So we had a really, really old washing mashine in our
apartment. We did everything we could to make it work, but when you start
having to bail the water out and rinse your clothes off in the shower, that's
when you have to draw the effectiveness line. It was a good washing machine
while it lasted though.
Elder Tam, who is STILL the housing Elder, came in one day
with the new washing machine. It was this sleek new looking one that made
the entire apartment excited. Elder Powell was the first one to put a load in.
What we didn't realize was that this washing machines preset
spin speed was on the highest one. We were just about to go to bed when the
spin cycle started. We all started tensing up as the washing machine got louder
and louder, quickly coming to a level that was similar to that of a crashing
helicopter. We all layed there in fear hoping that it would finish before it
exploded and killed Elders Walker and Chen. It slowed down and we thought we
were safe, but it ended up going through two spin cycles and starting the third
before Elder Chen got up and shouted "I can't take it any more! I don't wanna
die!" He quickly shut it off and my mucles again relaxed. I realized
that each spin cycle I had been holding my breath. It really was one of the
most frightening experience of my mission.
I also had a slightly frustrating moment during a lesson. We
could only meet with him for about 20 minutes and he said that we probably
wouldn't be able to walk all the way to the chapel and have a good message in
that time period, so we sat in an area next to the station that seemed to be a
nice place to sit down. I realized a couple seconds later that all the people
in that area were smoking like there was no tomorrow. I shrugged it off and
tried to focus on the investigator, and for the most part I was doing all
right. About 10 minutes in though, I sensed the smoke get stronger, and
suddenly this old man started shouting at our investigator about catholicism
and how evil it was. We tried for a couple seconds to convice this man that we
were not catholics, but he didn't really want to listen to us in the first place.
He thouroughly distracted our investigator at the same time as waving his
cigarette in my face for a full five minutes. I was sick from the smoke and I
could feel an emotion that until that moment had not been within me for a
while. It was anger. This man was taking not only our investigator's time, not
only our time, but the time of the Lord. I was thouroughly convinced that this
man was under the control of the devil and I was ready to either rebuke him or
puke on him, because he and his cigarette smelled TERRIBLE!
I then looked at Elder Powell, whom I expected to be having
the same feelings as I was. I was surprised to find him completely calm and in
full stature. He seemed to be reflecting, and I knew that he was waiting for
the Spirit to tell him what to do. I then immediately repented and did my best
to submit to the will of the Lord. After a short prayer, peace filled my soul,
and I calmly turned to the man and asked if we would be able to finish our
lesson with him and then address his concerns. He wasn't offended. He simply
stood up, nodded at our investigator, and waddled away. The spirit was there. I
smiled at Elder Powell, knowing that we did the right thing the right way.
Finished a lesson, and walked away feeling much less frustrated and much more
focused on the work.
Prayer is real, and the promised blessings are attainable if
we will but exercise a little faith unto experimenting on these commandments. I
would invite all to try this, whether member or not. Please accept my testimony
and know that God, your Heavenly Father, loves you and has a plan for
you whereby you and your family and loved ones may return to His presence. I
know this to be true. The divinity and truthfulness of the message of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has been revealed to me as well as
countless others by the gift of God's Holy Spirit of Promise. I know that
Joseph Smith, as well as all of his successors, are prophets, seers, and
revelators of God's will and glory. It is by obeying those modernly as well as
anciently revealed precepts and principles that we may gain an immovable
testimony of the fact that our savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God,
LIVES, and that He took upon Himself all the sins of the world, that whoever
will come unto Him will find and attain Eternal Life.
The new washer.
The new washer.
HERE is Elder Chen
and I on Lion's Rock.
Elder Powell found something gross on the records...
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