My two sons are adopted. They are both great boys, but both have their individual challenges. For my oldest son, it was clear pretty early that school was going to be difficult. He was born with an extra measure of energy. So much so he struggled to make it through a single school day. It became clear that the traditional school setting was not for him. When he was in about 3rd grade, he was placed in a special program in School District for all the kids who couldn’t assimilate to traditional learning.
Personal History
I’m going to categorize my life history here.
A little reminiscing
I know I have talked about my conversion story a few times on here. I wanted to take a moment to reminisce about a few things I loved at that time. I was continually trying to fill my life with good things. So, I indulged abundantly in these things.
Do you cry during your testimony?
Do you cry during your testimony? I often do. It isn’t that I can’t control my emotions, it is that as I speak these feelings often overwhelms me and the physical makeup of my body leads to me choking up and crying.
NYNYS Mission September 12-18, 1996
A while ago we were fealessing in Rosevelt and in Sunny Side a man approached us on the corner and said, “Hay did I tell you about my experience with Jehova Witnesses?” I’m like, “No.” Well, he proceeded. “One day a lady stopped me you know, with the little magazines, and asked, do you want to be a Jehovah’s Witness?” And he said of himself, “How could I? I didn’t see the accident”.
NYNYS Mission September 2-11, 1996
Maybe I should note what is in this edition. Teaching a drunk, working it out with my comp, Mike Tyson Fight, TuPac’s Death, and an attack of the one eyed monster.
Card of Death
I was listening to a conversation about the fall while driving home from work yesterday. During the conversation they talked about the dialog between Eve and the Serpent. As they talked about phrase “You shall not surely die,” my mind flooded with memories of my past. I can’t 100% say this is the first time, but the inspiration felt new. It seems through a glimpse of enlightenment listening to this dialog, the story of my conversion took on a different layer. I had also received two messages about death. One had come from Satan and the other one was from God. I received both messages around the time of my conversion to Jesus Christ. And for what seemed to be the first time, I noticed the similarity to the story of Eve and the serpent in the garden of Eden.
Forgiveness
I would like to take a moment to talk about forgiveness.
My niece is pregnant!
Pregnancies are life events that fill us with joy. They are like gifts sent down from God. Unfortunately, they are not looked at that way by the world when they are inconvenient or unplanned. I’m going to do my best to tread lightly as I talk about this.
The people you know.
Brief expressions of gratitude for John, Jeff, Scott, and Adam
NYNYS Mission August 25 to September 1, 1996
Sex and Abortion are plagues in New York City. From the number of people who live out of wedlock, to the number who have illegitimate children, to those who have lots of illegitimate children with lots of different people, to those who abort all their pregnancies. I talked to so many women that had abortions. Most I dealt with were unable to get baptized. I haven’t gotten to it yet, but the worst I was saw was a mother and two daughters who we were going to baptize, then we found out that between the three of them, if I remember right, they had 20-30 abortions. It’s hard to imagine.
NYNYS Mission August 12-24, 1996
Well along with many blessings comes humbling. I have the runs again. I had them bad for 3 days now. We just finished eating at a member’s house and had to hurry to a baptism. We were walking towards his house, I was with [Elder], my comp was with [Elder] at his house. We were 3 blocks from his home and it hit me. I had to go like lightning. All there were were buildings and fences. I ran up to a house and beat on the door. They didn’t come so I ran up to the other, nothing. I couldn’t hold it any longer. I was humiliated. Well, life goes on. I just hope my accident doesn’t ruin me by becoming part of the grapevine [gossip]. So, I ran home so nobody would see and took a shower then we hurried to the church. The baptism was so cool.