Daily, HOURLY, Interruptions

I want to share a special experience we had yesterday. A man called last week and wanted to know if we believed we were saved by works or by faith. I told him I believed we must do good things for others just like Jesus did, but after all is said and done it is through the Grace of Jesus Christ we will be saved. 

The man quoted me several passages of scripture that contradicted each other. I told him, “It sounds confusing. Doesn’t it?  What do you believe?” He told me.  I asked if he would like our missionaries to stop by and shed some light on it?”  Well, he did. I found the missionaries in his area and called them. They didn’t go!  The man called me back. He was disappointed they hadn’t come.

I talked to him for some length and then turned the phone over to Scott. As I listened to your dad’s side of the conversation the spirit filled the room. A great peace and calm could be felt. We promised to get the missionaries right over to see him.

 I called the missionaries back to see what had happened. We will call him Elder Bob. He said they didn’t bother to go see him because they had asked around and other missionaries said the man in question was a “time waster.”  He had been studying with another faith and he had lots of questions, but that was it.

I shared with Elder Bob our experience in Cincinnati concerning 4 converts that were formerly from the faith the man studied with.  I told Elder Bob about those converts’ incredible faith and knowledge of the Bible and how it was their “questioning” that led them to the restored church.  Each of our dear sweet convert friends had gone through many sets of elders before they accepted the gospel. It took one sister 10 sets of elders/sisters before she joined.

I told Elder Bob it wasn’t our job to judge who is ready and who is not. Heavenly Father is preparing people. I then told him he might be lucky number 10 and to GO see the man and answer his questions. Well, he and his companion did.

Yesterday Elder Bob called and reported back to me. The visit went well, the man wanted a copy of the Book of Mormon to read because he had heard about our church all his life and he was now ready to read the Book of Mormon for himself. Also the man promised to attend church this coming Sunday with the elders!

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A member lady from Salt Lake called and asked if some elders could give her “in-active” mom in Ohio a blessing. The mom was recovering from surgery. Sister missionaries working in the area took a member of the bishopric and the ward mission leader with them and the brethren gave the mom a blessing. The sister missionaries reported back the blessing was given, the mom was very receptive, and they had an appointment on Friday to visit and teach her.  Such obedient sisters! When I reported back to the daughter in Salt Lake she was ecstatic . . .

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Two weeks ago while traveling home from Zone Conference it started to rain. “Dump buckets” would be a better description out here. A missionary didn’t stop fast enough and hit another car. The elder exchanged information with the man but the man left before he gave his information back to the elders. We didn’t know how to contact the man so we waited.

The man finally called our number. He was angry, demanding, and wanted to talk to our insurance company—not us! Your dad was calm and very professional. Yesterday your dad called the man back to see if he was able to talk to the insurance company and if they had helped him. At first the man was abrupt but calmed down and thanked your dad once he felt your dad really cared.

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Our days in Columbus are filled with paperwork and schedules to meet, but it is the “interrupting phone calls” that turn into “Tender Mercies “of the Lord. The longer we serve the more we see the need of a listening ear for all mankind.

What did we learn? How do I view my daily interruptions? Do I take time to listen to other’s concerns . . . little people, big people?  It does make a BIG difference! Let us start today to make the change.

Love you all, mom and dad