We have some of the best
investigators here in Damariscotta!
One couple, Joe and
Livia, run a "lobstah" stand in town and they give us little bits of
lobstah sometimes when we go there to see them. They treat it like some people
treat candy. I've had more lobstah from them in the last two weeks than I've
had the rest of my mission. This is the Joe that we street-contacted two weeks
ago. We picked them up as investigators this week, shared a message about the
Plan of Salvation, and then had a church tour on Saturday night and shared the
message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them. The church
tour went smoothly, and they brought a friend with them who, in Livia's words,
"needs God in his life." At the end of the Restoration lesson we
invited each of them to be baptized and Livia said, "Well, I have to read
the Book first!" This was a huge jump for her because when we asked them
about the role of religion in their life, Livia kept saying, "Joe needs to
be baptized," and we were inviting her to be baptized too. She was
Catholic in Brazil, and didn't know she needed to be re-baptized. Now the only
problem is getting them to church. They work seven days a week! Joe goes
lobstering every day except Sunday and the stand is open every day, so they
would have to get someone to work the stand for them. It just seems like a lot
to ask for, one of their busiest days out of the week. But this is also a great
opportunity for them to follow Jesus Christ by keeping the commandments to the
fullest. I am so excited to teach them!
I don't know how common
this knowledge is, but the missionaries (worldwide, I think) have access to a
program designed to help people stop smoking. I've read the program and it
helps eliminate the urge to smoke. I have not gotten to help anyone do the
program yet, BUT FINALLY I'm going to get to help someone stop smoking this Sunday!
A lady named Chrissy committed to stop smoking starting this Sunday, August 3rd
with her husband, when we teach them the Stop Smoking workshop. She has been
taught by the missionaries for a while and her husband has been coming back to
church (he's a member) and two of her kids have been baptized.
We don't have any
investigators with a baptismal date yet. Ellen is coming close. She's been to
church many times over the last few years, but she still does not have a
testimony of Joseph Smith as a prophet. She has a testimony of prayer and of
Jesus Christ and of some commandments, but I think the main problem is that she
hasn't prayed about it. It's important to know all the truth, not just a part.
This week has been busy,
tiring, fun, spiritual. I hope you're all doing well!
Elder Richins
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