LDS MISSIONARY GOES A-WALL
 
Dear FPW's (Faithful Prayer Warriors),

God is So Good... It's my (Chip's) birthday and I just received the BEST BIRTHDAY GIFT EVER. One of our LDS missionaries that we have been witnessing to AND that you have been praying for - just left his mission. Let me tell you that there is REJOICING in the college house today!!!

See details below --

(P.S. We will never use the real names of LDS people in our updates because there have been times when LDS spies have infiltrated our datebase and caused problems for the LDS people to whom we are ministering.)
 

LDS MISSIONARY 'J' HAS LEFT HIS MISSION
 
This story begins about three days ago when Jamie received an unusual phone call early in the morning. One of the local LDS missionaries was on the other end of the line. He told Jamie that he was ready to leave his mission. He said he couldn't sleep at night because he couldn't answer our questions about God. The phone call only lasted a moment because just then his companion missionary started to wake up so he made Jamie promise not to tell anyone about the call and he hung up. Jamie said he sounded absolutely miserable. He, however, never identified himself so, we didn't know which missionary he was. Consequently, we have been praying like crazy for this "mystery" missionary.

Then this morning 'J' walked into our house dressed in his street clothes. When we asked him what was up, he said, "I just walked away from my mission." When we asked him why, he said, "I don't believe Joseph Smith was a true prophet because I don't believe what Joseph Smith taught about God." 'J' even told us that he took off his LDS temple garments and left them in his apartment - a huge step for any Mormon and a sure sign to his companion that he was A-WALL.

Then, while 'J' was talking with us, Jamie received another mysterious call on her cell phone - someone named Ryan was on the other end of the line fishing to try to find 'J'. Jamie very carefully answered his questions in such a way as to not expose our LDS fugitive. As it turns out, the remaining five local LDS missionaries were Turning Ephraim upside down trying to find him.

We called in several of our former Mormons (Junelle, Mitz, and Steve) and they were a huge encouragement to 'J'. Never having been Mormons ourselves, Jamie and I can only understand on an intellectual level what 'J' is going through. Our former Mormons understand on an emotional level and were able to share their own personal experiences with him. We praise God for our awesome former Mormon support group.

'J' really opened his heart to us and said that he had no idea what he would do next. He said, "back home the only people I know are Mormons or drug addicts." He said, "I really blew my future by making this decision. If I could have finished my mission I had a good job waiting for me, a college education ahead of me, and any LDS girl I wanted to date." Then he said, "But, I just read the other day that Jesus said, 'If you try to save your life, you will lose it, and if you lose your life for my sake you will find it.'" We all assured 'J' that God would once again keep His promises and that his sacrifice would be difficult but worth it.
Another problem for 'J' was that he had gained weight on his mission and his street clothes no longer fit him. So, Jamie and Josiah took him to Provo to find some new clothes at a thrift store.

After Jamie and the gang headed to Provo, Mitz and Junelle said, "someone has to go and inform 'G' ('J's' missionary companion) that he is safe because he will be totally freaking out and the Local LDS church will be turning the countryside upside down to find him." So, Mitz and Junelle, went and talked with 'G' who has also been greatly challenged by the Christians in our church. (As we mentioned in our last letter, these two missionaries have visited us or Christians in our church at least 40 times.)

For a few moments, Mitz was able to talk heart to heart with 'G'. She said he looked her straight in the eye and connected with every word she was saying. I am sure this was one of 'G's' most vulnerable moments on his mission. Mitz said, you need to RUN! You need to get FREE of this oppressive religion! I am FREE and now 'J' is FREE - You need to be FREE too." But, sadly, 'G' didn't run - not yet.

By this time Jamie, Josiah and 'J' had made it to Provo and as they were shopping Jamie received another unusual phone call - it was the Provo Mission Stake President. In a very stern voice he said, "Is 'J' with you? I want to talk with 'J' right now." Jamie calmly said, "That is not my decision to make, that is 'J's' decision. If he wants to talk with you, I am sure he has your phone number." And she hung up. This is only the beginning for 'J' as he is leaving a false religious cult. They will hound him, try to humiliate him, threaten him, use all types of manipulation and scare tactics, etc.

Unknown to us, while all of this was going on, Chrissy and Sam two of our college age former Mormons decided they needed to pay 'G' a visit. So they found 'G' in his apartment but he was not alone, the other four local LDS missionaries were with him. Undaunted, Chrissy and Sam marched right in and started to exhort 'G' to follow 'J' and leave the LDS religion. 'G' listened but, the other missionaries began to interrupt and mock what Chrissy and Sam were saying. Chrissy is a total pistol and she turned, looked them right in the eye and wisely said, "Don't you know what the Book of Mormon says about those who mock others? It says if you mock others you will not receive eternal life and that you are not ready to meet your maker. So, I would advise you to stop mocking us." And, they did - Chrissy said they talked with 'G' for at least 15 more minutes and the other missionaries just sat and listened. They said 'G' was totally engaged as they were exhorting him to do what he knows is right. All 'G' could say was that he had to finish what he had committed himself too do. Sam said that when they left, you could see it in 'G's' eyes, he wanted to leave with them. But he didn't - not yet.

As you can tell, it has been an exciting and very eventful day. We are all very excited to see what God will do. Oh yea, God is Good; All the Time.