March Forward!

This week was awesome.

Last monday after kind of a bummer day we went to follow up appointment. Billy and Eve are lifelong baptists very devoted to their faith. As soon as we got to the door Billy invited me in, looked me straight in the eyes and said I appreciate yall comin over but I don't want you Bible (Book of Mormon). We started asking him why, and he truly just didn't want to change. We turned to Eve and asked her about it. She had read the whole thing in just 3 days! We explained where it came from and it was clear it all clicked in her mind. We were all silent for about 20 seconds. Complete Silence... She said she had prayed about it and began making up excuses why she couldn't believe it, but it was easy to see she was putting on a show. Billy asked us to leave, but Eve showed us out. She closed the door behind her and started talking to us. She knew it was true, but had to follow her husband. It was such an amazing experience to see someone gain such a powerful, solemn testimony in such a short amount of time. unfortunately she can't join the church, or even have the Book of Mormon in her house while she is married to billy. It really strengthened my testimony.

We had a lesson with Cindy and Nehemiah about prophets and the priesthood. The gem of the lesson came from my comp Elder Brady. "Don't let the truth you have now, hinder you from seeking and obtaining more truth in light." (in not so many words). We then had a lesson that night with Logan who was a baptismal date for end of April. It was pouring rain and he didn't have car, so we came to him... At LIBERTY University. It was kinda sketchy. Every missionary has been kicked off when we go there with out nametags on, but we were able to bear pure testimony amidst so many. People definitiely were not happy to see Mormons at a Baptist University, but it worked out and we came out alright.

A few days back we were on our way to an appointment, but I felt impressed to stop by on Brian and Rachel. They were a couple we taught a few weeks back that had been avoiding us. (Not answering the door or calls) We drove over there and felt like we should run up to the door. We did so and right as I was about to knock she opened the door, almost knocking her right in the face. The Spirit couldn't have timed it better. They let us in and explained they had been avoiding us because they knew we were representitives from God and what we were preaching was true. They just felt guilty. We talked for an hour or so and they asked US if they could be baptized. That doesn't happen everyday, so we said YES! It is set for May 12th beacuse they have to get married and stop smoking, but I am excited for them.

And finally the week ended with us dropping 3 investigators in 18 hours. Pretty rough,but they all ended peacefully. I asked one guy if we could take a picture with his Mustang. He said absolutely, lets go for a ride in it. It was so sweet, ending the night in a rip roaring '68 fastback. But the best closing came saturday night.

This week has been hard, but the joy outweighs the trial 10 to 1. It is exciting to see the triumph in someones' eyes after paying tithing, or honestly telling you they the read the book of mormon that week. This truly is a great and marvelous work, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. (Maybe if our mission car was my dad's new truck!)

Love y'all
Elder Dumke