News from Elder Parker Dustin Hawk: Interesting week‏

Afoyo!

Well, as you can see from the subject, this was a very interesting week. I met some really interesting people.

First, Richard. One day we were out and about and we saw this girl from the branch. We noticed that she only came with her sisters, and so the spirit told me to go and ask her if her parents were members. She said that they had been baptized in 2009! So we went with her to her house and we met her father, Richard, and set an appointment to meet with him the next day. We went the next day and asked him where his wife was. He said that she had left him in January with the 5 kids to take care of. We went inside, and asked him why he hadn't been attending church. He said because he was trying to find food for his family. Understandable...

First I thought, I have to promise him that if he was to come to church every Sunday and renew the covenant he had made with God, that the Lord would bless him. Did I really believe that? I don't know what it is like to have a wife leave me and provide for kids, I am a 19 year old kid from the US, what do I know. But, I had to exercise my faith in Christ, and tell him exactly that. He seem really touched, and agreed to come to church. He then asked if he would be able to continue doing his priesthood duties and he brought us his Melchizedek Priesthood certificate. It may not seem like a bid deal for many of you at home, but here in Gulu, its a big deal. We told him that he would have to talk to the Branch President. He ended up coming for all 3 hours, talked to the Branch President, and even participated during classes!

I know that the spirit directed us to his home. I know that the Lord is bound when we do what he says, and that if we don't we have no promise. The Lord is waiting to bless us, he is pleading with us to let him bless us, but because we don't keep our end of the deal he can't. We are stopping the Lord from blessing us. Richard, although he was going through a hard time, turned his back on the Lord. Me and my companion were able to help him realize what he was missing. I hope he can continue keeping his covenants with the Lord, and receive the blessing for doing so.

Well, some other small things happened, but that is the biggest thing that happened. I hope you all have a great week. I love you guys. Also, thank you to all those who donated to "nothing but net" for my birthday. You guys are awesome.

Mari, Elder Hawk

You know you're in Africa when your companion says, "That's a powerful hut!"