Miracles and a curse

I'll tell you the curse first, to get rid of the tension.

I'm cursed.  I've averaged a companion per transfer and 2 transfers per city.  And yep, that curse is continuing.  I'm getting the boot up to Lelystad.   I'm going to be companions with Elder Shoemaker, who was also in Elder Moscon's MTC group.  We're bunking with Elder Andrews (my old companion) and his greenie, who cover the neighbouring city.  Ah! I was just getting comfortable too. We've found so many people to teach these last few weeks and wham.  Gone I go.  The way of the dust (as to things pertaining to Turnhout).  Oh well.  At least I got a nice bike out of it--oh and memories too...

And like always, I didn't expect to get transferred, so I took no pictures of members...  Blast.

Ah yes.  Miracles.

So this week, we heard from President Kearon, of the seventy.  We also heard his British accent.  He gave a wonderful presentation on finding and how to improve ourselves in that regard.  He really stressed the power of earnest prayer too.  It was cool because afterwards, I was one of the few people to be interviewed by him.  I told him 2 or 3 things I'd learnt on my mission then split. 

Our Zone Leaders then decided that we were going to have a ZONE WIDE prayer.  So on Friday, in our own apartments, we all knelt at 10:30 and said a prayer, asking the Lord to help us with our goals and success.  Later that day, after what was a regular day, we decided to knock on a door which a friendly old lady had suggested we try.  The guy was friendly, but not terribly interested.  As we talked, the same friendly old lady came home (she's his neighbour).  A few moments later, her husband came home too.  As we were biking away, we had the very strong impression to go back and give her a Book of Mormon.  We knocked on their door and she answered.  We told her we wanted to give her something because she was so kind and we wanted to show some kindness in return.  She was a bit confused, but took it nevertheless.  This is the mysterious part.  Her husband (who she had mentioned is suffering from a sore back) came to the door too, asking what was happening.  He spotted the book and told her repeatedly to give it back, in a grouchy way.  She said something and he spotted the cover and changed right before our eyes.  He let her keep it, then actually turned to us and began asking about our church and whether we had a building nearby.  It's such a difficult thing to describe, but it was as though his heart softened the moment he read the title of the Book of Mormon.  Elder Moscon and I left the door puzzled, but feeling the Spirit strongly.  I only see a small part of the puzzle, but I think we were supposed to be there at that exact moment.  It was a moment of importance for these two people, but I can't explain why.  It just felt like a miracle.

Then later that same day, we met with Simon, who chills at the end of our road.  He brought a friend, Don with him and we shared the Restoration with them--sitting on one of the benches at the end of the road.  We asked them if they would be baptized at the end of the lesson--supposing they knew our message was true--and they both agreed outright.  When we set a goal of October 20, Don commented how far away that was.  Also, when we told them the font was in Antwerpen, they started discussing how they would get there.  It was super cool.  They both seem to want to change their lives for the better--good thing too.  They smoke weed very frequently...  Neat experience though.

Then, we decided to have another zone prayer the next day.  While we were in Herentals, we knocked on a certain door and a guy answered.  He said he was Muslim, but had a bunch of friends, then bode us to follow.  The weird things you do on your mission...  We followed him through this house to meet two guys setting up a barbecue.  We had a cool discussion with them, and the first Muslim guy too, about the Book of Mormon.  Halfway through our talk, the first guy left to get shoes and came back with yet another friend.  Out of nowhere, we taught these four African guys, gave them 2 book of Mormons and made a return appointment.  What?

Oh yeah.  Then earlier this week...  The miracles never stop!  We met a man named Simon Benedict by the bus station.  I think I already told you about him......and that the Sisters in Antwerpen gave us a referral, which was Albert.  We went to the Arendonk AZC (refugee centre) to meet with Albert.  We actually met him on the bus on the way there too.  When we got there, he left quickly to get some food from his apartment, and came back with Simon Benedict.  It was unbelievable.  These two people we met two totally separate ways turned out to be bestest friends.  So that was neat as well.

Then, after church, while we were still in the building, a lady came out of nowhere, holding one of our cards and said she was looking for the church written on the card.  We set up an appointment and she promised to come to church the following Sunday.

Dang, miracles flew out of nowhere this week.  The windows of heaven are open!  Prayer--it works.  Especially when your entire zone is united in it.

Well, sorry for writing so much.  So much happened!

Thanks for your support--and see you in Lelystad!

Tot volgende keer,

Elder Burgess

Stadhuisplein 13a
1315 HV Almere-stad
Nederland

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lelystad

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almere