It's Been a Rough Week :(

Well team, it's been a rough week.

J dropped us. Which was stupid. He said that he felt the spirit when he read the Book of Mormon and when we taught him, but red flags came up in his head (because our doctrine does conflict with his Pentecostal interpretation of the Bible...which is to be expected 'cause otherwise we wouldn't have different religions...) So he said that that internal conflict was confusing. And God isn't a God of confusion, so naturally what we teach isn't true. Although he said he really likes our theology and wishes it were true. Good news: IT IS! I wanted to ask him where the spirit comes from (answer: Heavenly Father) and where the red flags come from (answer: J's current understandings), but he wouldn't let us talk.

I've never been sad for somebody quite like this before. The week before he knew it was true. And then we weren't able to see him for another week because he was sick. I think he just too tired of trying so hard to figure out which way was right. But the game's not over. It's just on pause. He promised he'd finish reading the Book of Mormon...and I hope he does. And I hope is open to the spirit that will continue to testify of it. It's not a battle of right versus not as right, but it is an effort to save souls. It's just hard when they take off their life jackets.

Earlier in the week we went to check on B and B. We'd met a few weeks earlier. They are an older couple--she had read the Book of Mormon and believed it was true. So we were excited to be able to see them again. And then she told us that B had died a week ago.

And then a member of the ward (who we really love, and had signed up to feed us dinner that night) called to ask if we still wanted to come over even though she had just decided to leave the church. WHAT?

But the great thing about terrible weeks are that you can really see the tender mercies Heavenly Father gives you to help make it through. We did have some great lessons with wonderful people, and met a handful of other wonderful people. We're continually being humbled, refined, and just all-around better. It's kinda painful sometimes, but purdy exciting as well.

Oh, at church there was a couple visiting from Carson City. The Bruggers, I believe, from the Lone Mountain ward. I don't know why the Clear Creek ward seems to be such a magnet for people from Carson, but it's pretty great.

But life is good. And tomorrow I'll only have 4/5 of a mission left! Time does fly when you're having fun ;)

Much love,

Sister Bowen