Another Week in Fremont

Another week in Fremont! Do you remember the young man that I told you about last week that we went and taught? Well, he came to church this week! AND he brought his father with him! It was my first time going to church with an investigator and I wasn't quite sure what to do with myself. I kept a prayer in my heart that they would be able to feel the Spirit and recognize the power of the priesthood. The members in the Central Park Ward were great, almost everyone came and introduced themselves and let them know that they were welcome at church. The ward mission leader -- Brother Kalff -- was great and sat with us and helped explain to them what was going on and being a great friend. They had something that they needed to do so they couldn't stay longer than Sacrament meeting, but I'm so happy that they came. Last night this young man gave us a call and told us that he enjoyed coming to church. That was so great to hear. 

This past week Sister Kim and I also attended ward council, where the leaders of the organizations in the ward meet to discuss how we can help people build their own testimonies and become rooted in the gospel. It was a really neat experience for me to see how a ward works to care for people that we have stewardship over. I realized that church is not just an opportunity for me to strengthen my own testimony, but it is also an opportunity for me to serve others by helping them to feel God's love for them and to build their own testimonies. Before my mission I never went to church with that mindset and it helped me to realized the importance of gathering together often (Alma 6:6). Heavenly Father really does look out for His children through us. 

Sister Kim and I also attended the ASL class that the ASL Elders do on Thursdays. California School for the Deaf and Blind is here in Fremont so there is a Deaf Branch that meets in the same building as us, that is why there are ASL Elders assigned to this area. But anyways, I learned how to sign the alphabet in ASL and how to count to ten. I thought it was going to be much more difficult to learn the alphabet, but I picked it up pretty fast. ASL is a very animated language.

Transfers are this Wednesday in this mission and Sister Kim and I are going to be staying here in Fremont. I'm glad because that means that I really get to know the people here and to build up the church in this area. It is much more difficult than it sounds. We spend a lot of our time trying to visit less active members in the ward to see if they are interested to build their testimonies again and meeting with people who are striving to increase their activity. Yesterday we met with two women that are quite inactive so we shared the Plan of Salvation with them. It opened their eyes again to the beauty of God's love and how He is so loving and merciful. One of them got excited to read the Book of Mormon again and we're going to visit them again next week and share the Restoration with them.