Rats and a Snowman

For Easter here, everything Christian kind of shuts down. Starting with the Thursday before Good Friday, most Christians here in Tangerang went to their church and it continued every day until this last Sunday. Everybody had work off too. Is that a thing in America? 

This last week was great! We caught 2 rats in our house, made some oriental omelettes (thanks Bishop Gardner), and taught a lot of investigators.

This is rat #1. We baited him with some great cake sort of thing we got from a less active member. Great for mouse bait, not so great for the ol' stomach.  

We also finally met up with James! He texted us last Tuesday when Elder Canfield and I were on a split and said he was ready to finally meet up. Instead of waiting until another day, we set up an appointment for that same day. We were expecting an embittered, kind of angry man, since he canceled his membership about 2 years ago, but instead we met up with the most humble, open, ready to repent man I have ever met on my mission. As we helped him understand the process of repentance and the role of the Savior's Atonement in his life, I think I'm finally starting to truly understand the immense impact the Atonement has on everyone's life and the lasting peace that will come as a result of accepting it. We also taught Brother Wxxxxxx about why we consider Jesus as our Savior this Easter season. We invited him to church, but he still is exercising his free agency and not coming.  Timing is a funky thing. 

This last week was chalk full of experiences in teaching about Christ and His Atonement, but I think my favorite was when we met with Pak Ixxx. He's a new investigator we found while searching for someone else's address. We started by sharing an Easter message and made this really fun transition to how there are other witnesses of
Christ's resurrection... in the Kitab Mormon! He's going to Vietnam these next couple weeks, but he wants to read the testimony of Christ in the Americas while he's there. 

Is it still snowing in Utah? If not, it's snowing in Tangerang!!! Ha ha! Just kidding. There's this "Snow World International" building next to a big mall here in Tangerang and inside the building is a winter wonderland. Last PDay, we trekked on over there and holy schnikies it was cold!! This is me chillin' next to a Pak I met.  

In Preach My Gospel, there's an entire section devoted to "developing Christlike attributes". Elder Ballard encouraged every member to get a copy and study it. If you're confused as to where to start since maybe you aren't a full time missionary, I encourage you start here. As you develop Christlike attributes, you'll get the Spirit. As you get the Spirit, you'll be able to hear the promptings of how you can share the Gospel with your friends and family. Happy Easter! Tuhan Yesus Kristus telah bangkit biar kita semua bisa bangkit satu hari nanti. "Dia tidak di sini, Dia telah bangkit." (The Lord Jesus Christ is risen so that we can all rise one day. "He is not here, He has risen."

Elder Seth Michael Barrus