Consider the Situation

Hello Friends and Family!

Wow, I think it has been almost 4 weeks since I have written a group email. I APOLOGIZE! In summary, life is great. I have truly been able to see the hand of the Lord in the Georgia Macon Mission, and have learned so much in the past few months. I know that this is the Lord's only true and living Church, and that Christ stands upholding it at its head.  I have continued to feel the growing joy that radiates from reaching out to God's Children to share the sacred message of the Restoration with all those that we have the privilege to meet. The words of the Prophet Joseph Smith still ring true, when he said, "A man filled with the love of God is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race." I will try to be brief, and share just SOME of the miracles I had the honor to witness in less than a 48 hour time period here in Georgia. 

On exchanges in Hinesville, Georgia, Elder Robb and Elder Egan (from, would you believe

it, FARMINGTON, UTAH!) came rolling into the apartment ready to do some companionship study. As soon as we walked into this half-hallowed apartment, the Spirit changed. Something felt off. I commented to Elder Egan and we decided we should pray (funny, it's like we should always be praying...)  ANYWAYS, the Spirit sent an impression of "DEBRA." Confused, I looked at Elder Egan and said, "Elder, the Spirit said Debra" As soon as I said that Elder Egan's eyes got about as big as Kolob and said, "NO WAY. YOU DID NOT THINK OF THAT NAME. THIS ISN'T EVEN YOUR AREA. THAT'S WHO I JUST THOUGHT OF." I asked who Debra was, and he was silent, then explained how she was someone that they had just stopped teaching because she wasn't keeping commitments. The Spirit in the room, and in our hearts, suddenly changed again. I looked at Elder Egan and said, "We need to pray and ask Heavenly Father why/what we should say when we go over and see her today." We prayed, got some very specific answers, and then the Spirit said, "YOU NEED TO LEAVE NOW."  The Spirit was so urgent, that we decided it would be best to follow it. Hmm, it's like when we follow the Spirit miracles happen. ANYWAYS, we got into the car, and as we were heading over to Debra's, we spotted a woman on the right-hand side of the road. Now, let us stop here and consider the situation.  As representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ do we simply 1) Drive by 2) Honk and Wave 3) Pull over and offer a card or 4) Invite her to read and pray about the Book of Mormon and be baptized? The answer is 4. The Spirit was prompted, "You need to talk with that woman NOW."  So, we followed the prompting, turned the car around, and pulled over. We got out of the car, and she stared at us kind of weird (maybe how the skeptical Jews stared at Paul?). We explained our Divine calling by a Prophet of God as messengers and pro claimers of the Lord's ONLY True Church, and asked why the Lord had sent us to her. There was a Silence (like there usually is when you find the elect) then this nice woman said, "I just moved from Ghana. I feel lost and am praying for peace." You can probably fill in the gaps about what we said from there. The Spirit was strong, as we might imagine, and we got back in the car and headed towards Debra's. We got to Debra's home, knocked, and there was no one home. Now, let us stop here, again, and consider the situation. As representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ do we 1) leave and go home 2) give up and wonder why God sent you there or 3) pray and ask Father where we should now go. The answer is 3. As we prayed on this woman's driveway, the Spirit was like, "GO TO THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET." Without saying a word to each other, we both walked across the street. We rang the doorbell, no answer. Hmmm, consider the situation. Look at the options. What should we do? The Spirit was very distinct and directed us to, "Knock Again." We knocked again. Silence. The Spirit was even stronger, but louder, "KNOCK HARDER ELDER ROBB." I banged on that door about 10 times in a row, hard, and waited. The door opened. Enter new character: Danielle. She starred at us, and came out on the porch. She introduced herself, and we introduced ourselves. We started, "Ma'am, we don't know why God told us to knock your door. We felt so strongly about this, that's why we knocked so hard. We were trying to visit your neighbor Debra, but she wasn't home. But we know that we're here for you. Have you been praying for something that you don't really feel like you've found an answer to lately?" With tears forming in this woman's eyes, she said, "I am only 18. I lost my mom over 4 years ago and just need comfort. Do you know where she is?" As we bore testimony of the Restored knowledge of the Plan of Salvation, and as she saw the beauty of the Book of Mormon, she remarked, "I'll do whatever it takes to be with my mom again." Truly, this is the Lord's Work, not our own.

As we continued to walk through this neighborhood (the Spirit was like, "DON'T LEAVE.") we saw an elderly man sitting on his porch. Because we talk with everyone (Preach My Gospel reference) we approached him and he said, "Oh my word, are y'all the Mormons?" We smiled super big and said yes. He said, "I was baptized into the Mormon church almost 40 years ago. I went a for two years, but haven't ever been back." We had such a good conversation with him and invited him to come back.  It is almost like Father leads us to His lost sheep?  NOT a coincidence!

As we were driving out of the neighborhood (intending to go back to do companionship study) we saw another man sitting on the side of the road. Again, consider the situation. As servants of God, what do we do? We pulled over, got out, and approached him. Very quickly he yelled at us, and said, "THIS HOUSE IS A MUSLIM HOUSE." He walked angrily away into the home through a side door. Now, the Spirit whispered to both of us, "Knock the front door." We continued walking up the driveway of this man's house, walked to the front door, and knocked.  You heard some yelling on the inside of the house (hopefully we didn't ruin a marriage) and an elderly woman opened the door. She beamed from EAR TO EAR. She

walked outside, with yelling still coming from the inside of the home, and said, "I have been waiting for y'all!!!!" Shocked, we stared back at her and asked what she meant. She continued, "My daughter was meeting with some of y'all on the other side of town, and I tried to get one of your books so many times! Every time I went over the missionaries had just left." As we visited more with this sweet elderly lady, she really opened up to us about how she wants to know WHO God is and WHY He is there. Why does He Love us? We committed her to dedicate as much time as she can to reading the Book of Mormon, and to find out for herself if this is the Lord's Kingdom on the Earth. She was beyond excited, and expressed great gratitude for coming to her door. As we were walking away she said, calling out, "God sent you here! Heaven only knows we need this!” Even when Spiritual Promptings seem awkward to follow, I know that as we follow them swiftly and exactly that it really does bring miracles. As the true book says, 

"And because he hath done this [the Atonement], my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men." Even though these were just a few of the countless miracles we saw that day, I did just want to share one more.

The next day, on another exchange, I was in the tiny town of Douglas, Georgia. That day I was with the fantastic Elder Whitworth. We were doing planning, and I felt the same spiritual prompting to pray about who we needed to see that day (like what had happened the previous day).  As we were praying the name Charlie kept coming to my mind. I told Elder Whitworth, and after looking through some records we found a Charlie that was taught quite some time ago living just a few minutes away. We jumped in the car, prayed again for confirmation, and we felt peace about it.  When we showed up, Charlie wasn't home.  Now, let me stop here, again, and consider the situation. As representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ do we 1) turn back or 2) press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men? As far as I know, the only individual that ever turned back was Lot's Wife. And, frankly, I wasn't in the mood for doubting my God today. We never turn back, and never look back. ANYWAY, we considered the situation and continued down the street.  As we walked, and approached a large group of people (the best to give a little summer "sermon" to) a car pulled off to the side of the road. The window rolled down and a woman said, "Y'ALL ARE AWESOME.  KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK." Knowing the elect usually come to us (instead of vise versa) we approached her vehicle and shook her hand. She was a super sweet lady, and we thanked her for being so nice to us. She said, "Before y'all say anything else, I want you to know that I'LL NEVER BE MORMON, EVER." I smiled, and said, "Oh ma'am, the Spirit will change that! I have no doubt." There was a dwindling silence, and then we asked, "Has everything been okay?" For the next twenty minutes she just poured out her heart to us.  She explained about how she was going through so many changes in her life, and needed direction and REVELATION (que President Nelson) in her life. We bore testimony, and then said, "Ma'am we know that the Book of Mormon-" She interrupted and said, "Maybe if you give me that book [pointing to the Book of Mormon] I'll read it!" We got her to promise, and then read through Moroni's Promise with her.  As she stared at the black and white pages in her vehicle for a moment, she sighed and asked, "So when can y'all come over and talk more about this with me?" The Spirit was strong and the words of a hymn came to mind, "...He Lives to Guide Me with His Eyes...". I knew in that moment, just as I know now, that Heavenly Father guides us with His Eyes, and not our own (if we allow it). 

As we continued throughout the day, the name Charlie just stayed on our minds.  I was a

little rattled to how nothing had come from that name (YET). We had a very strong spiritual impression to go visit a member who had been sick for almost a year. As we were visiting with he and his wife, one of their children walked into the room and said, "Dad, there's a man out front for you." The member we were visiting with said, "Oh, that must be my friend Charlie, I forgot he was coming today!"  WHAT!!  We quickly stood up and walked outside to meet Charlie who we had been thinking about all day. As we talked with him, he was so interested and said, "I just lost my wife and my job. I don't go to Church and I was just thinking about how I needed to join one!" The Spirit was incredible. 

I want to bear my testimony that this is the work of the Lord. This is His Restored Kingdom. I echo the words of the Prophet Brigham Young, "There never has been a day for ages and ages, not since the true church was destroyed after the days of the Apostles, that required the faith and the energy of godly men and godly women, and the skill, wisdom and power of the Almighty to be with them, so much as this people require it at the present time. There never was that necessity; there never has been a time on the face of the earth, from the time that the church went to destruction, and the Priesthood was taken from the earth, that the powers of darkness and the powers of earth and hell were so embittered, and enraged, and incensed against God and Godliness on the earth, as they are at the present."

I love you each so much.

Until Next Week-

Elder Rob

Today, a sweet friend from our ward, Kaylee Lucas, stopped by
the mission home to drop off donuts for Carson!  She missed
him by 30 minutes, but received pictures later from wonderful missionaries!
Tender mercies come in all kinds of surprises!