The first starts with Chaad's family, who hadn't answered our phone calls in almost a week. We decided to stop by their home to give them one last chance before dropping them. We talked with them briefly and they said they still wanted to keep studying, but have just been really busy the past week. We were heartened and set up a return appointment.
While there we met their neighbor Jackie who was out watering his plants. We started talking, and found out that he'd met with the missionaries a long time ago. We were very surprised and excited to meet this former investigator and re-teach him. We got an appointment to meet him the next day.
Upon visiting him and talking, we found out that he'd learned with the elders 42 years ago...and had actually gotten baptized! But then he moved away where there wasn't a church and kind of forgot the whole thing. We were blown away! We'd been led to find an inactive member of 42 years and help bring him back. We invited him to church the next day (the 28th), which he was excited about. It was awesome to see him at church, and we felt led to meet this man near the house of our investigators at the very moment that he was out watering his plants.
This week:
This week, we got a senior couple in Chiang Mai, the Barlows! Elder Barlow served here many years ago, and Chiang Mai was his first area, so it was neat for him to come back.
Upon visiting him and talking, we found out that he'd learned with the elders 42 years ago...and had actually gotten baptized! But then he moved away where there wasn't a church and kind of forgot the whole thing. We were blown away! We'd been led to find an inactive member of 42 years and help bring him back. We invited him to church the next day (the 28th), which he was excited about. It was awesome to see him at church, and we felt led to meet this man near the house of our investigators at the very moment that he was out watering his plants.
This week:
This week, we got a senior couple in Chiang Mai, the Barlows! Elder Barlow served here many years ago, and Chiang Mai was his first area, so it was neat for him to come back.
On Sunday (the 6th), the members were welcoming Jackie back and asking a bit about him. He talked about how he'd gotten baptized in Chiang Mai over 40 years ago, and that the first elders who taught him were Elder Wahl and...Elder Barlow. Well, that name was familiar. We got the two of them talking, and found out that indeed, Elder Barlow had taught and baptized Jackie back when he'd served many years ago, and here they are reunited 4 decades later. Wow! What a testimony of how God is aware of His children and wants us all to return to Him. I feel so fortunate to have played a part in God's plan of bringing a lost sheep back into the fold.
We also had a great lesson with Chaad's family who told us repeatedly how impressed they are with the things that we've taught. They also made it to church on Sunday, and have a new date for the 3rd of March (which we might have to move because of a bunch of irregularities in the upcoming Sundays. But we're hoping not!).
Transfers are coming up! This week they'll be on Monday due to some scheduling conflicts. Chances are, I'll be staying another 6 weeks. But we'll see!
I'll leave it at that. Thank you all for your prayers and support!
Elder Parish
1-2. A nifty-looking white wat in Chiang Rai.
Back together again.
What a great e-mail! God's hand is definitely in the details of our lives. We have witnessed that SO many times these past two weeks. What a blessing!!
ReplyDelete