Week 99--There are no coincidences!

Hi, everyone!

Here are some things happening and some progress with people we are seeing lately. 

Taylor and Desiree - Read the Book of Mormon a little bit with them, explained its purpose, and talked with those who also were there.

Trinity and Donovan - Restoration. Invites to church and mutual, are becoming more well received. Sister Derenthal is ensuring Trinity can make it to mutual.

Mary - She had trouble in the past accepting some of the doctrines of the Plan of Salvation we taught her, but on Saturday we were eating with her, and she brought up a question about a loved one who died young, who didn't accept God, and in tears she asked us if we though he had a chance. We again taught her the principles of the Plan of Salvation, and with this context she understood and applied its teachings. The spirit was there, and a door was opened.

Cozbys - Trying to help them make church a priority, and to teach them. 

Sonesons - While teaching Trinity and Donovan, we are also teaching with them there, and they are opening up, and we are extending invitations to them. Mainly to attend church. Sister Soneson and Trinity and Donovan came to church on Sunday, I was so happy to see them there.

Tasha - She is sitting in on some lessons with Taylor and Desiree, and she is wanting to have us to family home evenings with them.

Ed - came to church the last two weeks, and we've been for the last few weeks reading the scriptures with his family.

Jay - We've been talking a lot with him as a recent convert, about missionary work/fellowship (had Taylor/Desiree over for dinner and scripture study)

Becky - As a recent convert she is helping fellowship Investigator Sarah, and preparing for the temple.

The four most recent converts who were baptized are going to the temple on Saturday to do baptisms, I'm so glad to see them go there, it's a great experience.

Also found a combination cereal of Lucky Charms and Frosted Flakes and thought I would show that to you. Not sure if it's being sold in the great white north, but it is here.

Pretty crazy story:

So First part of the story, we were with Jeremy and Misty and their kids (They're all investigators) and Misty brought up the fact that she found her biological siblings finally. She mentioned that her sister-in-law is a member of our church. Then about a week later we are meeting with them again, and Jeremy says that this sister-in-law brought in her daughter who was previously staying with her adoptive parents and that some missionaries like us helped them out. He said their names are Taylor and Desiree. We were thinking that sounded so familiar.

Second part of the story, we were driving and we got a phone call from a random number. Daniel, the investigator who bore testimony last Fast Sunday at church referred a couple to us who needed some help. We told them we could give them help spiritually as missionaries, but not monetary help, but that perhaps someone at church could give them advice or help them set goals. We met with them, gave them a Book of Mormon and invited them to read and pray. We set a return appointment for Tuesday, right after our appointment with Jeremy and Misty.

So to resume, we're with Jeremy and Misty, and we realized that the girl of the couple we met, is the daughter of Misty's Sister-in-law, so not only is there a weird connection to our investigator family, but this girl's mom is a member of the church as well! So we called up our relief society president to tell her all about it, and that same day Bishop had gone to bring things to them, and had found out the same thing, so she already knew, which was neat, but then she filled us in on even more information. It was great. 

The best part is we're going to have to pass these investigators to the sisters that are over that area of Joplin.  haha, but anyways, it was a really neat experience, as Elder Bednar says, "There are no coincidences." I agree, and that is my testimony to you. When things seem to just work together and fall into place, it likely is God's will and his plan for you.

Love to you all!

Elder Rodgers