We just had our semiannual general conference of our church and were reminded that everyone has trials, no matter who you are or what good you are doing. Eric wrote in his letter that his mission president just found out he has a tumor in his spine and that he will be coming to Utah for at least 3 weeks to have it operated on and to recover. They are having a special fast on Wednesday and ask that everyone keep them in their prayers. Eric is struggling a little bit, although he didn’t say it in his letter but mentioned it to Kent who was online when he wrote his e-mail. I expect the president’s absence will be hard on him.
Dear family and friends,
This week was a great week! We had a lot of meetings, so we didn't have as many lessons this week, but it was really good. We had a specialized training on Friday. President Hale wasn't there because he was in a conference call with the General Authorities of the church. Conference was amazing, but it was super hard to get people to come. The problem is that we had many Haitians who weren't responsible and we called to check and see if they were coming, and they said that something came up. Haitians don't plan ahead or do anything like that super well. It is really annoying. But we did get three investigators at church: Daphney Jean, Peterson who is Laudia and Morelson's younger brother who is going to get baptized sometime soon, and Stephanie Orange. All three of them are Haitian. I have two pictures of Peterson (left), Stephanie, Laudia, and Morelson (right). I don't know how much they got out of conference, but the fact that they were there was good.
Peterson, who was having a lot of problems getting in trouble, has only gotten in trouble once the whole week! We are so happy with him. He told us to ask his mom if he had caused trouble, and she said he had been a good boy for several days. The Saturday night that we had shared the lesson of his divine worth before God has changed everything. We told him that he wasn't a mistake in God's eyes and that he was the way he was supposed to be. For the first time, he feels like he isn't worthless, which is what he thought for a long time. The love of God changed everything. Something that we heard in a zone counsel once is that sin is the evidence of unmet spiritual needs on the part of the sinner. Many people are willing to change, but they are just lost. If shown the way out, they will repent and take it. That is what happened with Peterson. This week he told his mom that he had been a good boy for a week and he felt he was ready to be baptized. She said that she wanted to wait to make sure that the change would stay. We are confident that Peterson will be baptized before the end of this month. We have taught him everything he needs to know, and he has come to church consistently. As soon as his mom gives him permission, we can baptize him the Sunday following that.
We also met an awesome woman named Wilma. When she heard about how Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, she told us how happy that made her feel, and she told us that she wanted to do what Joseph did and pray about if what we said was true. We didn't have to ask her to pray. She just told us she would. We were amazed about that.
Stephanie's Mom refused to let her come to Mutual on Wednesday. We were super upset about that. She said that she would only let Stephanie go to the church if she was there with her. We talked to her for 15 minutes using every tactic of persuasion that we could think of and she refused still. But then later on, we took Sister Cook with us to a lesson and Laudia who is good friends with Stephanie. Sister Cook is Haitian so she could talk to Eludes. Eludes at first was reluctant to let Stephanie go to church without her, but Sister Cook eventually persuaded Eludes to let her come to the last session of General Conference. We were all so surprised. Eludes is one of the most stubborn Haitian women I have ever met. But Sister Cook was able to convince her. That is the power that women have that not even the Elder's have. Plus on Sunday, Eludes thought about not allowing Stephanie to go to conference a half an hour before Sister Cook was supposed to pick her up because her Grandpa was coming and they needed to clean, but Sister Cook was able to persuade her again. I think we found Eludes' weak spot. Elder Chandler and I would have been so mad if Stephanie wasn't allowed to go, because Eludes uses the excuse of cleaning every single day. She is always cleaning. Stephanie had a pretty good time at the church. Plus Sister Cook talked to Eludes and she said that she would think about letting Stephanie go to mutual on Wednesday. She will let her know Tuesday night.
We have several new investigators who are very promising: Andre (who is the brother of a recent convert), Wilma, Daphney, and Marti al (who is Daphney's brother. He is a 14 year-old boy who just came out of Haiti). We just need to help them progress to baptism.
We also had some very surprising news yesterday. President Hale set up a conference call after General Conference and he told us that he has a tumor in his lower back around the lower part of his spine. He has had a loss of sensation in his feet for a few months and he has been consulting medical experts all over the country. He chose very carefully. He needs to go into a fourteen hour surgery to get the tumor out. They are not sure if it is cancerous or benign yet. We are praying that it is benign. He is going to be away from the mission for at least three weeks, if not more depending on what condition he is in after the surgery. For now President Lake of the mission presidency is taking over, along with the Assistants to the President. President was in a conference call with the General Authorities for several days and they said that they have prayed specifically for this mission and that God has great things in mind for our specific area. President Hale had a blessing in which he was told that this problem would be an immediate blessing for the mission. He also was told that Satan wanted to destroy the work of God in south Florida, but that he wouldn't succeed because it was not God's will.
President Hale has a very positive outlook on everything and he says that he is at peace with everything. The mission is having a special fast Wednesday afternoon and anyone who would like can also participate in this special fast.
I have to go! I love you all a lot! Bye!
Just keep on praying for me, especially that every companionship will be able to baptize 2 people in April. It is what President Hale has asked of us and we must obey. I don't know exactly what will happen. We will just need to trust in God. Especially pray that Eludes' heart will be softened and that Sister Cook can have success in reaching out to her and Stephanie. Pray for Peterson that he will continue to be a good boy and that his mom will acknowledge his good progress.
Thank you!
Bye!
Love,
Elder Seamons
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