Week 15

Another really fast week has gone by! Washington is as beautiful and as wet as ever! I am so glad for our car... but I guess I should probably get ready for never having a car in Taiwan.

This week we were able to do a lot of member missionary work. We started a new training that involves us going over to members' houses, and sharing a quick message with them, then asking them who they think they should share the gospel with this week. We have had a lot of really powerful experiences of members coming up with names they have never even considered until then. It just shows that we have no idea who is prepared for the gospel, but the spirit does know, and when we rely on the spirit we can become the member missionaries we are meant to become. I know that you all must have a name, whether it is a nonmember or a less active, that you can help bring the restored gospel to. I challenge you all to do that, because let me tell you, missionary work is not a burden, but rather an opportunity the Lord has given us to participate in the salvation of mankind. I challenge you just to try it out, and see how you feel when you do. 

This last week I didn't get the best opportunity to work with the investigators we recently met. There is opposition in all things, and as soon as we have an investigator feel the spirit and want to meet up with us again, something happens in their lives that stops them from meeting with us. It's all right though, because at least we got to work with some of our previous investigators. 

One of these investigators is a man who is named Keith. He is 26 and lives right across the street from the church building. He has been investigating the church for a while, and he really wants to change his life. The problem is he has a word of wisdom problem.. Well it's more than a problem, alcohol has basically ruined his life. He is handicapped because of early-age alcohol abuse. As we have met with him over the last couple of months, we haven't see much progress in his desire to get baptized. However, a few weeks ago we felt impressed to introduce him to a guy in the ward, Brandon. Brandon has also had some Word of Wisdom problems in his life, but has recently overcome a lot of them. As soon as Brandon and Keith met, there was an instant connection. Since they met, we have had multiple lessons with both of them, they are both reading the Book of Mormon, and Brandon has offered to baptize Keith. We now have a date set up for Keith's baptism on the 21st of March. This experience helped me realize how important members are in missionary work. When we meet with people, we are usually really nice people who want to help them, but when members get involved, the investigators then have a friend who genuinely cares about them, and supports them through this tough gospel transition. This friend makes all the difference for the investigator.

Another of these previous investigators is Marge McGreggor. She is an older lady who grew up as a Catholic her whole life. We have recently been reading the Book of Mormon with her. As we have spent time with her, reading the Book of Mormon, I have seen a new potential within in her. She is making steps, very small steps, towards baptism, and I believe the Book of Mormon will change her. 

So from those two investigators I learned two things. Investigators need two very important foundations- a foundation of comfort, found in friends in the gospel, and a foundation of faith, which can be strengthened through the Book of Mormon. If an investigator doesn't have either of these two foundations, they will quickly become disinterested. Member missionary work is essential in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Last, I would just like to mention a miracle which we have seen this week. If there are any Seahawk fans reading, I would suggest that you stop here. This last Sunday, as I am sure you all know, the Seahawks lost the Superbowl! You may think that we are a little disappointed, since we are in Seattle. But all the missionaries are actually really glad, because apparently last year the cities went crazy, and people became so prideful. I guess the Lord has humbled the people of Seattle, and I can't wait to use their heartache to bring them something they could never find in the Seahawks- eternal life! 

Thanks everyone for all the love and support you give me! I love it here in Washington, but I still can't wait till the day I step off the plane into Taiwan! 

Love, 
Elder Quist