Turned the car around

Making Grandpa Lomeli proud...

So, this was yet another interestingly awesome/good/ok week. There was so much that happened this past week! It is quite unbelievable! This past week we had Zone conference in Nanaimo with President Burt! Such an inspired man! He really knows what he is doing and knows how to make sure that we are doing what we need to be doing. He is such a soft spoken yet very bold person at the same time which makes no sense at all BUT ITS AWESOME! He interviewed each and every single one of us! It’s kind of scary sometimes but it wasn't this time... The spirit is so strong in him and he knows exactly what to say and what we need most. It makes me wanna cry sometimes because I can feel the spirit so strong in him. Besides that, we stayed at the Nanaimo South’s apartment which is super tiny. The whole apartment, which is a kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and living room was about the size of the room with the piano back at home. Just imagine, 8 Elders in the same apartment. It was SO much fun! Anyway, we had some time to work in Nanaimo, so Elder Zieler and I go tracking and are praying for a miracle. We have been for weeks to see a miracle. Not many have happened yet. However, in Nanaimo, we met this guy named Hayden, and he was a GOLDEN investigator. The conversation went well and we set a baptismal date with him for February 28th. However, only problem is that Hayden wanted Elder Zieler and I to teach him, which we can’t do because we live 1 1/2 hours away... It was super awesome nonetheless. Anyway, meeting was great and everything went well.

We also met with Francois this past week which was pretty good. We still are just trying to build a solid relationship and build some trust with him which is good. A lot of things have gone on in his past and he has gotten himself into a pretty deep hole. We just keep telling him that we love him and that we are there for him no matter what.

Anyway, we have been meeting with quite a few less actives lately. Huge miracle that happened this past week. The Zone Leaders (ZL's) were on exchanges in Port Alberni. We were on our way to a lesson, and on the way there, I completely forgot to tell Elder Camp to turn. So we ended up on taking a completely different way than I had imagined. Anyway, on our way there, we saw this lady on the side of road. I looked at her and thought that I recognized her for a second but didn't really think about it because we were running late for an appointment. However, Elder Camp said "is that Michelle?" I thought about it for a second and I had an epiphany that it was. Michelle was a former investigator from 3 months ago! So we turned the car around, pulled up next to her all creeper style in the car, and set up a return appointment! Super Awesome miracle!

This past Sunday was awesome too. I don't know why, but I was so determined to get someone to church this past Sunday, more than ever. I was so tired of people not coming to church that we stopped by every single investigator we had on our way and invited them to church. None of them came. I was so disappointed. Elder Zieler, Brother Van Horne and I went to go pick up Francois to pick him up and take him to church. The day previous, we had committed him to come to church and he said that he would come if we came and picked him up. Anyway, we knock on the door, hmmmm, I dunno, 4-5 times... no answer.... I was just about to throw something... We drove back to the church, wishing that we could take away peoples agency, and just force them to come to church. Anyway, as we were walking into the church, we walked past the relief society room and guess what? MARILYN CAME TO CHURCH!!! I saw her and my heart just almost exploded from excitement! We have been trying so hard to get her to come to church for the past 4 months! It was such a miracle! I couldn't believe that this day had finally come! I don't care how the rest of the day went, I was just so excited about Marilyn coming!

So Sunday was just an awesome day! Today Elder Zieler and I went to the driving range... talk about embarrassing. I cannot swing a golf club for my life! I shanked it so bad that I almost hit the guy next to me.  Anyway, it has been a super awesome week and I wouldn't it change it for the world! I sure miss all of you though and I hope that everything is going great for you!

Love

Elder McCown