A new way of teaching

Well since Syd went with the cop out (is that a phrase?) and just decided to send pictures this week, I guess someone has to step up and actually write a real message. (Oh Nick, someday his sister is going to smack him for these comments.  He'll never learn. )

I guess the biggest thing that happened so far, happened last week. We got instruction that everyone that we're teaching needs to have a date to be baptized, and if they don't, then we just have to accept the fact that they're not ready at this point in their life, and leave them for other missionaries  to go back at another time. 

 So this week was all about putting dates with people. 

Something that  I want everyone to know, that when we do these things it's not about just having someone extra in the church, or about getting more money or donations in the church. It's not that at all.  But, it's actually about changing someone's life. 

Imagine this.... We walk into your house and we're like hey here's a pamphlet!  Maybe we bring a little boy with us so you let us in. (that's a joke... we don't do that..) 

But then were like "Hey! Wanna be baptized this day?" 

What are you gonna think? 

"Who the heck are you and why are you at my house?... go away." 

I mean, why would you listen to us if you didn't feel like you were missing or needed something in the first place? You wouldn't. 

Sometimes though, we find those people who truly do need us, who are at their breaking point in life, where they're just "done" with everything. They're exhausted, in pain, ready to give up on everything because they can't feel happy anymore. 

You can't feel happy when the only thing you can focus on in life is how many things you've screwed up. 

We met a lady like this this week. 

She has had a problem with basically everything on the list. alcoholism, drugs, an abortion, etc. etc. 

When you look in her eyes, you can see that she's just lost the light she once had. She's at that point of giving up, where she's lost what seems to be all hope. 

One thing.  If any you ever feel like this, know that hope is never lost. We can always start over, new. 

That's what were doing with this lady right now. She has a date to be baptized in May. 

Well, we're going to do everything we can so she can be on this day. Because, in that day when she's baptized, she's going to make a covenant with God. In doing this, I know she'll be clean from all the things she's done wrong in this life. 

And for once, she'll feel clean, free from all that pain and the light that once filled her eyes, will return. 

I promise, this change that we, as missionaries, get to see in the lives of people is the prettiest thing in the world. 

And, I feel like the luckiest person in the world that I get to be a part of it. 

Love you all! 

Elder Arvanitas