A Good Week

Nothing in particular made it so, it just has been a good week. A new convert in the ward wants to take us sightseeing, so we'll keep this short. I was thinking this morning about contacting. I just kept asking myself why did it work? It shouldn't! Even with the spirit. I mean those first crucial seconds, what happens that makes people listen to us?

Then it finally hit me. It's because we love the people, they sense that we love them and they want to know why.

Till next week.

Elder McDonald

A great shout out

I can't think of any stories right now. So I'm just gonna give a great “I'm Doing great” shout; except for one thing, we were able to meet with the W. family. They are really elect people. I love the spirit in their house. We'll see how they progress, but last time we talked about Joseph Smith and they seemed bereit and willing to pray.

Alle liebe Elder McDonald.


Note: Thanks to Google I found the translation for bereit - "ready".
Lee

Solingen is famous

I'm just gonna send some pics with this e-mail.
I bought a knife. Solingen is known for making among the best steel in the world. It's awesome.

Right time and Place

NOTE: I have been very busy preparing for a conference. I have not been able to keep up on entries to the blog for Elder RAM. Here is the first of several entries from the past few weeks.

June 9, 2009

Ok this week is going to be short. The weather's too good to sit here for too long.

Cool story. Yesterday a father of a family we had an appointment with called and cancelled; they're going on vacation. We were kind of bummed, but decided to just do some doors. There was still time left in the day so we started working. We met the most open atheist I have ever encountered in my life. He was really amazing. We talked about God and how we can/can't tell if He's there. We talked a lot about the family; he had a cute little girl who kept on peeking around the door frame. Then we found out his wife was pregnant and was due any day now. So I rambled a little more about the family. He agreed that the family wasn't just by accident and was completely willing to read the Book of Mormon. I was surprised how someone who had absolutely no religious training could be so prepared. Then on the way back home I was rambling a little about how the Bible talks about further revelation, in English, which allowed us to talk to another guy that was at the bus stop about English and what not. He was way nice and interested in us. He didn't seem too interested in religion but felt comfortable around us and even asked if we had activities. We were able to trade information and maybe he'll come to an activity or two. Just goes to show there's a purpose in all things.
Elder McDonald

A Visit to a Moschee

I know it's starting to sound repetitious but we've seen a lot of success this week. But I wanted to talk about one experience in particular. We were coming back at the end of a relatively long day and saw this Muslim guy in a long white robe/dress/thing, I thought, “oh cool” they must have some sort of priesthood. Well this guy saw us and was just way nice, asked us where we came from and what we were doing. He was completely amazed that we came all the way from America to talk about faith. He invited us into a Mosche (german for Mosque) around the corner. Although I've already visited one I thought it'd be a good experience for Elder Gruber, plus this time I'd actually be able to speak to them. So we went into this discussion room with all these Muslims. They were very nice and polite. They were very impressed with our faith. There we were able to talk about all sorts of stuff. For example, the Qur’an, Sin, Christ, prophets, mostly we talked about morality and how we need more people who truly believe and exercise faith in God. Regardless of them being Muslim or Mormon, it was fascinating. I already have a Qur’an and I had already received an answer regarding to whether it was true or not. But that evening I felt as if my eyes were partly opened to the all encompassing power and love of God. Sometimes we, as members of the restored church, get a little too wrapped up with being the only church with the priesthood authority, or modern revelation or whatever, we forget that God is with all people and reaches out to them even if they aren't members of our church. I remember talking about prayer. The Muslims pray five times a day and have a specific ritual that involves kneeling and bowing and washing hands and feet and whatnot. I used to think to myself, how could God communicate with them through all that ritual and routine? It's distracting. I sat there as this young Muslim boy, speaking with the glow of a love for God, told about how he feels peace and warmth when he prays. That was when I learned that God reaches out to all his children even if they don't know the "proper way". Also at that moment I realized how deeply true it will be when we say that the kingdom of God will be populated with many who did not convert during their time in this life.
I just thought I'd share that with you. Sometimes God teaches us in the most unlikely places.