Hallo Iedereen!
This week has been pretty great! We got all of the blessings that seemed to be lacking last week all packed into this week, and it was very refreshing. We also had the "World Wide Missionary Conference," which included some really big changes (I'm not really sure how much everyone else has heard about them). We had the blessing of finding 4 new investigators this week, and we can't wait to keep on teaching them.
One of them is Max. He is a friend of Pedro, a member who has become active thanks to some of the previous missionaries and his own desires to change and become better. We had a dinner appointment with him every week for a while, and this last week we challenged him to bring a friend the next time. He took that challenge super seriously and invited his friend Max. Max is in the same drug recovery program as Pedro, and so he is super ready for the Gospel! A main part of any drug recovery program is the concept of "Hogere Macht" (or a Higher Power), and the essential part it plays in helping someone overcome their problems. But in the program they avoid specifics, and that leaves a open hole in all of the recovering addicts. They all know that there is something, but many of them have never had that as a part of their life, and so that is where we have come in with Max. Max has been super touched by Pedro's surety of this "Higher Power" and he wants to "have the same type of faith as us." He is so cool, and so open and willing to try everything. His addiction has left him open, and very humble, and I am so grateful that we have the opportunity to teach him, especially with Pedro at our side to be there as an example and bear his testimony.
The even more exciting this is that Pedro has a ton of friends from the program just like Max, and when they heard about Max meeting with us, they have all gotten super excited, so if everything goes to plan, we may not have time to be knocking doors for a while.
The other 3 new investigators are all Spanish, and so I don't know quite as much about them as I would if I was speaking the same language, but they seem super sincere, and I can not wait to see them progress. It is going to be very interesting to see what happens this transfer, because we need a Spanish speaking missionary, but Elder Bartolini has been here for 3 transfers (the normal high for staying in an area.) I can understand Spanish much better than before I came to Amsterdam, but I am still far from fluent.
One of them is Max. He is a friend of Pedro, a member who has become active thanks to some of the previous missionaries and his own desires to change and become better. We had a dinner appointment with him every week for a while, and this last week we challenged him to bring a friend the next time. He took that challenge super seriously and invited his friend Max. Max is in the same drug recovery program as Pedro, and so he is super ready for the Gospel! A main part of any drug recovery program is the concept of "Hogere Macht" (or a Higher Power), and the essential part it plays in helping someone overcome their problems. But in the program they avoid specifics, and that leaves a open hole in all of the recovering addicts. They all know that there is something, but many of them have never had that as a part of their life, and so that is where we have come in with Max. Max has been super touched by Pedro's surety of this "Higher Power" and he wants to "have the same type of faith as us." He is so cool, and so open and willing to try everything. His addiction has left him open, and very humble, and I am so grateful that we have the opportunity to teach him, especially with Pedro at our side to be there as an example and bear his testimony.
The even more exciting this is that Pedro has a ton of friends from the program just like Max, and when they heard about Max meeting with us, they have all gotten super excited, so if everything goes to plan, we may not have time to be knocking doors for a while.
The other 3 new investigators are all Spanish, and so I don't know quite as much about them as I would if I was speaking the same language, but they seem super sincere, and I can not wait to see them progress. It is going to be very interesting to see what happens this transfer, because we need a Spanish speaking missionary, but Elder Bartolini has been here for 3 transfers (the normal high for staying in an area.) I can understand Spanish much better than before I came to Amsterdam, but I am still far from fluent.
I love all of you, and I hope that the missionary work is going well for all of you, even if you aren't on a mission! I am going to extend a similar challenge to all of you, that you should do something to invite a friend to learn more about the gospel. It may seem scary, but because Pedro did it, I believe that the Amsterdam ward is going to be teeming with investigators, so put your trust in the lord and just do it! Our mission motto goes along those lines with "Vrees Niet, Gewoon Doen" (Fear Not, Just Do) We have been promised that if we do our part, then God will help us do the rest, so good luck, and fear not!
Love,
Elder Thornton
I may or may not have forgotten to take some photos until Saturday night, so...
This photo does not do it any justice, but I hope you can get the idea. It was so beautiful, with the little alleyways. I reminded me a little of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.
Elder Thornton
I may or may not have forgotten to take some photos until Saturday night, so...
This photo does not do it any justice, but I hope you can get the idea. It was so beautiful, with the little alleyways. I reminded me a little of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.
