I thought it would be interesting to hear about a week from Calvin's companion.
(He gives a little more detail than Calvin does.)
Dear Family and Friends,
Well the beginning of these letters are always the same so we can just get straight into the miracles we witnessed
this week!
The first four weeks of this transfer were some of the hardest weeks of my mission. Elder Chappell and I hit the
pavement everyday and worked all day. We did multiple types of finding and nothing seemed to be happening.
As a mission we have been asked to study Alma 17-27 in preparation for a visit from Elder Gifford Nielsen of the
70 and Pacific Area Presidency this week. We have been reading about the sons of Mosiah and their missionary
efforts and the trials and afflictions they went through. It was obviously not as bad for us, but it was a very
difficult start and not what we expected to this transfer. Up to Wednesday of this past week we really hadn't
taught any lessons, actually we hadn't taught any investigators. It was getting discouraging. Then the thought
came to both Elder Chappell and I that we needed to fast. So on Wednesday night we opened a fast to have
greater faith and to see more success in this area. Miracles happened.
Thursday morning we had to drop our car off at the dealership to get the engine looked at (it was overheating).
That put us on foot the whole day, but miracles occurred. We have met with this man before that we prayerfully
chose off of a potential investigators form in our area book. His name is Kevin, and this is a miracle and a mission
dream come true. Kevin was raised as a JW but is no longer practicing with them. On Thursday we went by and
had a really good chat with him at his door and he mentioned that his wife had mentioned that they should
"maybe come along" to our church. So we set up a time to come on Saturday and for them to start investigating
the church. More from them in a second.
Thursday evening we had an appointment at 7 with a part member family, we had expected to get the car back
but never did until Friday, so we had to bus it to the appointment. The only problem was we had the address
but no idea where in this suburb it was. We knew a general direction so we caught a bus over there at 6:40 and
got off on a stop that we felt was right. As we began walking we were saying prayers in our hearts to find it
and low and behold we walked straight to this appointment and got there at 6:57. God works miracles
according to faith. It was cool, and they unexpectedly fed us and we taught a lesson and they gave us a
ride home. It was a miracle. Thursday was just the start of everything.
Friday was a glorious day, i returned to the land of Point Cook on exchanges with a fellow valley resident
in Elder Eskelson. We had a great day working in Point Cook. We found and taught a new investigator for
them and set him on date for Feb 18th! He was pretty keen. That night the bishops son was getting baptized
and they invited us because they had invited some non members and less actives. One was a very apparent
non member, Jared. I started talking to him and learned he is a LA and his wife, Anna, is a non-member and
even better they live in our area! So i asked if we could come around and they agreed and are feeding us
tomorrow and we are going to start teaching them. The wife, who is a non-member seemed really interested
to have us come back. Miracles on Exchanges.
Now Saturday was our most miraculous day. We literally spent all day teaching people. We haven't done
anything even close to this all transfer. We first taught a man i GQ'd at the station. He is interested to keep
meeting with us too! Then after we rushed to Kevins house to teach their family. There we met his wife Stella
and son Tristan. They are amazing. We taught the restoration and the spirit was amazing. When we taught
about Joseph Smith and prophets Stella didn't agree that we need prophets in this day. We explained more
about how times are difficult and different from Moses' time and we don't know how it happened but she
started believing in prophets right there. And then she was teaching her husband about how it makes sense
and trying to help him understand it too. It was just a really cool lesson. They are solid and are excited to
have us back next week. We plan on extending baptism to them too! Teaching JW's was one of my dreams!
Pray for them! We spent more of that day teaching new people and seeing miracles!
Sunday we taught even more people. We taught the man Uli. He is amazing. He came to church and then had
us over for lunch yesterday and cooked us his man sized Sausage rolls. They were amazing and the lesson was
great. We are working to overcome his concern with Joseph Smith. So far it is going really good. We built a
solid relationship with him, he now texts us with updates about the NFL and NBA so that is a bonus too! Sunday
night a member also invited a friend over for dinner and a lesson and we are now teaching her too! Just
miracles galore and people are coming out of the woodwork's! Testimony building week.
If I had to sum up this week i would say it was one of the best ones of my mission. From Monday to Thursday
we taught zero lessons and fro Thursday to Sunday we taught more than 10. The power of fasting, faith and
works is real. My testimony of fasting has grown so much. To be honest, i never have really had that experience
were i was fasting for a specific purpose and i saw miracles from it. Obviously fasting was a big part of my early
life when i was born, but this was an experience for myself. It was amazing. I can now say with full purpose of
heart that fasting truly does bring miracles! It was a great week! I don't have any other words to say than that
it was amazing. I love this time of my mission. We have a great week lined up already. Lots of appointments
with these people and a mission conference with Elder Nielsen of the 70, with a special MLC with him too. I love
the work of Salvation. It is the Lords work and He is at the head of it. He runs it. This is His work! And I just
can't get enough of it!
Love
Elder Albrechtsen
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