Well, it has been a pretty busy week! We had a lot of cool stuff going on and a lot of neat opportunities. On Monday night, we went to teach this African guy named D, that the Sisters contacted. He has come to church in the English ward twice, but we have not been able to teach him until now because he is a pro soccer player here and is way busy. But we showed up. I was actually on splits with Elder Troff because of all the transfers and stuff. So it was fun to be with my son again. Well, we show up and he is in a tiny little apartment. He is sitting there with his African girlfriend. Then this huge other African guy that is ripped walks out of the bathroom in just a towel and starts speaking French. And another one goes into the bathroom. We have no idea what's going on, or what is going to happen. Well, we just kind of sit waiting because D is stalling on starting the lesson. Then the guy that just got out of the bathroom comes in dressed again. And they start talking in French again. Well, then D explains to us that he is the only one that can speak English really, and his friends and girlfriend only speak French. But he wants them to hear the lesson, too. We were like, “Well we don't speak French, so how's this going to work out?” But he said he would translate. So we started the lesson and taught the Restoration as simply as possible. It was so simple, and after every sentence, D would translate it for his friends. And although it was simple, the Spirit was so strong, and they all understood. They answered our questions and they asked questions and everything! And throughout the lesson, during his translation, we would notice D was saying way more than we had said, but when he stopped, he looked at us and said, "Sorry, I was just telling them that if they read the Book of Mormon, they will feel the Spirit and get peace, comfort, and direction in their life like they have never had before." and stuff like that. He is just learning for the first time, but is bearing his testimony from the little he has read and experienced at church! It was awesome! Definitely one of the coolest lessons I have ever experienced! So simple and slow, but to see D so excited to share it and translate with love for his friends was awesome! I just wished I understood more French! But at the end of the lesson, all three of them committed to baptism! And they asked what they had to do to prepare for it, and accepted all the commitments right then and there! And the friends, in very broken English, kept pointing at his heart and saying, "I feel happy! I feel so so happy right now! You are my family now! You come here whenever you want!" It was awesome! They were so genuine and so sincere! And they came to church on Sunday, and we set up the translating equipment because there is a member that speaks French, and he translated for them! It was so awesome! They are so cool!
Then on Tuesday I was at Senopati all day waiting for my companion to get in and stuff. In the evening, Sister Donald came up to the office, because there were just a few of us here, ordered pizza for us. Then we went down into their house and we got to watch Meet the Mormons with President and Sister Donald! That was a way cool experience!
The rest of the week with Elder Barlow has been awesome, too! We have been really busy and have been working really hard. We have a lot of investigators that are doing really well! In fact, we currently have 8 investigators with a baptismal date, and several others that we are going to commit this week! So the hastening of the work is really happening! We got 16 lessons in this week, which is more than I have ever gotten yet in Jakarta, and we didn't even get to go out at all on Tuesday. And we already have 14 lessons planned for next week with a lot of other time for other investigators to meet! So there is a lot happening! We have been working on making covenants with the Lord to bind Him on blessings, and we have been seeing the results.
Well, I probably ought to wrap up. But I love you all! I hope you all have a good week! I am loving the mission, and we are going to do some awesome things in the last few months here! Love you!
Love Elder Wood
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