glare.

Every missionary knows that teaching the first vision is powerful. We know this because Satan will do whatever he can to destroy that moment while teaching the first lesson, the restoration. Every time... as we are about to start reciting, "I saw a pillar of light..." or "Vi una columna de luz..." we wait for it. Whats gonna happen this time? The phone rings. The dogs go nuts. A garbage truck crashes outside their house. A train goes by. Ambulances arrive across the street. The doorbell rings. Someone has a freak coughing attack. The TV turns on... all by itself! The neighbors BLAST reggaeton... SOMETHING. ALWAYS. HAPPENS.

So this week we of course, once again, had an opportunity to teach the first vision. We've been to this house many times. It's quiet. It's nice. No distractions. As soon as we start teaching the first vision... their 2 parrots who have not yet made so much as one peep suddenly become POSSESSED BY DEMONS and are freeeeaking out. "RAAAAAH RAAAAAWEHH Hermana! Hermana! WROOOF WOOOOOF! Holaaaa Holaa Hellooo Helloooo HAHAHAHAHhahahah." On and on and onnnnn. Typical.

...

We taught the restoration another time last week. We had the lesson at the church. It was nice and quiet. We taught without distractions. When I recited the words of Joseph Smith telling his experience in the grove the Spirit was SO strong. Unrestrained. It was beautiful. We asked David if he had had a chance to read and pray about the Book Of Mormon. (We gave him a copy when we contacted him and explained how he can know if it's true.) He said he had read the part we marked for him, twice. And that he prayed. And he felt something wonderful and he knew that it was true. I asked him if he would follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the priesthood power, the authority of God. He was already nodding his head "yes" when I told him we would be having a baptism on October 30th and asked if he would prepare himself to be baptized on that day.

I LOVE being a missionary. It is moments like these that make all the other crap worth it. I am the happiest. The most pleasant and agreeable. The most calm and patient. The most excited to share the gospel. Wouldn't trade this for the world.