Sister Eliza Groneman: So Many Miracles

Hi from Sunny California!

This week was probably one of the most miracle-filled weeks I have been a part of. I don't even know if I have time to share them all with you. I will share what I can

😃

It all started with having great interactions with people as we have boothed and with a friend randomly walking into the institute. We only went boothing once this week and when we went, we only talked to 3 people, but those 3 conversations were better than talking to 20 people. The last man we talked to is about to get married and he and his fiancée are trying to figure out what they believe. He was sincerely interested in what we believe. As we were packing up, we actually met one of our investigators that we've been trying to contact/meet! He explained why he hasn't been around and expressed that he wants to start coming to church again next week after he helps his dad in Vegas.

We also met another investigator Tuesday night at Sports Night! We have been trying to get a hold of her as well so we were stoked! We are in the process of finding a time for us and her member friends to meet!

The miracles continued as we had some lessons with a couple recent converts, a less active member, and a new friend who is learning about the church!!

We are impressed daily with our less active member, M**. We are reading the Book of Mormon with him to help him understand what is actually in the book. He decided to actually read it fully after realizing he has been telling all his friends about it, but doesn't know everything that's in it. Haha he is probably one of the best member-missionaries and he's been less active! He has been inviting friends to lessons and we were able to give one of them a Book of Mormon. One of his friends should be coming to M**'s next lesson.

To help M** read every day we invited him to read 3 verses every day. Because we are here to help him accomplish what he has committed to do and come closer to Christ, we call him every day at 7:00am and read 3 verses each with him. He then reads 3 verses himself after the phone call ends. It has been really cool to see the light inside of him grow and his countenance change, just from reading the Book of Mormon. He has noticed a difference as well and it makes him excited. At first he was nervous because he knew by reading the Book of Mormon he would change, but I feel the nervousness decrease a little more each time we talk with him.

Now about our new friend E**!! So, he was the potential we visited with last week. We had a very Spirit-filled lesson with him on the doorstep and you could tell the Spirit was speaking to him the whole time. After my companion bore a powerful testimony about how God could help him with the struggles he is going through and how this Gospel can help him, he concluded that he needed to start from the beginning and read the Book of Mormon again (back story: He was actually introduced to the church in high school by a friend. He was given a copy of The Book of Mormon and had read all the way to Alma. Shout out to his friend! You never know what difference you can make in someone's life!) Since that lesson Everett has come to church, loved it, and had another lesson. After hearing some experiences in Elders Quorum, he concluded that what he is feeling has been the Spirit and that he wants to keep learning. He has seen how different this past week has been for him since he started reading and meeting with us and is going to pray to see if this is something God wants for him. We are having another lesson with him today to talk with him about his prayer and a lesson. He is awesome! His faith is growing every day!

Some miracles we've seen are hard to explain over email, but there are many that have to do with finding potentials and people to teach. There were many times this week where we've had a choice to protect Heavenly Father's time and proselyte, or to finish other very important things. We put our faith in Heavenly Father and kept to what we've committed to do and miracles came. One specific example of this was Saturday. We have committed to protect the 6-9 time for proselyting, but we hadn't finished our weekly planning. We talked about staying in because we haven't been able to finish it for the last 2 weeks, but remembered what we had promised the Lord, so we went out to work. The very next day some Elders in our district called us with a referral. One of our other less active's boyfriends wants to start taking the lessons. I know that Heavenly Father does bless us when we are obedient to His commandments and when we keep the promises and commitments we have made. This was truly a miracle, especially since this member hasn't been interested in the church for a long time and it's been hard to get in contact with her.

There are so many more like this miracle that happened this week and I am so grateful and humbled by my Heavenly Father's hand in His work this week. He is always willing to help us when we put in the effort and more importantly, exercise faith. Each day that passes, my heart is filled with more gratitude, love, and wonder for this opportunity I have to help our brothers and sisters on their journey home.

I know that this is my calling, but even without a nametag it is still something we are responsible to do; to help those around us as we all try to make our way home to the God who gave us life. This is his work and His glory and it should be our work to help Him. This Gospel brings a peace and joy. It brings hope and direction. It brings love. How grateful I am for this gospel and for my Savior, and your Savior, who, with His Atonement, makes this all possible.

I hope this week you seek out your Father in Heaven. I know each one of us has our own challenges and struggles and I promise that when you reach out to God and Jesus Christ, you will find that They have been there the whole time, helping you in every way They can, and They will continue to do so.

Find Them. I promise it will change your life.

xoxo, Sister Groneman