Hello
Everyone!
Hope your
week was fantastic for each and every single one of you! My week was absolutely
terrific! I just want to start off by telling you about the great highlight of
the week. So as I’ve talked about in my previous letters, we’ve been teaching a
man named Jhon. As you may know, Elder Iza and I found Jhon my second week in
the field. The lesson we had with him very first started out with him just
wanting to learn English from me. So, we taught him English and then at the end
I decided to share a little short Gospel message with him and set up another
appointment. The following few lessons went about the same. Us teaching English
and then sharing a short Gospel message after. As time progressed, Elder Iza
wanted to just drop him, but I always felt like we shouldn’t. But after time
the lessons then solely became about the Gospel and nothing more. As Elder Iza
left and Elder Sarceno entered, he as well wanted to drop Jhon. Again, knowing
that Jhon was progressing, just very slowly, I refused. Do not get me wrong
though, Jhon was a very difficult investigator. To give you an idea, let me
tell you a little bit about him. Jhon did not have any form of religion in his
life before. He believed in God, but he didn’t believe in Christ at ALL! He
thought that Christ was just a good person to set an example and to help
contribute to the Bible and nothing more. As well, teaching him about the Church
of Jesus Christ was nearly impossible without a knowledge of him. So after
visits and much patience, Jhon gained a testimony for himself of the Savior and
the role he plays for each and every single one of us. Once he grasped that, everything
else seemed to follow. He still was incredibly difficult however, because to be
honest, he asked the absolute weirdest questions. But staying patient and
waiting for him to accept it all was the key to everything. Although the weird
questions persisted each visit, for example he wanted to know how he could
become the Prophet and other such things. We persisted and prayed each day for
him. After being here in Puno Peru for nearly 6 months and teaching Jhon for
nearly 6 months, this past Saturday I had the tremendous opportunity to step
into the baptismal font and baptize Jhon. As I pulled him out of the water, I
couldn’t help but remember the first visit we had with him when he only wanted
to learn English. As I stepped out of the font, the joy and happiness I felt
for not giving up on Jhon for 6 months is something that I will never forget.
Jhon also asked if I would be the one to confirm him a member the following day
and though I told him to have Elder Barrios do it, he insisted that I did it.
As I laid my hands on his head and pronounced a very special blessing upon him
and confirmed the Holy Ghost, it was incredible to see the change that he had
in his countenance. Jhon has now told me that he would like to serve a mission
and him being only 21 years old, he is now preparing to serve for himself.
Today for
P-day, we went and visited some ruins of the Ancient Kings that used to rule
over Peru and surrounding area. It was really neat and I have
included some pictures of what we saw today.
I am so grateful to be a member of this Church
and to share this Gospel with people like Jhon each day. I am just the Lord’s
mouthpiece and he absolutely is the reason that Jhon had such a change of
heart. I testify that the Lord can change the hearts of anyone. If he can
change a man who didn’t even believe in any religion or let alone one that didn’t
even believe in the Savior, to someone who is now preparing to represent him
someday, He can change the heart of anyone. Never give up on someone. At first
they might just want English, but later they may want something much greater!
I love you
all!
Love,
Elder
Fawcett
