New Year, New Companion, New Ways of Finding

- January 09, 2023

Luke is loving his new companion Elder Packer. Elder Packer is from Orem, UT and has been out one transfer longer than Luke. Luke said he has a great attitude and loves to work hard, so they are having a great time together.

Luke and Elder Packer found a new way of finding people. They go to streets near the church and then they go around asking people if they know anyone that they have seen that goes to that church (pointing to our church) Then they usually say yes and point to a neighbors house. So they go to that house and sure enough there are people that "used" to be members, or part members that live there!!!!

Then they have also been going through their area book and going to visit people that have visited with the missionaries before but stopped for some reason. This is how they found their new friend Antonia. They tried to find her house but couldn't. They asked someone near the address and they pointed out a path that was hidden and that they never would have found without help. They went down the path and sure enough they met Antonia. She had met with the missionaries before and even been to church with her sister. Antonia is one that is anxious about many health concerns. In fact she worries so much that soon she begins to feel sick. So the Elders promised her good health if she would come to church and feel the peace there. There was a member with them that told her she would pick her up but when Sunday came the member forgot! But that didn't stand in Antonia's way, she just walked and still made it to church! So I'm excited to hear how things progress with Antonia. I don't think it was coincidence that they found the hidden path that led to her!

Another experience Luke and his companion had was they were walking down the street and his companion had the prompting to stop and talk to a lady that was selling food. They asked her if she knew any members to which she replied no. But as they were talking to her a girl walked up behind her. When Luke saw her he got a prompting that she was a member. He thought that was a weird thing to think with these random street vendors. But he asked her anyway. And they found out she was a member!!!! Wow! I think they were trying to avoid Luke and his companion, but I think they were also surprised that Luke knew she was a member! They talked and actually got a lot of reference from them!

So now Luke and Elder have all these references that they will be following up on this week. Busy, busy! Oh and sadly they tried to meet with Zoe, the 10 year old they met last week, and her dad was there and was completely drunk and very rude. He doesn't want them to come back to teach Zoe. Poor thing, she is the one that recently lost her mom! So Luke told us to pray for poor Zoe!

Luke's back has been bugging him so when he was at Mission Leader Conference, afterward Sister Reber had him come up to their apartment and try out this back stretching apparatus, and also use the massage gun. I hope he gets feeling better!