Weeks 31-35

January 28, 2023 - February 25, 2023 

There is protection in knowing and obeying the commandments of our Heavenly Father. We had a live object lesson this week to prove it.

We never know who will come walking through the doors of the institute. Yesterday we had a "scary" looking young man come into the institute. The person had tattoos all over his face, neck, arms, lips, forehead, his eye lids...anywhere he could have one, he had it. He'd been smoking pot. He said that he was told by God to come to this place (the institute). He said that he could feel God's spirit here. He wanted to get away from Satan who was binding him to drugs and a bad life-style. I spoke to him for about three and one-half hours. As the drugs wore off, he became very clear but still agitated. We had talked about "missionary" stuff earlier on. I gave him a Book of Mormon and had the impression that if he would just read something from it that he would calm down and not be so agitated. I had him open to 3 Nephi chapter 11. As he started reading a calm came over him. He was no longer agitated. 

The picture above is not him; he was worse. But it gives you the idea. He had a warrant out for his arrest. He had been incarcerated in almost every jail facility near Columbus. I spoke to his parole officer over the phone. She told me that if he checked into a rehab center that she would lift the warrant on him. He found one of his friends that would help him get to the rehab center. He was so sincere and wanted the person who was taking him to the rehab to join him and to get out of their current life-style together.

It was so sad. He was so tangled in the chains of hell that he wanted God to release him. He was fighting to get away from Satan and the lies and the drugs and consequences of his poor decisions. He had been in and out of jail, in drugs, and gangs since he was 13 years old. He wanted a new life but was so mired in his current situation and it pained him so much. 

The gospel of Jesus Christ, its doctrine, principles, and practices are the only safe way to navigate through this confusing world. He was a walking, talking, visual aid of this truth. He punctuated the contrast between what we experience with our YSA youth every day. The institute is not equipped to handle these types of people. But even they are led to light when they can see it. He left with a copy of the Book of Mormon. I'm not sure if he will get free enough from his enslaved situation to grasp the truth or not. We can only pray for him and hundreds, thousands, more like him who struggle in this world today.

Human Foosball

Working with the two YSA wards we get to participate in Monday family night activities.  Here they are playing human foosball! These are times when our investigators get a chance to see how our YSAs have fun. 

Packed institute class

Brother Knowles, our institute director, has a famous teaching style (teaching by the Spirit) that draws many students to class. He brings such a great sense of belonging and relevance to his classes.  

YSA ice skating

Many of the youth asked if we would be attending their multi-stake sponsored ice skating night at the Easton Chiller. They told us that they just wanted us to be there and share the event with them. We were so happy to watch them have fun, and yes, fall on the ice-- yikes! They kept asking if we would get out on the ice. I told them if we did that we would most likely be going home from our mission early due to injuries! 

We had three baptisms this blog!

One of those baptized made a complete turnaround in his life -- a full 180. He had a very difficult background and upbringing. We can see how he has changed into a completely new person in such a short time (of course he is still working on things). This gives us hope for people like the one we described in the beginning of the blog. There is always hope. The Savior can reach to the lowliest depths and pull people up and out to a new life in Christ.

The other sister I baptized is amazing! She came to the institute with a member friend. I took her on a tour of the facility and we stopped in the classroom. I felt to show her the "big picture" of how everything fit together regarding the plan of salvation, priesthood, and restoration. The diagrams and drawings filled three large white boards. I spoke to her boldly. A few days later she said that she came to the institute with the hope that she could understand how everything fit together. She said that she had felt the Spirit and was encouraged to be baptized.

I was able to baptize this sister, Ivy, who is here from China going to school here at the OSU. She has a strong testimony of prayer. She keeps her commitments and is learning so much. We were able to take her to the Indianapolis temple to perform baptisms and confirmations. Sister Perona helped her find two of her grandmothers for baptism!

Our office is often filled to capacity with YSA and missionaries who just want to be with us. It is such a delight to work and visit with these future leaders of the church. They are so inspiring. We love being with them. We love serving them. We love that they treat us as peers.

The second Saturday of each month is YSA temple day at the Indianapolis temple. This is when we reach out to recently baptized members to perform work for their kindred dead. Sister Perona sits down with them to find their loved ones and gets the names ready for the temple. 

We usually get to help out in the baptistry. Since we were baptistry coordinators in the Oakland temple we feel privileged to serve, on a very temporary basis, as support in the Indianapolis temple baptistry. Sometimes we get to do some sealings or some initiatories and recently an endowment (we absolutely love the recent changes at the temple!).

We have such fun "teaching" our Tuesday 1pm EST BYU Devotional class. We watch the live BYU devotional broadcast on BYU TV and then have a discussion afterwards. Just before the class we serve lunch. Today we enjoyed tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, Waldorf salad, brownies with ice cream and chocolate sauce. We think that the lunch brings more students. The class has grown from about 6 to 24.

We are so excited about the missionary opportunities with the open house for the Columbus Ohio temple! If you are in the area please plan to attend. We'd love to see you!

Saturday, April 29 – Saturday, May 13, 2023 (Except Sundays)

All are invited to tour the Columbus Ohio Temple.

Admission is free. Reservations are recommended (see link below).

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/featured/columbus-ohio-open-house

We look forward to our April zone conference. It will be held in the Kirtland temple. It will be held during the week of General Conference for the Church. Wow, what a power-packed week that will be!!

Everyday we witness miracles. The Lord, the Priesthood, the unfolding restoration are real and so true. So much happens right beneath our noses that, if not careful to watch, go unnoticed. There are so many manifestations of the Lord's hand. He is in control. This is His work. It will roll forth until all His promises are fulfilled. We are glad to be all-in for this cause and seeing His majesty and power manifest almost every day.

We love and miss you all. We know we are in the right place at the right time and (hopefully) doing the right things. We pray that all of us will continue to get on and stay on the covenant path and make Christ our sure anchor and foundation. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.