A New Companion

Hello Friends and Family!

This week has been another awesome week here in LaGrange!  My new companion, Elder

Sieverts, is awesome!  He is super spiritual, and is able to just love anyone we meet.  This week has been crazy busy (which is always a good thing), and full of countless miracles seen and unseen.  I thought, as usual, that I would share a few of these neat experiences with you, and then give just a brief spiritual thought for the week.

The week started with a really promising lesson with a man named Robert. We had knocked into this man a few weeks beforehand, and he offered to have us over for a lesson. When we sat down, it became very apparent very fast, however, that this man had very hard feelings towards the Church and the doctrines.  As he started listing all of the possible points of how the ‘Church couldn’t be the truth’, Elder Sieverts cut in.  In his very quiet and humble voice, “Sir, we thank you for letting us into your home.  We want you to know that we know this Church is true, and the Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God. You can know too, if you read the evidence, which is the Book of Mormon.” I will never forget the strong spirit that filled the room as he said this.  It was silent for quite some time, and then Robert said, “So you actually believe that this book (pointing to the Book of Mormon) is true?”  Elder Sieverts, without a second thought responded, “No. I don’t believe it’s true, I KNOW it is.” The Spirit just touched me so much, and I knew that the Spirit had spoken through Elder Sieverts to touch this individual, and to allow him the opportunity to feel of the Spirit of our message as well.  Although we won’t ever see Robert again, I will not forget the lesson I learned from Elder Sieverts that day: the power of a simple testimony when in the face of opposition.

Another really neat experience this week happened while Elder Sieverts and I were contacting in Hogansville on Friday.  An appointment we had set up had fallen through, and so we decided to say a prayer about where we should be. I felt strongly to go to an area Elder Sorensen and I had partially contacted a few weeks prior, and so we went there. As we were walking down the road, we came to the last house (as always, the best miracles happen at the last house) Elder Sieverts and I knocked on this door, and an elderly woman named Jackie answered.  We introduced ourselves as representatives of Jesus Christ, and she said, “Well this sounds important! Come in and tell me more.” As we explained the Restoration to her, she got out a pen and paper, and carefully took notes of all of our scripture references, and the information regarding the Restoration of the Gospel. This, I have to mention, is the first time anyone has taken notes while I’ve given them the first discussion!  At the end of the lesson, she nodded her head, and said, “This all makes sense. How much is one of dem’ books?” We laughed, gave her the copy, and she said, “Well, I read about five hours a day, so I reckon this one won’t take me long at all!” She was so funny, and so open towards it, and she explained, “I know that God speaks to me when I ask him questions I need to know the answer too. I have no doubt He will answer my prayers about this book too.”  I just thought that was such a neat, and fun, experience, and the Spirit there really testified to me of how important it is that we have a sincere heart, and a real desire, while we read the Book of Mormon.

Elder Sorensen and I ran into an individual on my very first week in LaGrange, and he told us to call him ‘at the beginning of November’.  So, this past week, we gave him a call. His name is Matt, and when he answered, he said, “Oh I totally remember you guys!  The Mormons right?”  We laughed, and set up a visit with him. When we stopped by his home, he let us in, and we gave him the basic Restoration lesson. At the end, he said, “Wow, I actually really liked that. I used to be Baptist, but there was just no structure to it. There was no doctrine. It just turned into a social club, and I felt that isn’t what Church was for. I wanted to know the truth.” He said he was ‘very open’ to keep meeting with us, and said that he couldn’t wait to be able to read and pray about the Book of Mormon.  I knew that this was a miracle, to have someone from months ago, still be open towards us, and accept our message. I felt the Spirit so strong in that lesson, and I know that this Gospel is especially made for individuals who need to find the complete truth in their lives, and when they want to come to a deeper knowledge of who their Heavenly Father is.

This past week I’ve been reading in 3 Nephi. One of my favorite scriptures is found in chapter 9, verse 21, “Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin.” Being on my mission, my favorite part has been seeing individuals beginning to apply, and administer, the Atonement of Christ in their own lives.  Being able to see someone who understands the Atonement, seeks after it, and seeks to repent of their wrong doings, is one of the most remarkable things in missionary work. I have gained a stronger testimony on the ability of God to forgive us of our sins, and trespasses, and to allow us to someday enter in His presence. Through the Spirit, I’ve been able to more fully appreciate the power of the family unit, and how it truly is the central to the Creator’s Plan for His children.

I love you all, and thank you for your continued support and prayers. I truly love Georgia, I love the people, and I love being a missionary for the true and living Church on the Earth today.

Until Next Week-

Elder Robb