¡Hola! from Oklahoma: Jelly Beans

Knocking doors is about as interesting as eating jelly beans, you never know what's behind the next door. It could be a fellow with a lot to say about politics or a mom who is very involved in her church or a guy that only wears a t-shirt, I mean the 'America the Beautiful' tank top, with his mini soccer shorts exposing his mozzarella white legs when it is 20 F or below. But sometimes you find something incredible. We had some time before the next appointment and after determining that knocking doors was the only useful and effective option, we began. Knock knock. No answer. Knock knock. No answer. Knock knock. An older woman came to the door and greeted us with a friendly smile. After I asked her if she was religious, she said 'I'm Mormon'. We talked and she invited us back. Later on in the week we stopped by again. We asked her feelings about the church and she began to cry. She said she never has forgotten her baptism and the feelings she had there and she said she wanted to come back. Pretty incredible that our arbitrary door knocking in some small town of Missouri yielded a woman totally prepared to return to the fold.

P continues to progress. In fact, he just texted us and he said he was enjoying some authentic Greek food in Joplin. His wife's birthday was this weekend and the Spirit was willing but the wallet was weak and so they went to Joplin instead of an island of the Caribbean for their dream getaway vacation. And even thought they were on their vacation they went to church out there. He's reading and praying and with their sights on getting sealed they continue to repent.

R and her boys are progressing as well. Overcoming smoking was something we invited her to do last week. About an hour ago she texted us and she said she was done smoking. She is trying to talk with her husband about baptism as well and things are looking up. I believe the whole family could be baptized sooner than we think.

S was telling the other young men and young women about his baptism at church yesterday and we are very excited for it too. He has accepted it quickly and asked his friend, a recent convert named Z, to baptize him. I hope the youth see the impact they have on their friends and continue inviting them to church.

It's a great blessing to be a witness to the Lord's tender mercies for His children. I recently got an email from an Elder in Tulsa saying that a lady in the Spanish branch that has been taught forever is going to be baptized really soon. Miracles aren't just happening in a little remote area of Missouri, they are happening everywhere. We can all be a part of the Lord's work if we are willing to do it. If we ask what we can do for this work the Lord will let us know.

Thank you for your help and support and prayers! I love talking with my family yesterday it was great! Happy Mother's Day everybody!

Adios,

Elder Thomas