Dear everybody,
How are you? I hope you are well. I
am sweaty and sunburned and tired, but doing okay. I hear the Jazz are fighting
for the playoffs, cheer them on for me. Last week I totally forgot to tell you
all that we had Elder Christensen visit our mission. He was so awesome to learn
from and to listen to. I'll send the picture of us this week so you can see, he
is a big dude, but very happy and funny.
This week Elder Ravi and I were able
to see many miracles in our work, but there is one in particular that I still
think about each day. We were heading to our area to go finding by taking the
local trains, the place we were headed is called Chembur, but we missed our
stop and ended up in Dadar. I told Elder Ravi we had two choices, go back to
where we originally planned to go, or trust that maybe there was a reason we
ended up in Dadar. Of course there was a reason to be there, and so we chose to
stay. We went walking and finally found a building nearby, walked to the very
top and knocked on the first door. We start at the top so that if anyone yells
at us (which they will) we can walk down and do more doors and they will think
we are leaving, they won't let us walk up stairs to talk to more people if they
yell at us. So the very first door opened and an old man, 70 years old, yelled
at us and told us to leave if we were selling anything. To be honest I was a
little fed up with people that day, so I said very boldly, no we are not, and this
message is very important. He then responded, oh. So you're preachers, come in.
The invitation was nice, but his tone wasn't. I was expecting the worst
scolding I had ever received, which would be a tough challenge for him because
I have received many in my time here. We sat down and I asked his name, he
wouldn't tell me. He sat back in his chair and started to roll up a handmade cigarette,
and then asked if we smoked. I said no, he said good. That's when I knew he
wished he didn't smoke and there was an opportunity for repentance. He quizzed
me of my knowledge of the bible, asking where did Jesus turn water into wine. I
said Cana. (Easy answer I thought, give me something hard) But I guess I had
won his respect and he finally allowed me to speak. I then taught the
Restoration more boldly and powerfully than I ever have before, it may very
well be my favorite lesson of all time. The Spirit was so strong and I said
every word I was prompted to speak. At the end of the lesson he wouldn't even
touch the Book of Mormon until he had washed his smoky hands. He then told us
his life story, how he had been in depression for many years. He was born Hindu
but knew much about Christianity. In his words, he was born with a silver spoon
in his mouth, and lost it all away gambling and drinking. He was divorced and
had nothing but a small apartment and his friends; luckily he still had a good
relationship with his son. We taught him about repentance and God's plan, we
taught him that he can be forgiven and that he is loved, and we gave him a
blessing at his request. Finally as we were leaving he told us "my name is
M.A.K." It’s his initials for some really long unpronounceable name. At
that moment I had made a friend, and he had too. If nothing else came of
meeting him, I could leave knowing that I gave him my all and that I was there
for him when he needed me. It's an amazing feeling to be an instrument in the
hand of the Lord. Mak has now read about 30 or 40 pages of the Book of Mormon,
and enjoys it. And I enjoy watching people change. I love all of you, and hope
there is something in this story that can lift you up.
Love,
Elder Armstrong
