Members Join In

Family!

The work is beginning to take off here en la tierra de Dayton!  Let me share with you a few examples of how this is happening:

A lot of Central and South American countries grow lots of coffee, so the people love it... a lot.  Because of this, we were a little worried about E------ dad accepting the Word of Wisdom.  We taught it to him this past week after he told us he believes Joseph Smith is a prophet, and it went great!  He accepted to live it!  One step closer!

E---- got the priesthood yesterday!  He'll help out with the sacrament for his first time next week.  We helped him input 40 or so names onto Family Tree so he'll be ready to go to the temple soon!  He came out to teach with us yesterday as well and bore an awesome testimony to a Puerto Rican we're teaching.

Speaking of Puerto Rico, let me tell you an awesome story.  We got a call from the other Dayton Spanish Elders one evening telling us they had a referral for us.  A lady from Puerto Rico had called the Elders and asked them if they could come by and teach her, then show her where the church is.  We were semi-close to where she lived, so we hurried over there as fast as we could!  This is only the second time in my mission I have got a referral where the person wanting to be taught contacted the missionaries!  Well, we talked to her for a few minutes and found out that she is actually a member!  She is here with her granddaughter for a few months, and she wanted to know where the church was so she could come to the branch.  We visited them a different day and found out that the granddaughter isn't a member, but she went to church for a long time when she was younger and knows a lot of the hymns by heart!  Miracle!  We're super excited to teach this family!

We met with a less active this week that I have never met with before.  She is usually "too busy" to meet with us, but we added incentive this time by inviting her to come to a Mexican restaurant with us.  She accepted, and she also brought along her daughter and her sister: both non-members!  The sister is interested in coming to church as well!

We teach a certain less active sister a few times a week.  She lives alone, so we always teach her outside on her porch.  We passed by one day and she decided she didn't want to have the lesson outside, so she went and got her neighbor and invited him to come join in on the lesson.  He accepted, and we went inside and taught him about the Book of Mormon!

This week I wanted to share my testimony about the importance of member missionaries.  I know that what the prophets have told us is true: that "now is the time for members and missionaries to work together, to come together, to labor in the Lord's vineyard, to bring souls unto him."  The Lord is hastening his work, and he is doing it in part through the increased participation of the members.  I know that as we do our part to share the gospel to those around us, the Lord will open the way for us to help many of our brothers and sisters come to know the truth.

I love you all and hope that you have a super amazing week!  Happy birthday Trevor!

Love,

Elder Foote

P.S.  I got E------ package just before I got to the library.  I'll give it to him when I see him tomorrow. Thanks!