The Miracles Keep Coming!

Well howdy there family and friends! 

This is HUGE!

Hope all y'all are doing good! It's been great to hear about the your lives and all the fun things that are going on. I will have to say I am probably having more fun though! It's been a great week! A lot of tender mercies from the Lord! 

Soooo to start off this week, Elder Hatch and I fasted for some of the people we are teaching. Melanie is the young mother with 3 kids (I say young because we are in a ward of older people). She is doing amazing! We had a church activity, Octoberfest, this week and she brought her kids and it was a blast!  It was a chili cookoff and trunk-or-treating.  They had a lot of fun!  We had a great lesson this week with them about Repentance and the Atonement of Christ. We decided to teach about the Atonement because she told us she was trying to stop smoking.  We haven't even talked to her about this or taught her about the Word of Wisdom.  She just feels like she shouldn't smoke anymore because she doesn't feel like she feels the Spirit when she does.  She continues to be consistent in her reading and she is reading in 2 Nephi right now! Her husband likes to read the Book of Mormon with us but doesn't really read on his own at this time.  He says he feels so good when we read together and when we are in his home.   

We also met this really cool guy when we were out tracting this week! When we knocked on his door, he came out; he had a bunch of tattoos and was big and a scruffy-looking guy.  He also wasn't very happy to see us. I immediately thought, "I have to say something about his tattoos or else he will throw us off the porch."  I saw a Joker tattoo and began talking about it.  We talked about superheros and the different villains for about 3 minutes. He then told us he used to go to church but he hates Christians and he doesn't believe in God. We continued to talk with him but turned the conversation to spiritual things.  We talked for like 30 more minutes on his door step! Toward the end of the conversation, we asked him if he would just pray 1 time.  He said he would try praying but just 1 time! So we were pumped!  We then left.  Two days go by and I feel prompted to go back to see him.  We return and knock on his door again. 

He was there and came out and talked with us about his prayer!  He did it!  He said he would and he did! :)  He said it felt weird and he probably wouldn't do it again.  But then something happened. I don't know what we said to him to make him open up so much but after about 10 minutes, this guy just opened up to us and told us all about his life and why he hates Christians so much.  After that, we asked him if we could go into his home and talk with him.  He immediately let us in!   About 5 minutes after we walked into his home, his wife walked into the room where we were. She is a strong believer and is a Baptist. She looked surprised and asked, "Who are you guys?"  We, of course, responded happily, "We are the missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!"  Her eyes got HUGE!  She was so astonished that her husband let in Christian missionaries! She kept saying, "I can't believe you're in my home right now."  Well, she joined us for a few minutes and we taught them both about the pre-mortal existence- where we existed before we came here to earth. The guy thought it was really cool and his wife was really interested in that.  She asked where that is found in the Bible and we told her.  We all turned to the scripture and read it together.  We then taught them more about God's plan- about judgment and the after-life.  We had him read a verse from the Book of Mormon and after he read he was quiet and sat with his head down, looking at the Book of Mormon. He then said "I am taking this book."  Elder Hatch and I were taken aback by his response.  We then had him read Alma 32:28.  It's a great verse and chapter about gaining a testimony of truth! We will be following up with him tomorrow! We are very excited!  This experience was a miracle for sure.  It also reminds me (and hopefully you) that you follow-up on all promptings!   

The Terrific Twosome!

We received transfer orders this week and we found out that we were staying in Lecanto and we will be continue to serve together!!  Yippee!!  We also received word that Elder Hatch and I will be taking over the whole ward here! The Lecanto Ward where I serve previously had two sets of Elders because it was such a large area.  President is kicking the others out (hahaha) and having us take over the whole area- which is a whole county!!  Super crazy!! We are excited to receive some awesome people though! I will also continue to serve as the Zone Leader.  

I had an interview with President Hollingsworth this week.  It was wonderful.  I love him so much!  I wore the flowered tie that you got me Mom.  We just love our new converts!  JoAnne, the lady that just got baptized, got me and Elder Hatch ties! That was really nice of her!!  The tie goes with the suit you sent me, Mom.  I wore the tie with my suit on Sunday.  Thanks for the package by the way.  

I have gotten asked many times during my mission how I know the church is true.  I have told them my story of how I didn't rely on what my parents taught me.  Heck, I didn't believe what they said sometimes.  I read the scriptures; I tried to keep the commandments the best I could so I could have the Spirit with me.  I knew the Spirit would testify the truth to me and I learned how He talked to me as I listened to Him and acted on the promptings I felt.  This was a process.  I prayed specifically to know certain things and my prayers were answered because I came to know FOR MYSELF that the Book of Mormon is true and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is on the earth today. I love my testimony.  I love that I know for myself and that I don't need to rely on anyone's testimony/experiences to know this.  

I love you all and I'm so grateful for all of your help and for your prayers for me!! Have a great week!!! 

Elder Cahoon