Blessed to be Here

 

Okay so this is my first week in the Dallas 9th ward, and I'm in the north half of the area (there's another set of missionaries that cover the south part). I won't explain much here, but this email will have a totally different tone from the last one. Here's some updates on what's happened this week:

On Wednesday, we went to meet with a Congolese couple that had been trying to meet with the missionaries, but hadn't been able to communicate too well because they only speak French. Their names are Zawadi and Endani, and they have 2 little kids. So we showed up, and I started talking to them, and long story short, in thay first lesson, they asked to be baptized and join the church. Their baptismal date is set for the 2nd of January. We've taught them another lesson and they've gone to church three times. We're meeting with them multiple times this week, it's so awesome.

Next, we called someone that we hadn't been able to get in contact with before, and we were able to set up a time to meet with them. On Saturday we showed up, and we had a lesson with Blessing (the person we called), and her husband, Boniface. They're from Nigeria, and I haven't seen very many people as humble as them. It was so heartwarming to talk with them. We taught them the restoration, and on Sunday, they went to church with their son. We're meeting with them on Saturday again. 

And then, here's the craziest thing. We got a call on Saturday night from President Farley, and he relayed me this information from the Dallas temple president about some people he met:

"They are a young couple from the Ivory Coast. They were introduced to the gospel there and want to join. They looked up the church online and drove or walked to the temple from their apartment and ran into a sister from Brazil there who also spoke French (how interesting) who was there for the distribution center. As Julie and I were leaving the temple, we ran into all 3 of them. They were asking how to contact the missionaries and I took down their contact information."

President Kendrick - Dallas Temple

Then President Farley says, "and guess what. They live right next to your area, so I'm going to give you permission to teach them."

I can't explain the wonder or joy that I felt when I found that out. What are the odds that that happens at the temple, and that my area is right by where they live? It makes me so happy. I've cried a couple times while thinking about that miracle and I'm doing so now, but it's just so incredible. 

Their names are Jude and Inès Tibé. They're from Niangon, which was in my mission in Côte d'ivoire. They came to church on Sunday. It was such a joy to talk to them and to see someone from that country again. It has my heart, and I'm so so grateful that I get to experience a little bit of that again here in Texas.

We've had so many miracles and wonderful experiences throughout the week, they're just a little overshadowed by those ones I mentioned earlier. We taught a guy from Cameroon today, and he's going to pray about the Book of Mormon. We're helping reactivate a Hindu woman, as well as many other interactions and lessons and service opportunities we've found. And it's just been one week.

I'm so blessed to be here.

Anyways, some other stuff. My companion's name is Elder Call, and he's from Lehi, Utah. He's originally called to serve in some mission in Taiwan, but he's been here for about 3 months. We get along really well, and we're both learning Mandarin right now, so that's fun (yeah I'm still learning it). I haven't really met the other missionaries here yet, but they seem cool. Another miracle, everyone in our district is quarantined but us, so we're able to continue working. 

I loved my last ward, the missionaries, and the people there, but it was really hard to be there. There wasn't much work happening, and it was easy to lose hope and motivation. I did my best to be obedient, serve the Lord, and help others, but it overall seemed like my time and efforts were wasted. I survived and did okay, but it definitely wasn't easy. Coming here to Dallas has been an enormous blessing and a much needed change. I do feel like I'm receiving a lot more than I deserve; it just makes me all the more grateful for being here. Here's a scripture that I've been thinking about all throughout this week:

"For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.

Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.

For after much tribulation come the blessings" (D&C 58:2-4).

I honestly never expected to come here and see this many miracles. I never could have imagined that I would see someone from Côte d'ivoire, much less be able to teach them and have them be legitimately interested. It's incredible, and I really hope it isn't over yet. I'm so excited. 

I'm sorry I didn't share something about Christmas, or really even talk about it at all, I’m just so excited to work here. I love you all so much. Have a great week!

Elder Lyman