Oh man, life has just been FULL of miracles!!!!! So, to give a little background information, Elder L. Tom Perry issued a challenge to the missionaries, that if we were to teach 20 lessons each week, our baptisms will double. So, it's kinda been a big deal around here to get to those 20 lessons each week, but not only that, to also make sure they are quality lessons, and powerful as well. Well, the first time I got to 20 lessons in one week was just last week (29-8-11 to 4-9-11) and then we got it again this week! And let me tell you, we have been seeing miracles!!! First and foremost, me and my comp are happier than we've ever been on our missions! Second, we teach a LOT more powerfully together!!! And then another thing, as of late, people have been calling us, and coming up to us to ask about the gospel! That never happens!
But mainly, I want to tell you about this man that we found as we were searching to talk to everyone and teach everyone. His name is Alessandro. We met him last thursday sitting on a bench at about 8pm. He'll tell you now about how much of a miracle it was that we met, and how he was so tired and about to go to bed, but decided to go out and get some fresh air for a second when we came up and started talking to him. But anyways, when we first met him, it was kind of rough. He is a very intelligent man, and didn't think we had anything new for him. He's very well versed with the bible, as well as with the Koran and other religious writings. In fact, he even has been working for the catholic church for several decades now organizing missionaries to go to different parts of the world, so religion pretty much consumes his life. And he saw no reason to talk to us. But, we insisted that we had something new for him, so he let us sit down next to him and talk. When we started telling him about the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ, it made a lot of sense to him. He told us how there are alot of things in the Catholic church that he doesn't believe. So, after a great lesson with Alessandro, we gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon, and he was very excited to read it, and before we could say anything he promised us that he would read it, and then asked if we could come back and talk with him about what he's read and whatnot! So, he gave us his number and asked for ours, and we parted!
Next day. We had another appointment with him. So, when we met, we first asked him about the Bok of Mormon, and what he thought about the book of Mormon. We also asked him if he read the chapter we left him to read. When we asked him that, he just laughed at us, and then just like any other fat+rich+intelligent man in the movies, laughed at our naivety as he told us that he didn't just read one chapter, but he read 20 chapters! And then he started telling us about all the stuff he liked about those chapters, about how applicable it all is, and how beautifully written it is! Then he talked for another 20 min about life in general, and started applying all the doctrines and principle in those first 20 chapters to his life, and, yeah! When he told us about how it happened that he read so much in only a day, he told us that his plans were originally to just read the chapter that we gave him and then go to bed. But, as he went to go to bed, he couldn't fall asleep! He said he just felt a hunger to read more! So, he read a couple more chapters, then managed to put the book down and tried to go to sleep, but couldn't! And this happened several times until he had read all the way through 1 Nephi 22. He's a monster! We really wanted to invite him to baptism, and this amazing experience he had with the Book of Mormon gave us even more encouragement, but still I was fairly nervous because he had told us before that he was already baptized, and not as a baby, but when he was grown and was able to make the decision for himself. So, I went about it rather timidly, but then when I got to the part where I asked him if he would be baptized in this church, he responded very promptly with a yes! Whoot!!!
So, yeah! Miracle!
Things are going great here! The baptism (with Tine) was awesome! Me and my companion were the witnesses, and it was great! Me and my companion are getting along really well! It's just awesome here! Thank you so much everyone for your prayers and all you support!
Vi voglio bene tutti!
-Anziano Bushman
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