Now you've done it. !!!

Today at church Bro. Opperman came over to us and told us that Ben was to blame for something that happened this week. Of course we got a bit nervous wondering what in the world he had done. Bro. Opperman told Ben that all of his 81 years he had actually been in Kindergarten and now he is moving up. Let me explain. When we visit this sweet couple each week we bring some kind of message that we can discuss. This week he e-mailed Ben after we left to ask a question about the subject we had discussed. Ben answered the e-mail by giving the answer along with the source which was in one of the 26 volumes of "Journal of discourses" Apparently the Oppermans have a set in their home so he went and looked it up. As he was reading he got sidetracked (which is very easy to do when reading gospel doctrine) Today he told us that Ben was to blame for getting him started and he has set a goal to read all 26 volumes. He had no idea what wealth of knowledge there is in that great set. I think I might try to do the same when we get home. It should take me years but the investment will be worth it. Sometimes we wonder why we are here, but today was another testimony for the purpose. I love watching Ben light up when anyone asks a question and he will spend hours finding the right answer along with the source. The Elders perk up and grab their scriptures and notebooks anytime he opens his mouth to make a comment. We have Elders from all over the mission calling him for answers. For me it is great to have a walking gospel encyclopedia as a companion.

When we first got to Antwerp we met the Sherlocks. Sister Sherlock just received her doctorate from the University of London a couple months ago. She wrote her dissertation on the "ten lost tribes" She told us that she had been praying for sometime for someone she could actually discuss doctrine with at her level and the Lord had sent Ben. They e-mail back and forth and it has really been an answer to prayer for her. We don't always know who we touch or where the Lord places us but there really is a reason behind this great plan. We just have to stay in tune and listen to the spirit. It has been nice to see some of the results of our work here. We really do thank the Lord for his tender mercies and the opportunity we have of serving here. Thanks to technology we will be able to keep in touch when we go home.