This was the week that was
supposed to be a fairly quiet one, but it did not turn out that way. We
started out the week working on the new iMOS program where we were
learning how to turn in receipts and checks directly into the Church
finance system. That took much longer than was anticipated so we worked
on it again a second and third day to get it right.
On top of that, we were informed by the AmeriJet
shipping company that we had some packages for the church to pick up.
We went there to get them and found 6 more shipments of packages for
the church. Some of them had been there since October of 2010. The
manager complained that he had never been able to contact anyone to pick
them up. This was really frustrating to us because the company wanted
to charge a humungus storage fee for packages which we did not even know
existed.
On Friday, Elder Beutler took our district
President, Elder Benn, with him to pick up the packages. Some of them
were Books of Mormon, some of them were class manuals and supplies, some
of them were temple clothing and some of them were for the physical
facilities of the various branches, such as things like a music stand
and metal carts, etc. They did not try to pick up the physical
facilities packages because they didn't have authority to do that.
On the other items, the company decided that the
paperwork had to be redone because some of it said "The Corporation of
the Presiding Bishopric" and some said "The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day-Saints. After waiting all day long for the people to rewrite
the paperwork, they wanted to close up shop and have them come back
on Monday. That is when Elder Beutler got really stubborn and refused
to leave until the packages had been given to them. The company finally
did give them their packages but it was a very bad day for them.
Other aspects of the week were wonderful. On
Wednesday we went to Linden with the elders to interview Brother
Featherstone for baptism and then again on Saturday morning we went back
and Elder Beutler was able to perform the baptism. He is a very
special man. He is 69 years old, very intelligent and strong
spiritually. He works as a dorm father with 37 young men, ages 12 to
17, who live in the dorm night and day during the school year and go
home for spring and summer break when school is not in session. The
boys love him. Some of them cried when they had to go home for spring
break, because they have a bad home life and felt safer to stay with him
in the dorm. Brother Featherstone also takes care of a daughter who has
a blind daughter in his home.
Brother Featherstone has been studying the church
for several years and says that he wanted to be a member because he
feels that the Book of Mormon is true and that the members really know
how to "take care of their flock". He was a Seventh Day Adventist for
many years, but found out that the female prophet of that church had
plagerised 85 % of the prophecies which she wrote in her book of
scripture.and he has been looking for a true prophet ever since.
One other thing which happened this week was that
the daughter of the first man Elder Beutler baptized lost her husband in
a bus wreck. She had listened to the gospel and was interested in
joining the church, but her husband had little interest and was abusive
to her so they had not been together for several months. We went to
visit them just now and they asked us to attend the wake tonight,
tomorrow night, and Tuesday afternoon, and speak a few words and sing
some hymns with the people there. The husband's family are Muslems but
they were happy to let the Ramsaywalks talk about their beliefs during
the wake. Elder Beutler plans to teach the plan of salvation. What an
opportunity for us to share with them our hope of the resurrection after
death!
We want all of you to know this Easter week, that we
are so grateful for Jesus Christ and the atonement and has resurrection
which makes it possible for us to live again with him and our loved
ones, There is nothing like a mission away from family to help us
appreciate what a great reunion it will be when we leave this earthly
home and return to our heavenly home.
We love you all and hope that you are happy and doing the things that you should. Love, Elder and Sister Beutler
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