Easter-4/21/14 (Elder Pope)

Happy Easter! Such a great time of the year.

This has been a really stressful week. We have had very few success with investigators. The only interaction we have had with them has been the Easter Pageant. We try to be bold with them without being overbearing, but it seems like no matter what we do, they just kind of blow us off. It is almost impossible to get SET appointments in our area.

One of our investigators has started to drink again, and told us that he will never change. He said that God loves him for who he is even if he is an alcoholic. He doesn't want us to come by as often. It's really hard, because his son and granddaughters were just baptized within the last 3 months, and I'm sure it's affecting them to watch him drink so much. Unfortunately, I don't think any of our investigators, except for one, are taking us seriously at all. I almost want to drop everybody and start over again as if we just got to the area. Luckily, the one investigator that IS progressing, is doing well!

Elder Pope and I have gotten in a lot of arguments as well this week. We're working through that little by little though.

Overall, it hasn't been a great week, which is sad, because it should be the best week! This is one of the greatest times of the year to be a missionary. I know it is Satan trying to work against us. He knows what he is doing and sometimes it's hard not to let him get involved in what we do.

On the bright side of everything, we were able to show the Easter video to almost every single contact we had this week, plus every dinner appointment and other lesson we had. It was amazing to see how touched every single person was. Especially one guy we talked to. We talked to him for quite a bit about family, life and religion. He mentioned to us several times, very strongly, that he did not believe in Jesus Christ or God as people, but just a higher power. We invited him to watch the video, and eventually he agreed. During it, you could see his demeanor completely change. After, he sat in silence for a minute and told us that he felt something that made him get goosebumps and made his hairs stand up. I know without a doubt that he felt the Spirit. Just talking about it makes me feel the same way; full of peace and joy. That video I KNOW has changed the lives of many this week!

Elder Pilkington