Sister Ann Elgaaen in Houston, Texas South: March 16, 2020 There is No Such Thing as Barbers

Hey family and friends!!

I would like to share this story with you...

Once their was a man named Fred who entered a barber shop to have his hair trimmed. As Fred sat down, his barber began trimming his hair and they started talking about anything and everything. Eventually the topic of religion presented itself.

The barber told Fred that there was no god. "How could there be a god if so many people are suffering?"

Fred was a little taken aback, he was a Farley religious man himself, and he had spent years of his life gaining a deeper relationship with God.

Fred, however, kept quiet as the barber went on.

"Look how many people are sick and dying! Look at those who are poor and hopeless. God isn't making himself known to them and helping them through their trials and challenges!"

The barber finished the haircut and Fred thanked him. He left the shop and while walking, he saw a young man with shaggy long hair.

"Come with me." Fred told the shaggy haired man.

Fred took this man into the barber shop and said plainly. "I dont think that barbers exist."

"What do you mean?" The barber said angrily.

"Look at this man!" Fred said. "If Barbers existed, then wouldn't his hair be trimmed?"

The barber shook his head. "No. The people have to choose to come to me to get their hair cut."

Fred went on. "If there really were barbers, then wouldn't everyone's hair be cut nicely and kept up all the time?"

The barber was a little upset at this point. "You cant expect me to cut people's hair when they dont even want their hair to be cut!!"

Fred nodded. "And just like how barbers cannot cut the hair of those who refuse to come to them, god cannot help the people who refuse to come to him either. Just because there are men and women with hair not trimmed doesn't mean there isn't barbers to cut their hair, and just because there are people with challenges and trials doesn't mean there isn't a god who will help them overcome those trials and challenges."

With that, Fred tipped his hat to the barber and left the shop.

This was a simple story told to me by one of our investigators, Emiliano. He shared his testimony with us about how although we experience trials and challenges, that doesn't mean there isn't a god waiting and wanting us to reach out to him.

I know that Heavenly Father loves each one of us perfectly! He knows what we have need of, even before we ask!! But we still must ask! We need to continually reach out to him in prayer! He will hear you!!

This week we were able to meet with Emiliano and he has accepted baptism for April 18th!!!

Emiliano has such a strong testimony of the gospel! When we came into victoria, an Elder from my precious area told us to find Emiliano, because he WILL be baptized.

I looked for Emiliano on our records, but they were no where!

About a week into our first transfer I asked the Victoria Elders if they had Emiliano's records.

They did!!

The Elders sent us Emiliano's information and we quickly set up a time to go by.

As we met with Emiliano and his family, we were blown away with his knowledge and love for the gospel! He invited US to read Alma 32 because it was a chapter he is very fond of.

His only struggle and concern was to give up coffee. We asked him if he would like to receive a priesthood blessing of comfort to help him overcome any trials, and to help him have the strength and desire to give up coffee.
He accepted.

Later that week we met at a members house and Emiliano was able to receive a priesthood blessing.

After Brother Stevenson gave him the blessing, Emiliano said
"Did you guys feel that?"
He explained that he had felt a warmth wash over his whole body. He was taken aback by priesthood blessing and was moved to tears from the love and comfort he felt.

We tried to keep in contact the best we could the rest of the week, but due to his wife being sick we weren't able to go over for two weeks!

One day while weekly planning, we got a phone call from Emiliano.

He told us he would be able to have a lesson with us on thursday night and he was excited to see us. He apologized for missing church the previous Sunday due to his wife's illness.

Hermana lopez asked him if he had thought about baptism any more sense we last spoke with him and invited him to pray about it.

He said he had!

He told us that he has thought about baptism alot sense the priesthood blessing. He told us he has not had even a sip of coffee sense then!!!

I think that was close to the happiest moment of my entire mission!! I felt as if my spirit had up and gone to heaven!!

Hermana Lopez and I were so touched by his love and his excitement for the gospel and his dedication to the lord, that we both cried from the overload of joy.

That Thursday, we were able to extend the invitation of baptism to Emiliano for April 18th which he accepted.

He has definatly been prepared of the lord.