The Only Way

Let me just start with the best thing that happened this week. Nyzir (we call him Edi) is a 9 year old boy whose dad is less active because he works a lot on Sundays. His dad, Peter, was baptized about 6 years ago. Well, we finally were able to meet Edi this week. As we started to talk about Jesus Christ and the restoration of His church, Edi asked when he can be baptized. We told him there are some things he has to learn first and then he can be baptized. The next day we went back to teach him the Plan of Salvation, we were getting nowhere, all he wanted to talk about was baptism. So we talked about baptism for a while and were planning on setting him on date for November 11. When we left that day, he was on date for October 26! I love putting people on date for baptism because now they have a goal to work for and their progress goes so much faster. 

We watched the Restoration video with him and after, we asked him how he felt as he watched that video. He said, "jealous!" He is so jealous that Joseph Smith was able to "see heavens light". We also asked him, "After Joseph Smith prayed to know which church was true, what did Heavenly Father say to him?" Edi said, "This is my beloved Son, hear Him." What?! Not what I was expecting him to say, but he was definitely not wrong! This boy is very smart and has a HUGE desire to follow Jesus Christ and be baptized. I am super grateful for this opportunity to be able to teach Edi. 

He even came to church on Sunday and loved it! It was fast and testimony meeting and there were many spiritual... long winded, heartfelt testimonies. There was a really cute old lady who went up and had been talking for a good ten minutes and we were already out of time, and a member of the bishopric had to tell her that it was time to finish her testimony. We were already over on time, and there were still three people on the stand who ended up having to wait until next month. I look over to see how Edi is doing to find him munching on some Doritos. Glad to see that he was enjoying his first time at church. 

When he got home that day, he called us and we read the Book of Mormon with him over the phone. He made a rule that he has to read the Book of Mormon and the Holy Bible every day before he goes to bed. 

Another highlight of the week of course was interviews with President Smith, he really is the greatest. I came to my interview with a lot on my mind, and he was able to answer all of my questions and concerns. It was very uplifting, I am so grateful for President Smith and all of his hard work. 

The same day was sister Perry's birthday. I made her a chocolate cake to bring to district meeting and we all sang to her. On our way home we set it on the back seat of our car. For some reason sister Perry needed to slam on the brakes and the cake went flying everywhere. Needless to say, we cleaned our car real nice today. At least we didn't have to buy an air freshener! The smell of chocolate cake always seems to bring a smile to my face :) 

Someone who we have been messaging a lot on Facebook is Trey. He is married to a less active. Well he is a very busy man and so he was able to take 20 minutes out of his day and video call us. He has read some of the Book of Mormon before and has studied religion. He believes a lot of the same things we do! We just randomly decided to stop by last night and him and his wife were both home. We read 3 Nephi 11 with them and talked about the importance of baptism by proper authority and they said they would read the Book of Mormon and that we could come over next week.

I am so glad that things are happening again here in Glen Allen. I love seeing the miracles of finding others. The past few weeks I have been working on having charity and being bold with others. They go hand in hand. As I learn more about Jesus Christ and the atonement the more I want to share it with others. Jesus Christ truly is the only way to receive Salvation and we need to completely rely on Him to do so. "It is only through the infinite Atonement of Jesus Christ that people can overcome the consequences of bad choices... No matter how hard we work, no matter how much we obey, no matter how many good things we do in this life, it would not be enough were it not for Jesus Christ and His loving grace. On our own we cannot earn the kingdom of God-- no matter what we do. Unfortunately, there are some within the Church who have become so preoccupied with performing good works that they forget that those works--as good as they may be--are hollow unless they are accompanied by a complete dependence on Christ." It is only through Jesus Christ that we are able to receive salvation. He overpowered the demands of justice. I am so grateful that Jesus Christ did the Fathers will. I know it is only in and through Christ that we can be saved. He truly is the light and life of the world, the author of peace. There will come a day when "all shall see the salvation of the Lord; when every nation, kindred, tongue, and people shall see eye to eye and shall confess before God that His judgements are just." No matter what we do in this life we are helpless without the atonement of Jesus Christ. How grateful I am for a Savior who made it possible for us to return to His rest. "Surely He has born our griefs and carried our sorrows... with His stripes we are healed." I love this gospel with all my heart. This truly is the greatest calling where I am able to teach people about Jesus Christ each day. I can teach people that there truly is a Savior and that through Him, everything unfair in life will be made right. 

ALL MY LOVE, 

Sister Ruffner