July 28

Dear Family,

We had an incredible lesson this weekend when we stopped by a potential named Don. We had left him with a Book of Mormon the last time we saw him and explained it a little, prayed with him, and left. We went back on Saturday evening and he invited us right in (his wife was there and sat in on the lesson as well). He asked us to wait for a moment and then pulled out the Book of Mormon again with a small stack of notes that he'd stapled together from what he'd read/researched. He and his wife were raised Catholic, and currently attend a Baptist church but made a point to say, "We're not baptist." He liked the Book of Mormon! He said growing up with just the Bible, it was harder to understand, but also like someone had combined thoughts from Romans and Corinthians and meshed them into a verse. He and his wife were so open and willing to learn. We left them with more to read and they are letting us come back. :)

The miracle behind this is that we talked to so many people that day that seemed so hopeless. They just did not believe in God and were trying to convince us He wasn't there either. We tried and testified with all of our might, and I felt the Spirit so strongly at some points, but it just seemed like they were not getting it and I wanted them to so much. Faith really did proceed the miracle, and Heavenly Father really blessed us all along the way.

I have really seen Sister Kunz changing. She's just "getting it."  I feel privileged to serve with her again this transfer because she is getting closer to the end of her mission. She really is so filled with love for these people and weeps when she thinks about them being baptized. When we were setting our weekly goals, she realized she wasn't just saying, how many baptisms do I want in September, but how many of these people do I want to see in the Celestial Kingdom? She has two transfers left! And we're going to be here together for at least another transfer. I don't really know who will stay or who will go (or if both will stay) after that.....

More miracles to come this week. :)

Love you all!

Sister Thomson