In this last lesson he reassured us that he wanted to be baptised,
and he understands what it all entails. He is now adjusting his
sleeping pattern to be in line with church next week.
Everything else this week has been finding time and Elder Nielson's
driving lessons in Chorley. Let's just say I’m the one to serve with
when your going for your license...
Upcoming this week is an impromptu Zone Leader Council, and Elder
Nielson and I are headed just about to the border of England to
Workington for a 2 day exchange with the Elders up there.
What a blast of news that email just was! I'm glad to hear you were
able to chat with Jeffrey (Moss), and Richard (Cunningham) as they now shall be known.
Also, I will mull over the idea of coming home for Dallin's farewell,
I'm sure President Preston will talk to me about it more when I see
him this week.
We have been blessed this week with another progressing investigator,
Roxie from Portugal. She was street contacted and taught on the spot
in no other place than my former home of Swinton, by the Elders that
replaced Elder Palmer and I. We went and saw her at the beginning of
the week, and had a great first lesson helping her to understand the
Restoration. We then saw her again on Saturday and went over how the
Bible and Book of Mormon go together, and how they testify of each
other. It brought a great spirit of unity into the lesson, and into
her understanding of the Restoration. She then also mentioned how she
went onto to mormon.org and came across "baptisms for the dead" and read
up on it. It was very prevalent to her with losing her grandpa a
couple of years ago. She said that she was sad at the time knowing he
had not been baptised. We were able to teach more about it and share
how it is part of the Restoration. Near the end part of the lesson we
again extended the invitation to be baptised, she accepted and said
that "It feels right, it must be God telling me." The next day she
came to church and enjoyed all three hours. The Preston YSA was a
great help at introducing themselves and helping her feel welcome.
Roxie now has a date for the 17th of March, and we will be seeing her
three times this week.
We are still seeing Ben and he is still coming along. This week we
had two lessons with him, both being on the Plan of Salvation. He was
able to understand it remarkably well, but not in the sense of just
knowing the steps, but understanding the base principles such as the
need for a Saviour and how the Atonement reverses the affects of the
Fall. He was able to identify how it all fits together. He is just a
very bright man with an unfortunate situation. But the great thing is
that he doesn't let his illness define him and does not allow it to
be an excuse. That is what has allowed him to achieve so much. For
example, after the lesson he was sharing with me what he learned about
Biology the other day and he had me going in circles. It is amazing
to see what a man can continue to do in his life despite all of the
odds going against him. That has to be one of the greatest strengths
someone can posses: an indomitable will combined with an awareness of
what he can do, and not just seeing what he can't do.
We have already become great friends and he continues to do very well.
His illness is the only thing that is holding him back at the moment.
In this last lesson he reassured us that he wanted to be baptised,
and he understands what it all entails. He is now adjusting his
sleeping pattern to be in line with church next week.
Everything else this week has been finding time and Elder Nielson's
driving lessons in Chorley. Let's just say I’m the one to serve with
when your going for your license...
Upcoming this week is an impromptu Zone Leader Council, and Elder
Nielson and I are headed just about to the border of England to
Workington for a 2 day exchange with the Elders up there.
Scripture of the week: Acts 5:38-42
38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone:
for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found
even to fight against God.
40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and
beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of
Jesus, and let them go.
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that
they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to
teach and preach Jesus Christ.
I wish I could expound upon the entire chapter, but time does not
allow. I love the attitude of the early apostles and their pure
desire to "speak to everyone." That is the culture of the England
Manchester Mission and even though at times we may get rejected or
belittled by people on the street, we know we are going about the work
of God. For men "cannot overthrow it", and it will go forward. With
that testimony in my heart I am glad that I am "counted worthy to
suffer shame for [Christ's] name" at times. For I will "cease not to
teach and preach Jesus Christ" at all times and in all places, for
that is what I am called to do.
Have a great week!
Elder Eliason
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