A sincere desire to hear our message...

November 4, 2010

Dear Fam,

This week had its fair share of slow but sure successes, signs that the work here in Unna is on the up and up. I'm really looking forward to the next seven weeks here and feel like we've got a good basis for me to end my mission with some real solid work.
We've been doing a lot of work with less actives this transfer, and saw a real fruit of our labors this Sunday. All of the less actives we had met with and invited to church this Sunday ended up coming. While the investigators we were hoping for didn't show up, it was great to see so many people we have been working with at church. Another success on Sunday was the unveiling of the new Ward Mission Plan from Daniel and along with that a new program that we are doing with the members. It's something I've done with the members in two other areas in order to build a better relationship with the members that is focused on missionary work. Our presentation on Sunday seemed to go over very well and we seemed to have started something that will really help this ward get back on its feet.
On Thursday we decided to go by a referral that hadn't been successfully contacted in over three months. Apparently they had been on vacation in America for an extended period of time. We arrived at their apartment in the late afternoon, not really expecting anyone to be home, but to our surprise caught them home days after returning form America. We had a great first lesson with Thomas Verhagen (his wife was asleep to due the lingering jet lag), and made another appointment out for next week. He's very skeptical of organized religion, but is at the same time very open and still searching for the truth. When we first were let in to his apartment and I saw all of his America paraphernalia, my first thought was "great, another guy who just wants to talk with us about America with no real interest of hearing our message," but as soon as we started talking I could tell he had a sincere desire to hear our message to see if it is something that could help him come closer to the truth, which is all one really needs at the beginning to embrace the message of the restored gospel. I'm really looking forward to meeting with he and his wife next Tuesday and feel that this man has a good a chance as any of making the steps to Baptism.
Hope this next week proves to be a great one. Take care!

-Andy