Post from the Washington D.C. South Mission blog

 

This last week was a week to remember! I was able to witness four people commit to a baptismal date! I LOVE the opportunity to witness God touching these peoples hearts in a way that allows them to know that our message is true, and baptism is the path that they should go. I am no better than any missionary out here. My dad taught me that the most important thing while serving a missin is to be humble. I didn't do anything to these people. I just asked them a simple question. It was God that preformed miracles in the hearts and lives that allowed them to realize what's in front of them. I am trully honored to be a missionary at this time in my life. To witness the blessings of success that God gives to my companion and I. I love the work

With much love, Elder Michael Litchfield

So this week was full of high's and low's. Monday night, we stopped by
a potential investigators house, that we tracted into a while ago, to
try to teach. She answered the door, but said it wasn't a good time.
We quickly set up an appointment for Tuesday night, and she accepted.
WE got there right at 5:00 pm (when the appointment was supposed to
start), but she wasn't there. Our ward mission leader was with us, and
he suggested we wait a bit, to see if she was running late. 20 min
later, she arrives, and looks a bit surprised that we were still
there. She let us in, and listened to our message. We taught her about
the restoration, and it went SOOOO well! When we asked her questions,
she answered really well! It was a great expirience. She is in her
early 20s, and is a single mother of a 6 months year old boy. She
wants to raise him in a good enviornment with good examples. We talked
about the For Strength of Youth, and she REALLY liked that! We
committed her to read the Book of Mormon, and pray about it. She said
she would, and is she got her answer, she would be baptized!!!!!! We
are seeing her again this week. Keep her in your prayers that she will
recognize the answer that she gets! That is such a huge part in the
process of prayer. People pray for help, and feel that they never got
an answer, when in fact they did! They just didn't recognize it.
On a less happy note, we found out that the kids that we have been
teaching and playing basketball with, have not been keeping any of
their comittments. That really made me sad. They didn't read at all,
they said they didn't really want to go to church, and I know they
didn't pray. That really got me down. So we are going to have to take
a different approach with them. Hopefully they will soften their
hearts.
Back to a high note! We got a referral from our Zone Leaders last
week. It was a man that had gone to a departing missionary fireside (a
fireside for anyone, where the missionaries that are going home will
speak for a bit on whatever they feel) with his friend. He gave his
information to our zone leaders, and asked for missionaries to come
teach him. Luckily, he was in our area! His name is Rahheev. Born in
Kashmir, India, but grew up in the United States. He grew up
Christian, but converted to catholocsim when he married his wife. He
has teenage kids, but has recently seperated from his wife. He also
recently retired from the Navy, and his father died last year. All
these things are piling up against him, and so he feels that he needs
to find something that can get him through it. We taught him the
restoration, mainly because those were the questions that he was
asking about. We gave him a Book of Mormon, and he said he was excited
to read it. He, too, said that if he got an answer, he would be
baptized. We set up an appointment with him for this Thursday. Right
before we left, he asked us if next Thursday we could teach him about
the purpose of life. We happily told him that we could, and that it
would help him in his life.
So a bit of a roller coaster week, but the success outweighs the
disappointment by far. I have learned that even the slightest bit of
imporvment in a person spiritually, can make your week so much better.
I have learned to be so grateful for ALL of the blessings that God has
given me throughout my mission, even the smallest ones. I love being
out here! It's such a crazy good expirience!!!!!

Elder Michael Litchfield

So my companion was transferred on Thursday. I have been here half a
transfer, and now I have to lead the area. My new companion is Elder
Sjon Johnson (Sounds like Shawn). He is from Houston Texas. This is
his last transfer, so I will be "killing him" as the missionaries
here say. That means I'll be here for the transfer after that. I'm not
gonna lie, I was really scarred after transfers. This area has no
solid investigators, and now I have to lead it. I prayed sooooooooo
hard thursday night, asking for help. Friday night, when we were
playing basketball at the church with some kids that we met at the
streetball court, one of them started asking questions about what we
do as missionaries. He then told us his life story, and explained that
he was worried about what he would do after high school. We talked to
him about the plan of salvation, and gave him a book of mormon. He
told us that he doesn't read well. Luckily, I had a book of mormon
that had a speed-read in it (I got a paper that told me to mark
certain verses in the Book of Mormon, and then tell the reader to go
to a specific page. It should take him an hour to read, and they get
the gist of it.). He was really excited, and told me about 5 times
that he was going to read it. That lifted my spirits. Then, 2 guys
randomly showed up at church on sunday, stayed all 3 hours, then asked
us to come to their house this week and teach them. They also said
they would come to church next week. I know the Lord answered my
prayers. It has relieved me of so much stress.

We also went through our area book, calling former investigators.
There were SO MANY former investigators. It took quite a while to call
them all. Most of them haven't called back, but one of them did! His
name is Adam. Apperently, he was on date for baptism last september,
but it didn't go through, and the missionaries stopped visiting him.
We set up an appointment with him Satureday night, but he didn't
answer his door when we went there. So we decided to go Sunday night.
He was outside his house, smoking a cigarrette. He is from Kenya, and
has lived here for 9 years. We talked to him for a second, because he
was just leaving to go somewhere, but he said he would like to have us
over again and to teach him again. I don't know what the missionaries
did back in September, but he didn't know very much about the Gospel,
so we will be starting from scratch with him.

The lord does answer prayers! I have just given 3 examples of that!
Just like it says ALL OVER the Bood of Mormon "If ye keep my
commmandments, ye shall prosper in the land." How great a promise is
that?! I know it's true too and it gives me such joy knowing that!

I also have been studying the Book of 2 Nephi, and I came across a
scripture that I really like! It's 2 Nephi 9:40. I especially love
that last few sentences of that as well. Read it and think about what
it means!

Yours trully,

Elder Michael Litchfield

My companion and I went back to the basketball court this last week.
There were a whole different group of people there. These weren't
kids, these were huge guys. a lot of them were taller than me. They
all had tatoo's, and long dreads. Once again I started talking to
them, and the same thing happened. They didn't listen to us. So I
decided to play again and see what would happen. Those who have seen
me play basketball, know I cannot shoot a 3-pointer to save my life.
Well, that changed. I hit 4 threes in a row, and won the game for our
team. If that wasn't the help of God, I don't know what is. And after,
the same thing happened as last time. They all couldn't believe what
had happened, and were curious as to what we did and taught. Who says
tracting is the way to find people to teach. After those two times of
playing on that court, we had 6 people to teach. These people are
living in an environment that will lead them on a bad path. How
influential this gospel could be in their lives if they accept it!
Transfers are this week, and they are always up in the air, so we'll
see if I stay to teach them or leave to another area.
   We also visited a man who goes by the name "Preacher James". He
has been talking with the missionaries for some time now. He is a paid
preacher at a local Baptists church. He pretty much gave us a sermon
on why we are automatically saved as soon as we take on the name of
Christ. He feels that repentance is a one time thing. After he
finished, a thought came to my head. I told him that if a freshman in
high school makes the varsity football team, and does really well the
first year, but during the off season he lets himself go and doesn't
work out or show signs of getting back into shape, does he still
deserve to be on the team? I believe the same is with Heaven. We must
continually prove that we are worthy to stand in the presence of God.
The scriptures tell us that no unclean thing can enter into the
Kingdom of Heaven. How great of importance repentence is then! After I
had told him this, he looked at me, paused, and then said "you have
given me a lot to think about", and that's all he said. I know I was
an insturment in the hands of the Lord, and it was his words that were
coming out of my mouth. Something I will never forget.
    Till next week!

Elder Michael Litchfield

What a week! Wednesday, my district leader went on an exchange with me
in my area. I had only been in the area 2 weeks, so navigating was a
bit difficult. We walked by this basketball court in the middle of a
park, and saw some people playing. We decided to go over there and
talk to them. I'm not going to sugar coat it, they were guys that grew
up in the hood. They didn't want to hear anything we had to say. My
district leader told me to play with them, and earn their respect,
then they might listen more. I was in my white shirt, dress pants,
dress shoes, and tie. I went up and asked if I could join in. They
laughed and said sure. They asked me if I was going to change into
other clothes, and my district leader told them that I would be fine.
We played a game to 13 points, and I had scored 9 of those points.
They were shocked! I was this skinny white kid in a shirt and tie,
scoring on them. After the game, 3 of the guys let us talk to them and
said we could come by their place and teach them. It was awesome! 3
new investigators right there! They each have their own copy of the
Book of Mormon, and are reading it.
       However, that was not the highlight of my week. Saturday, at
6:00 pm, Carol was baptized!!!!!!!!!! It was an event I will never
forget. I hadn't seen her since being transferred, but when I did, she
ran up to me and thanked me for being there for her and teaching her.
She was confirmed Sunday. I even found out that her husband, who was
not interested at all when we were teaching her, is taking the
lessons! I couldn't believe that! He was very set in his ways when we
asked if he would like to join in on the lesson, but seeing his wife
be baptized must have touched his heart. God works in mysterious ways,
but the final result is always incredible.
       Another funny fact. I was at a church event, and a guy in the
ward from Seirra Leon came up to me and asked me if I was from
Washington. I told him I was, and he asked if I was from Olympia.
Again, I told him yes. He told me that when he served his mission in
Kenya, his mission president was from Olympia, Washington. He asked me
if I knew Larry Brown. I told him that I most definitely knew Larry
Brown, he gave me my patriarticle blessing! It was really cool to talk
to him about that. His name is Freddie Thomas (Dad, tell Patriarch
Brown that I know him)! He served as AP for 13 months of his mission
for Larry Brown! That's so long!... It was a very neat conversation.

   Elder Litchfield

So Elder White had the idea to go tract an area with our roomates. So
we drove to a street and tracted either side of the street. I was with
Elder Barney and Elder White was with Elder Hanna. Out of the 50 doors
that Elder Barney and I knocked, two of them asked us to come back,
and said that they were interested. That was really neat. One of them
was named Eugene. He was in a wheelchair on his front porch, smoking a
cigarrette. He used to play Pro basketball in Germany, and even played
against Allen Iverson (An NBA Star) in High School. He told us that we
could come back anytime and talk to him. We tried getting in contact
with Dominic, but he wouldn't answer his cell phone. So we decided to
stop by his house on Thursday. His sister answered, and told us that
he has been in Maryland working all week. But she told us that he has
been reading the Book of Mormon. She also told us to come back any day
after Sunday and teach her as well. That was really good to hear! We
also had a lesson with Carol of friday at noon. Friday morning she
called us and told us that her daughter was in the hospital, and that
she had to cancel our lesson. That was a real bummer. However, later
that evening, she called us and told us that she was going to a
baptism on Saturday with her neighbors, and she wanted to have us
teach her after! That was really good to hear. She is on track of
being baptized on Feb. 18th. At about 9:00 PM Friday night, I was
blindsided. Our zone-leaders called us and told me that I was being
transferred to another area in the zone, and that I had to be packed
up and ready to go by Saturday morning. Apperently an Elder in a bike
area broke his wrist about 5 weeks ago. The doctor told him last week
that it wasn't healing correctly. So president had him put in a car
area. That mean't me being put in a bike area. That was a real bummer.
I loved my area and my companion and my roomates. Oh well, the work is
the same wherever you go. I'm looking forward to meeting new people
and finding as well. My new companion is Elder Call, and he is only
one transfer older than I am! We are such a young companionship! But
that doesn't matter. As long as we are obedient, and strive to have
the Spirit, we will see success.

Elder Litchfield

 So a while ago, Elder White and I were tracting, and got let

into this one house. The family was really nice, and enjoyed talking

to us. However, they did not have interest in the gospel. So as we

were leaving, a friend of the family that was there asked us if we

would stop by his house and talk to his mom in a couple days. We wrote

down his address, then left. So last week we went to his house. The

guy, Matt, answered the door and told us that his mom was gone. He let

us in and asked us to sit down. We taught him about the Restoration of

the Gospel, and he had lots of questions. He is a senior in high

school, and has questions about his religion (He is Catholic). His dad

died when he was 14, and that has been bothering him as well. We gave

him a book of mormon and he said he was excited to read it. We then

set up a return appointment (hopefully his mom will be there) and

left.

     We weren't able to see Carol this week, because she had some

health problems, but she was at church on Sunday! She even brought her

daughter! A sister in the ward, who is neighbors to Carol and doing a

great job of fellowshipping, told us that Carol was explaining things

to her daughter throughout church. That was awesome to hear! She is

taking what she learns from us, and teaching it to her daughter! She

isn't even a member yet, and already doing missionary work!

    We tried setting up an appointment with Domininc (From Ghana),

but he said he had a big project at his work, and would be very busy

all week. He asked us to pray for him, and told us that he has been

reading the book of mormon and likes it a lot!

   So we have two missionaries that are our roomates, and they have

been coming home later and later since the transfer. So Elder White

and I decided to play a little prank on them. We got home at 9, and

knew that they would be home late. We parked the car a little bit down

the road, so they would think that they were the only ones in the

house. We tied fishing line to an open door, and to the power switch

on the breaker board (Which was right above one of their beds). It was

nearly invisible, so they would never see it. I hid under the bed,

while my companion was right outside the back door by their beds, with

a scary clown mask on. At about 9:40 they got home and sat down to

plan for the next day. A few minutes later, I pulled the string that

killed the power, then pulled the string that slammed the door on the

opposite side of the room. That freaked them out. Then my companion

came through the door with his clown mask on. I have never heard two

grown men scream as loud and high pitch as they did... After the

realized what had happened, they thought it was funny as well. I will

never forget those screams.

    On a different note, while I was at a dinner at a ward members

home, they were talking about a dance festival that the stake was

doing. I mentioned that I had participated in one back at home, and

thought it was really fun. Little did I know that word travels fast in

my ward. The next day I get a call from the Stake Young Womens leader

asking me if I would speak at a fireside Sunday night about my dance

festival experience. My companion said as long as I brought it back to

missionary work, it would be fine. So Sunday night I told them that I

was a part of a dance festival, and that I had fun doing it. I also

challenged them to invite at least on of their friends to the

pracitces, and to be bold when asking. Too often I hear about soft

invitations, that are easy for non-members to find a way out. I told

them to let their friends know that they trully want them to come, and

that it is with the best people they could be with. Hopefully we will

be getting referrals soon!!!

Sincerely,

Elder Michael Litchfield