Sister Williams and I are loving Buckhannon! We had a miracle this week that greatly uplifted both of us. Last Sunday we had a companionship fast to find five new investigators this week. We did all that we could and we worked hard to talk with every person who was within earshot of us. By Wednesday we had found three new investigators and we were teaching them with the other investigators in our growing teaching pool.
By Thursday, however, I began to worry. We had been full of faith and hope all week, we had been diligently working and studying and finding and teaching, but we still had only found three new investigators. I began to grow anxious because we had meetings scheduled for most of Friday, and many appointments scheduled for Friday and Saturday. Appointments are great and we are excited to be teaching, but I also knew that we had set a goal to find five new investigators, not three, and I know that any goal set in faith and diligently sought for will not fail. So I was anxious.
As we walked to one of our Thursday evening appointments, I expressed my concern to Sister Williams who had been feeling the same anxious pressure. We momentarily pushed our worries aside as we arrived at our appointment, so we could do our best to teach by the Spirit. We were teaching a woman named D____ whom we met last week. On Thursday we taught the restoration, and she received it very well. She had few questions and she understood everything very well. It was a crazy lesson because her two-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter were running between us, holding vacuum tubes to their mouths like trumpets and yelling into them with all the might of their little lungs - not the idea spiritual atmosphere. Regardless of her pleas for silence, the children continued to run rampant, so in faith we proceeded to teach the lesson, praying that the Spirit would find its way into her heart. I was amazed that regardless of the distraction and noise, D____'s eyes remained intently focused on ours. The room was filled with chaos, yet we could clearly sense her understanding and sincere interest. It was amazing to witness. I know that the Spirit will touch any heart that is open and trying to understand and seek for truth, regardless of the irreverent atmosphere encompassing them.
Near the end of our lesson, as we were telling her about the Book of Mormon, her teenage son came home (he is a senior in high school). He walked in the front door, casually clutching a basketball in the crook of his arm, and warmly greeted his mother. Then to our great surprise, he plopped the basketball on the floor, sat down on it, and turned his attention to us. Wow. We talked with him for a few minutes and got to know him, and then we proceeded to teach about the Book of Mormon. We were amazed as he attentively listened, completely focused on the Book of Mormon and our words, and we could see a sense of understanding in his eyes, just like his mom. We felt inspired to talk about eternal families, and as our lesson veered in that direction. D___'s mom, who lives with them as well, quietly came into the room and eased onto the couch. As we explained the importance of families and the blessing of eternal families, her eyes also shone and she nodded her head in excited agreement to the truth we shared with her. The light of understanding radiated from these three wonderful people, and the room was charged with the spirit. I am so thankful for the recognition of truth that each of us are blessed with as Children of God. We have each been given the light of Christ to seek after and recognize truth. It is a blessing to witness the light of Christ testifying of truth to someone within their own heart.
As Sister Williams and I were walking home that night, we realized that we had just found two more investigators. We had reached our goal of five that we had fasted for. Later that week we were able to find another new investigator, exceeding the goal we had set. I know that as we act in faith, and as we sustain that faith even after accomplishing our goals, that we do see miracles. We see the Lord's hand prominently in our work. I know that faith is power, and I know that the Lord honors His servants who act in faith and set goals. Wherefore didst I doubt?
Love,
Sister Shumway