I don't know what it is, but I find that missionaries seem to be magnets to interesting people. My companion Elder Hardy and I have run into some very interesting people this week.
To start it off, we had a "creative finding" activity as a district on Saturday. Creative finding just means looking for people to teach through creative means, like hanging up a banner up that says, "What brings you peace?" and inviting people on the street to have a discussion about it. We had to bus to City Centre (of Bristol) which is about a 40 minute bus ride.
Once we got there, we set up in the town centre and got to work. Let me tell you, that's where we found some interesting people. One of the lads we talked to was in a cult. We didn't know until we talked to him about Jesus Christ, and how we can find peace through Him. After that, the lad was going on about how there was some vampiric entity sucking out our soul essence. Then he began a cult chant. My companion and I looked at each other and had to walk away. It was an interesting experience because I have never met anyone like that before.
The next person we met was a man from Jamaica who claimed he was Jesus Christ, and that there was nothing that we knew that he didn't already know. He wouldn't even let us speak, so we just told him that God loved him and that we had to leave.
The last person was a Catholic woman who kept wanting to say prayers with us. We offered to say a prayer and she accepted, so we said one. Then she keep drawing crosses on our foreheads and wanting to hold our hands. It was all pretty interesting.
We have met a lot of new friends this week, four in total, and two of them accepted the invitation to church this Sunday. They said they enjoyed it and they would like to come back next Sunday. One of our friends is progressing well with his faith in Jesus Christ, and it brings me so much happiness to be able to be a part of this. I feel that he will be baptized and I really look forward to that day. It's nice too, because he is going to school for journalism and he has a really open mind. He has also heard a lot about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and has taken his questions to the people who actually live the religion instead of going to the media.
I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have had so far to share the wonderful message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Everyday I am learning something new, whether it be about the culture or about the gospel. I know that God loves each of us individually. No matter what you may have done in the past, there is always a way back to Him if you have the desire. I know that God has given us families, to help us learn and grow, and to experience happiness and joy. One of the ways we can experience lasting happiness personally and in our families is through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because of Him, all things are possible, and I know that we can experience lasting joy as long as we put our faith and trust in Him. I honestly don't know where I'd be in this life without a knowledge of Jesus Christ and His Atonement, but I certainly don't think I would be as happy as I am! That is why I will do everything in my power to invite and help as many people as I can, to feel the peace and happiness that comes through following Him.
There is a prophet in the Book of Mormon named Abinadi who quotes the prophet Isaiah from the Old Testament (Isaiah 53:3-5). It's in Mosiah 14:3-5.
"3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
Christ died and suffered immensely for us, that through Him we can find peace and joy in this life. I know this to be true as I have seen these blessings for myself and in the lives of others.
For anyone who might be more interested in learning about Christ's restored gospel, you can find out more at:
ComeWorshipWithUs.org
Take Care,
Elder Ori Jakob
To start it off, we had a "creative finding" activity as a district on Saturday. Creative finding just means looking for people to teach through creative means, like hanging up a banner up that says, "What brings you peace?" and inviting people on the street to have a discussion about it. We had to bus to City Centre (of Bristol) which is about a 40 minute bus ride.
Elder Hardy and I on the bus
Once we got there, we set up in the town centre and got to work. Let me tell you, that's where we found some interesting people. One of the lads we talked to was in a cult. We didn't know until we talked to him about Jesus Christ, and how we can find peace through Him. After that, the lad was going on about how there was some vampiric entity sucking out our soul essence. Then he began a cult chant. My companion and I looked at each other and had to walk away. It was an interesting experience because I have never met anyone like that before.
The next person we met was a man from Jamaica who claimed he was Jesus Christ, and that there was nothing that we knew that he didn't already know. He wouldn't even let us speak, so we just told him that God loved him and that we had to leave.
The last person was a Catholic woman who kept wanting to say prayers with us. We offered to say a prayer and she accepted, so we said one. Then she keep drawing crosses on our foreheads and wanting to hold our hands. It was all pretty interesting.
We have met a lot of new friends this week, four in total, and two of them accepted the invitation to church this Sunday. They said they enjoyed it and they would like to come back next Sunday. One of our friends is progressing well with his faith in Jesus Christ, and it brings me so much happiness to be able to be a part of this. I feel that he will be baptized and I really look forward to that day. It's nice too, because he is going to school for journalism and he has a really open mind. He has also heard a lot about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and has taken his questions to the people who actually live the religion instead of going to the media.
A cool church
Vapour trails in the evening sky
Cobblestone/brick road
I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have had so far to share the wonderful message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Everyday I am learning something new, whether it be about the culture or about the gospel. I know that God loves each of us individually. No matter what you may have done in the past, there is always a way back to Him if you have the desire. I know that God has given us families, to help us learn and grow, and to experience happiness and joy. One of the ways we can experience lasting happiness personally and in our families is through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because of Him, all things are possible, and I know that we can experience lasting joy as long as we put our faith and trust in Him. I honestly don't know where I'd be in this life without a knowledge of Jesus Christ and His Atonement, but I certainly don't think I would be as happy as I am! That is why I will do everything in my power to invite and help as many people as I can, to feel the peace and happiness that comes through following Him.
There is a prophet in the Book of Mormon named Abinadi who quotes the prophet Isaiah from the Old Testament (Isaiah 53:3-5). It's in Mosiah 14:3-5.
"3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
Christ died and suffered immensely for us, that through Him we can find peace and joy in this life. I know this to be true as I have seen these blessings for myself and in the lives of others.
For anyone who might be more interested in learning about Christ's restored gospel, you can find out more at:
ComeWorshipWithUs.org
My companion Elder Hardy - playing basketball on our Pday
Found a black cat that looks like my cat Vader...
This is Vader - looks quite a bit like him
Take Care,
Elder Ori Jakob
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