Greetings from CAM                                                        July 25, 2016

Dear Loved Ones All,

It has been an interesting week of the usual, texting, calling, and knocking on doors.  What has been amazing was that there seemed to be someone at every locked apartment gate to let us in this week.  And there seemed to be more parking spaces available than usual.  We would get really excited that we got “IN” only to find that the person we wanted to see wasn’t there.  Strange indeed from a mortal perspective.  I guess the test as a missionary is if we are willing to keep trying.  Then the blessings come as illustrated by the following.

A Tender Mercy from the Lord

This tender mercy took about a week to develop. On Saturday, the 16th, as we were trying again to visit an inactive member that we had never caught at home.  We knocked on her door, then knocked again, and were about to leave, when a second-story window above the door was opened and a sleepy masculine voice said, “What do you want?”  Knowing that she had a couple of sons, we weren't too surprised, and asked if his mom was home.  He said no, and we said we had a calling card for her with our phone number on it, that we would like to leave for her. He said OK and we put the card in the door started to leave.  But before we had gone a few steps, we heard the door open so we went back as he was retrieving the card, and had a short, but pleasant conversation.  We learned his name, Jeffrey, and invited him to come to church. He said he had been thinking about it, but was busy. He thanked us and we left.  On Tuesday we stopped later in the day, when we thought he had said his mother would be home, but he answered again.  He said his mother was visiting her grandson, so wasn't there. He also mentioned that he was thinking about changing his career, so we talked about the Pathway program and said we would drop off some literature regarding the program for him. Of all the numerous attempts to see people that day, Jeffrey was the only one at home. Elder Macbeth said he wondered if maybe he was the one whom we were supposed to see. On Thursday we tried to drop off the Pathway brochure, but no one was home. On Saturday, we stopped and his mother answered the door, which was a tender mercy itself, because we had been trying for months to meet her. We gave her the literature for her son, and invited her to church, to which she had a reply to the effect that she knew we were going to say that. We chatted briefly on the doorstep about how she was loved and needed by the Ward, and left. That night, about 10:15 pm, our phone rang and it was Jeffrey, asking if he could come to church tomorrow even if he didn't have a white shirt. We assured him that we would love to see him there, and as long as he was in his best, no one would criticize his apparel. He said he just wanted us to know he was coming. So, the miracle happened this Sunday when Jeffrey stepped into the church for the first time in about 12 years. He was warmly welcomed by the Ward.  Originally he was only going to stay for Sacrament Meeting, but stayed for the whole block, and said he'd be back next week. After church, he said that he was praying to the Lord for guidance, and “Elder and Sister Macbeth knocked on his door.” So, our direct prayers to meet his mother, and the follow-on prayers for him to come to church, were answered.

So we are quite happy with what appeared a somewhat unproductive week.  This evening we are going to the Bishop’s house for dinner with the young elders and sisters serving in our ward. Since there were transfers yesterday we will have a new missionary to meet.           Love to All, Sister and Elder Macbeth