The Rabe Family

So the story about the Rabe family.  I got permission to go back to Trophy Club for their baptism.  About two weeks before I left we got a referral from mormon.org with his cell phone number and address and it said that he talked to missionaries and wouldn't mind them coming by.  So we went to go try and see him and they live way out in the boonies on this old airport.  We tried calling him but the phone was disconnected and we went to the house but the address didn't exist.  So we asked a couple neighbors and they led us to where their house was.  We set up a lesson for the next week and they were really nice but didn't seem super interested.  When we got there they were waiting for us and basically the dad said he wanted us to teach his kids because his grandfather was one and he approved of it.  We taught them and they ended up coming to church and loved it.  Then on Memorial day we invited them to our ward mission leaders house and they came to that and had an awesome time.  Then I got transferred...I knew they were going to get baptized though, they were such an awesome family.  The dad who at first wasn't interested got baptized along with his wife and daughter.  The son didn't feel ready yet but that is totally fine.  So I was able to communicate with sister Sperry who I lived with and she came and picked us up.  It was so awesome to go to the baptism and the whole relief society room was packed it was great.  It felt so good to see them come together as a family and be excited and happy.

Baptism of Rabe Family

Replica of the Book of Mormon

Friends from Trophy Club

When we step back we can see great things

This week has come and gone quick.  They took our car away because some Sisters in a different area need it so we are on bikes right now.  It's really not bad at all you are just sweaty all the time but you have the chance to talk with everyone so it has it's ups and downs.  Someone in the ward works on airplanes and took us to his hanger this morning for our P-day and we got to walk around on the airplanes and sit in the pilots seat it was pretty awesome.  

Just a couple hours ago we had a pretty cool miracle happen.  So what we do here is teach something called work of salvation lessons with active member families.  So instead of sharing a feel good message after dinner we share a video usually then give them a piece of paper that says family mission game plan.  It is to see who they are working with and who they want to share the gospel with.  We did one about a week ago and it went really well then today we got a text saying one of their friends wants to meet with us and start taking the lessons.  Little miracles like that that come out of no where are the best.  We are also teaching a less active part member family who has gotten reactivated and the dad is getting baptized on July 19th which is awesome!  Some times it seems like the work is going slow here when we look at it number wise but when I took a step back and saw all the great things going on it's a lot different.  There are a lot of amazing things happening here.  We are doing something on Saturday that I’ll talk about in my next email.  This is the only true Church and the only one with the Authority from God.  I love being able to serve others and help them find true happiness. Thanks for all the support and love.

Elder Kaelin

Justin in the Cockpit

I am where I need to be

This week we had the chance to meet someone that my friend Elder Shorewood and Sister Farnsworth knows.  The only reason we found out his address was because Elder Shorewood’s sister gave it to him and then to me when he found out I was getting transferred to Grapevine.  He is a return missionary of about 3 years and is married to a non member.  He is less active I’m pretty sure but when we went to his house he was more than happy to let us in and talk with us.  He is a super awesome guy and was way nice to us.  That is a testimony builder that the Lord knows where I need to be.  What are the chances that we came in contact with someone that I know two of his friends back from Arizona.  A lot of people ask me if I’m sad that I haven't made it to Brazil yet.  Yes I am sad at times but I love it here in Texas and I know without a doubt that I’m here for a reason.  If Heavenly Father needed me in Brazil than I would already be there right now. We are working with two part member families who have both been taught tons of times but for whatever reason are coming to church and loving it.  The Lord knows us personally and wants what is best for us.

Love Elder Visser

Miracles all around

We had a really awesome week of missionary work with miracles every single day.  I don’t remember if I talked about it last week but we have another set of Elders living with us in our one bedroom apartment right now.  It's only a temporary 10 day thing but it has made things interseting and fun.  We have two part member less active families who are coming back to church and the husband of both families are investigating the church and are really interested.  I had the opportunity to give one of the moms from the family a blessing last night because she is having surgery tomorrow which was a really great experience.  On sunday we had two investigators that always show up come as usual and one got called into work on an emergency call right before church so I was a little bummed about that.  The great thing is that as soon as sacrament was over I turned around and saw one of the part member less active husband and wife sitting in the back waving to me.  I was not expecting it at all and it made me so happy to see everyone there.  We also had a mission president fireside last night which was awesome.  Our mission president is pretty amazing.  I’ve learned so much since I’ve been on my mission.  My testimony has really grown too.  What I love is just how everything makes so much sense.  I have no doubt that this is the only true church on the earth today with the restored Priesthood authority from God.  I have prayed and recieved the answer for myself and the fact that it just makes complete sense and the way I feel about it inside I know that it's true.

Love Elder Visser

Grapevine update

So Grapevine is a pretty cool area and the ward is really awesome too.  I totally thought I was in a bike area but at transfers we got a call telling us we got the car back so we are now in a car but we will still have to bike to try and save miles.  Living in an apartment is really different.  The only down side of it is that we don’t have a washer or dryer so we have to pay for every load.  Besides that though I haven’t found anything to complain about.  I miss living with sister sperry.  She took really really good care of us and she spoiled us like crazy.  We have some really good investigators here and a couple with baptismal dates set.  I’m still trying to get settled in with learning all the streets and everyone that we are teaching.  I’ve come to learn I’m pretty horrible at remembering peoples names.  One cool experience I had this week though was when we were teaching a guy whos family back in Oregon are all members, and he just recently got out of jail for breaking probation.  We taught him the plan of salvation and at the end I went to bear my testimony and he cuts me off and says I just want to let you know I know this church is true and that everything you are teaching me is true too.  That was really awesome and the spirit was super strong.  Oh we are also getting two Elders to room with us for ten days since the members they live with are having family over so that should be really fun.  There will be four Elders in a tiny one bedroom apartment.  I’m still trying to figure everything out and these computers are way different so next week I’ll take some pictures and send them.

Love Elder Visser