So about the pictures, the big modern ones where at the EU building complex. We went through an exhibit on pday. The pictures before that were in the mechelen tower in mechelen. 177 is looking wayyyy down on a giant pipe organ. Really cool. Then there was Mechelen and before that a middle eastern sort restuarant. It was pretty cool, we went there after district leader conference in Antwerpen.
Missionary work here has been great! We found a man and his wife on the street last sunday. We taught him tuesday and yesterday. He has been discovering Christ the past few months and he loves it. He's native dutch man and his wife is Japanese. It is astonishing to see how well he understood what we've taught, starting with the whole first lesson on tuesday. He's new to real serious Christianity, I mean he's just now beginning to take it seriously because he's learning that it's true. Thanks to his sincerity and the Spirit, he is picking up the truths of the gospel super fast! He goes to an international Christian church, he went yesterday morning. He was excited to tell his friends there about what he'd learned from us, the first time we taught him he was so excited and happy because he recognizes the truth and feels the spirit and God's love (although he may not quite notice that yet). He said a wonderful prayer that night. Anyways, we knew he was going to be confused when he heard negative things about what he learned from us, but we also felt that he wasn't going to be thrown off, he's too sincere for that. Sure enough, although he isn't so sure he wants to become a mormon (he joyfully accepted our invitation the first night to be baptized by one having authority, understanding that that authority was restored to Joseph smith; that was amazing that he understood that, most Christians don't bat an eyelash at the restored authority), he has read a bit of the book of mormon and thinks it's great. All of this was last night, we talked about what he had heard at his church, talked about the book of mormon, and shared a whole bunch of connections between the BoM and the bible. As long as he keeps reading the BoM slow and steady like he does the bible, I don't think he's going to listen to anyone else try and tell him it isn't the word of God. He recognises it. By the end of our appointment, he was pretty excited again, on the inside, he's got a "peculiar" sort of attitude (which is key). We happily arranged to meet again thursday to talk about the plan of salvation. I've never taught anyone like him, neither have I been so sure that someone will accept the gospel with joy.
We are going lazer tagging today in Antwerp.
I am loving being here! I have been thinking about choosing to be happy and find joy in even the hardest things. Every day is difficult, whether the work is difficult or not, negative thoughts can always suck happiness and faith away even when things are going well, or at least pull you away from making progess to a neutral or reverse position. I am learning that no matter the circumstance, putting my trust in Christ is the only way to be joyful and full of light. Trusting in Christ is learning to let him fill you with his love and light, which means many things, one of which is not filling yourself with other false substitutes for his wholesome love which nourishes and builds us and enables us to have joy.
Love, Ammon
Elder Knaupp and Elder Solomon
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