WILLIS - Greece
Mon, Nov 5, 1990
Bro. P.
Thanks so much for the GUIDElines. If you only knew what a positive effect it has upon me and my work. You will never know how much you have helped me and my mission thru a little (sometimes not so little) newsletter. Thank you so much for all you do.
Well, the Lord blessed me and my comp with two baptisms the last couple of weeks. One was a 28 yr old lady (the first door to door baptism in Greece) and one was a 59 yr old man who had been awaiting for baptism for 19 months! His wife would not let him so my comp and I set a date on our planners for him to be baptized on November 3. We did that about a month ago. Well, he was baptized on Nov 3 two days ago. Does the Lord answer prayers? You bet your britches. The Lord has really blessed me.
I had a very special experience the other day. I was 'sent' on a split by my District Leader with an Elder that just arrived in Greece 8 days ago. Well, he didn't understand Greek at all and I don't do so well myself. I said a special prayer that morning pleading w/ the Lord to please open my mind, and boy did He! I was able to understand more than I had ever before. I was even able to teach a discussion. The Lord touched my mind and the Spirit lifted my understanding. Miracles do happen in these last days! It was a very special experience for me and I'm sorry that I can't express it better for you on paper. The Lord truly answers prayers. The Spirit is so important in this work.
The past week I have totally changed the way I go about the work. It is so much better than what I was doing before. I rely on the Spirit much more now and I am finding new ways to do it more every day. When someone opens the door I just smile really big and say, "I'm Elder Willis and this is my comp Elder King. Today we are doing a survey or I say we would like to ask you 9 basic questions. We have a special, important message about Christ and His restored gospel that we need to share with you."And with the Spirit people who have been Greek Orthodox all their lives and their families for centuries, they let us in and we share a short message about God, Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith. It is so fun! I can't think of anything else I would rather be doing! And missions are not that hard. I don't know why but they are not that tough. It might be a little difficult at times, but not that hard. I just try to have fun. I love it out here. The only way it would be hard is mentally and emotionally.
We had a couple we (I thought were guided to) found and taught them a really good first and a really good follow up of reading III Ne. 11. Then we went in to teach them a 2nd and the lady told us that she couldn't change because they were orthodox and very sincere ones and they believed that their parents taught them. My heart fell to my stomach and I was so, I can't describe my emotion. These great people came (-) that close to finding out who they really were (remember temple promises). I was so saddened they were the best two contacts that I have found while being over here. I just hope and pray that when another pair of Elders drops by their house in 20, 10, 2 years, that they will remember how they felt. That is what I try and tell people when they ask not to hear more. "In 2 yrs, 10 yrs, or 20 yrs two more Elders will talk to you again. Please listen to them again. The message will be the same but you will feel differently." So I hope and pray someone will find them again.
(Geoff - It is interesting you should put it that way. Long before we were members of the Church, we were at a funeral for my niece, in Beaver, Utah, and the Bishop who was conducting said, "Someday some young men will knock on your door and want to tell you about our church. All I ask is that you listen to them." Well, it was two Elderly Lady Missionaries who taught us the Gospel, but he was right...eventually every ear will hear and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ. Then every knee will bow).
I love you Brother Parker and give yourself a big hug from me and give one to Bro. Bowden, too. You two have made a profound effect on my life. Thank you. As Pres. Pinegar says, "I Love You! I Love You! I Love You!" Take care and may God truly bless you. (Greek) Godspeed.
Love, (Greek) Elder Willis
The Goldern Question. "What do you know about the Mormon Church and would you like to know more?" A question Mormons regularly ask non-members but rarely think to ask themselves. Like it? I do!
P.S. Here's something funny, for you. A guy came up to us the other day and said, "You are not American Missionaries. To me you are CIA and FBI. You are not American Missionaries." So I said, "You're right. Good luck getting home tonight pal. You found out my cover. Now I have to kill you!!! No, I really didn't. But I should have.
P.S.S. I found out that we are going to receive 150 new Elders in the next yr. Yikes!!!
GEOFF: It was wonderful in the Gardens last night, Geoff. The Coates are there with their staff putting up the lights and testing them. It has been so warm that we are still in short sleeve shirts! In the middle of November. We have been setting record highs each day. Yesterday it was almost 90. We have a good, dedicated crew in the Gardens. We had five nonmembers on tours last night, but all were taking the discussions, I believe. Trevor and I are going to the temple this morning at 7:00a.m. He is getting so anxious to be outathere and on his mission. He, Curtis Neilson, Tom Clifford, a young Temple Ammonite and I went Thursday evening, Room 4, in the back...beaming!!! It was great. Thanks for your letter and it sounds like you are having fun. I talked to Bobby on the phone last night and he had gotten a letter from Shad Driggs. Shad had met some people Bob's boy had baptized when he was in Australia! Small world. He said Shad is having troubles with his comp. Sounds like old news, huh Gang? Gotta run to the temple. Love ya, Bud.
We had a couple we (I thought were guided to) found and taught them a really good first and a really good follow up of reading III Ne. 11. Then we went in to teach them a 2nd and the lady told us that she couldn't change because they were orthodox and very sincere ones and they believed that their parents taught them. My heart fell to my stomach and I was so, I can't describe my emotion. These great people came (-) that close to finding out who they really were (remember temple promises). I was so saddened they were the best two contacts that I have found while being over here. I just hope and pray that when another pair of Elders drops by their house in 20, 10, 2 years, that they will remember how they felt. That is what I try and tell people when they ask not to hear more. "In 2 yrs, 10 yrs, or 20 yrs two more Elders will talk to you again. Please listen to them again. The message will be the same but you will feel differently." So I hope and pray someone will find them again.
(Geoff - It is interesting you should put it that way. Long before we were members of the Church, we were at a funeral for my niece, in Beaver, Utah, and the Bishop who was conducting said, "Someday some young men will knock on your door and want to tell you about our church. All I ask is that you listen to them." Well, it was two Elderly Lady Missionaries who taught us the Gospel, but he was right...eventually every ear will hear and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ. Then every knee will bow).
I love you Brother Parker and give yourself a big hug from me and give one to Bro. Bowden, too. You two have made a profound effect on my life. Thank you. As Pres. Pinegar says, "I Love You! I Love You! I Love You!" Take care and may God truly bless you. (Greek) Godspeed.
Love, (Greek) Elder Willis
The Goldern Question. "What do you know about the Mormon Church and would you like to know more?" A question Mormons regularly ask non-members but rarely think to ask themselves. Like it? I do!
P.S. Here's something funny, for you. A guy came up to us the other day and said, "You are not American Missionaries. To me you are CIA and FBI. You are not American Missionaries." So I said, "You're right. Good luck getting home tonight pal. You found out my cover. Now I have to kill you!!! No, I really didn't. But I should have.
P.S.S. I found out that we are going to receive 150 new Elders in the next yr. Yikes!!!
GEOFF: It was wonderful in the Gardens last night, Geoff. The Coates are there with their staff putting up the lights and testing them. It has been so warm that we are still in short sleeve shirts! In the middle of November. We have been setting record highs each day. Yesterday it was almost 90. We have a good, dedicated crew in the Gardens. We had five nonmembers on tours last night, but all were taking the discussions, I believe. Trevor and I are going to the temple this morning at 7:00a.m. He is getting so anxious to be outathere and on his mission. He, Curtis Neilson, Tom Clifford, a young Temple Ammonite and I went Thursday evening, Room 4, in the back...beaming!!! It was great. Thanks for your letter and it sounds like you are having fun. I talked to Bobby on the phone last night and he had gotten a letter from Shad Driggs. Shad had met some people Bob's boy had baptized when he was in Australia! Small world. He said Shad is having troubles with his comp. Sounds like old news, huh Gang? Gotta run to the temple. Love ya, Bud.
