From Dad 10/20
Hi everyone,
Yesterday was an important day in our missionary life. We received a phone call just as we were walking out the door for an appointment from one of our less active members, Tim Palmer.
Tim was one of the first people we contacted when we came to Wuerzburg last November. We had a good feeling about him then. We met with him and the mother of their children and the three boys, ages 14, 9, & 5. After about two months he began to consider there is a God and He is Our Father in Heaven and He is a real person and someone we can actually talk with. A return appointment to the home was not coming about. By spring he was willing to talk with us a couple of times in the month by phone. By early summer he began taking his turn at saying a prayer at the end of our phone conversations. In late summer he came to Church with one of the three boys.
Friday we met with Tim and discussed the Proclamation on the Family. He set some goals based on the counsel from our living prophets. On his own he called us last night so excited. He said I want to turn my life over to God and follow His direction. He hadn’t had any “good German beer” to drink since Thursday and had begun reading in the Book of Mormon each day. He said, “My whole perspective is changed”. In the past when missionaries came to their home it was always with the idea of teaching Ursula about the Church. Through all of these times she never really expressed an interest in becoming a member of the Church. Tim said, “I feel like my life has started progressing again. I can work on doing the things I need to do to be a better father, and one day hopefully a husband”.
It has been humbling to see how the Spirit has worked with him and how he now is opening his heart more and more to the Spirit to help him rebuild his life on solid ground. The past few weeks as we have spoken on the phone he has been like a sponge in his desire to learn. These weeks have not been without phone calls at prearranged times and finding no one at home. The road ahead for Tim is far from easy. His willingness to choose to step onto this path is what made last night and his phone call to us so exciting. He called and canceled an appointment made earlier to meet with the bishop last Wednesday and assured us last night nothing will be more important than keeping the next one, hopefully this coming Wednesday, if this works for the bishop.
Life continues coming one step at a time. We wouldn’t have it any other way in spite of our impatience. I know the gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by the Savior and restored by Him to strengthen us for the work yet ahead in preparation for His return to the earth, is true. I know lives can be changed. When we choose not to give up a door or a window will open. I know this is the Lord’s work and we are called wherever we are in the world to assist. Our love for our family and others will only allow the Spirit more opportunities to bear testimony in people’s hearts of the truthfulness of the work and will bring the longed for blessings not only into the lives of others but into our lives as well.
Have a great week. Thanks for all you do.
Love always,
Dad, Grandpa and Willard
Yesterday was an important day in our missionary life. We received a phone call just as we were walking out the door for an appointment from one of our less active members, Tim Palmer.
Tim was one of the first people we contacted when we came to Wuerzburg last November. We had a good feeling about him then. We met with him and the mother of their children and the three boys, ages 14, 9, & 5. After about two months he began to consider there is a God and He is Our Father in Heaven and He is a real person and someone we can actually talk with. A return appointment to the home was not coming about. By spring he was willing to talk with us a couple of times in the month by phone. By early summer he began taking his turn at saying a prayer at the end of our phone conversations. In late summer he came to Church with one of the three boys.
Friday we met with Tim and discussed the Proclamation on the Family. He set some goals based on the counsel from our living prophets. On his own he called us last night so excited. He said I want to turn my life over to God and follow His direction. He hadn’t had any “good German beer” to drink since Thursday and had begun reading in the Book of Mormon each day. He said, “My whole perspective is changed”. In the past when missionaries came to their home it was always with the idea of teaching Ursula about the Church. Through all of these times she never really expressed an interest in becoming a member of the Church. Tim said, “I feel like my life has started progressing again. I can work on doing the things I need to do to be a better father, and one day hopefully a husband”.
It has been humbling to see how the Spirit has worked with him and how he now is opening his heart more and more to the Spirit to help him rebuild his life on solid ground. The past few weeks as we have spoken on the phone he has been like a sponge in his desire to learn. These weeks have not been without phone calls at prearranged times and finding no one at home. The road ahead for Tim is far from easy. His willingness to choose to step onto this path is what made last night and his phone call to us so exciting. He called and canceled an appointment made earlier to meet with the bishop last Wednesday and assured us last night nothing will be more important than keeping the next one, hopefully this coming Wednesday, if this works for the bishop.
Life continues coming one step at a time. We wouldn’t have it any other way in spite of our impatience. I know the gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by the Savior and restored by Him to strengthen us for the work yet ahead in preparation for His return to the earth, is true. I know lives can be changed. When we choose not to give up a door or a window will open. I know this is the Lord’s work and we are called wherever we are in the world to assist. Our love for our family and others will only allow the Spirit more opportunities to bear testimony in people’s hearts of the truthfulness of the work and will bring the longed for blessings not only into the lives of others but into our lives as well.
Have a great week. Thanks for all you do.
Love always,
Dad, Grandpa and Willard
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home