Shout out to all Fathers out there, especially my own! Love you pops :) Also, Happy 14th birthday to my little sis Erin!
Ahh yet another week has gone by, and I'm loving my mission more and more everyday! We had some crazy experiences this week so i'll just jump right in.
I held a ferret. That was cool..but really stinky.
Went on exchanges again and saw so many miracles! We walked up to talk to a guy and his mom on the side walk and they immediately said "no! no! no! We don't want to hear from you Mormons." Then the mom said, "what do you guys teach people anyways?" Yeah, that meant go time to us! We taught them about how everything we teach is centered on Jesus Christ and that the Book of Mormon was just another book that testified 101 times that He is the Christ and Savior of the world. Their expressions immediately changed and we taught them about the whole restoration of the gospel.. right there on the side walk. Heavenly Father truly is preparing people left and right, even if they don't know it..he he.
Daniella got baptized!!! And it.was.amazing. I mean baptisms are always amazing and filled with the spirit, but this one was really just incredible. She bore the sweetest most sincere testimony ever and said how long her journey had been to this point but that she was so excited to finally take this step in her life. Her family is still not on board, but hey, they'll come around! I love this girl so much! She is such a good example to me of what it means to stand as a witness of God at all times, in all things, and in all places. Nothing could hold this girl back from doing what she knew was right.
Andddd now for the more crazy experience of the week...
So Friday we got a call from some guys who had gotten our mormon.org card from one of their friends earlier in the week. They introduced all of themselves as Brother (insert first name here) and said they wanted some sisters to come over and teach them. We were a little skeptical because they sounded quite flirty on the phone.. but they insisted that they truly did want to learn more about Jesus Christ and wanted to have a lesson. ummm.. in case you were wondering this never happens. No one ever calls and asks US to come over and teach them...but I remembered that I had been praying to find new people to teach.. so this could be the answer! We agreed to meet with them at the church building and we brought our friend/member Kenny for backup. Sure enough they all 4 showed up right on time. As soon as I saw them, my heart started to pound harder and harder.. they were quite rough around the edges to say the least: loads of tattoos and piercings, and other gangster like accessories. (use your imagination). And the best part; one of them still had his probation lock thingy on his ankle like in movie Disturbia. awesome. Anyways, we started to ask them a few questions to see if they had real intent and what their story was..turns out they had all recently gotten out of jail (committed several felonies) and were looking for something different in their lives that would keep them on the straight and narrow (not exactly the word they used.. but same idea). Although my heart was pounding and I was still a little nervous, I remembered a poem that I had read just the week before called "The Touch of the Master's Hand."
Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bid, good friends?" he cried.
"Who'll start the bidding for me?
One dollar! Only one? And who'll make it two?
Two dollars, once. And three!
Three dollars, once; And three dollars, twice;
And going for three." But no,
From the room, far back, a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow.
Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As a caroling angel sings.
The music ceased, and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said, "What am I bid for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.
"One thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?
Two thousand dollars, and three!
Three thousand, once. And three thousand, twice.
And going, and gone," said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand
What changed its worth?" Swift came the reply.
"Twas the touch of the Master's hand."
And many a man with life out of tune
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd
Much like this old violin.
A mess of pottage, a glass of wine.
A game-and he travels on.
He is "going" once, and "going" twice.
And "going," and almost "gone."
But the Master comes, and the thoughtless crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought,
By the touch of the Master's hand.
-Myra Brooks Welch
My attitude changed and I thought about how we could bring these four sons of God closer to their Savior Jesus Christ. We taught them about His atonement and the things He taught while on this earth that would change people's lives forever. They were quite humble and willing to listen and even want to meet with us again! What a miracle it truly was.
I love this church and I love my calling as a missionary. There is nothing greater.
Have an amazing week!
Sister Kraus
pictures:
Us, Daniella and Erin (member in our ward) at the temple after Daniella's baptism!
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