But that wasn't our only international encounter this week, oh no. Our newest investigator, and my favorite atheist (I really mean that, I love this guy) is named Dariush. He came here from Tehran, where he was born, raised, and educated, to earn his PhD in metalforming and stress analysis. He's working on develping mathematical models for predicting how magnesium (which is lighter than steel) will behave under different manufacturing scenarios. The goal is to be able to use magnesium in the auto industry instead of steel. He says he is Persian, he loves to travel, and while his English is very good, he very clearly comes from Iran. Cool eh?
We met him on the street on the coldest night we've had yet, and spent 20 minutes talking to him about faith and the Holy Ghost. He agreed to meet with us, and our first appointment lasted 2 hours. We gave him a Book of Mormon and met with him again a week later. This time he took us to a cosier spot with arm chairs, bought some tea for himself at the campus Tim Horton's, then sat back and started asking more questions. I wish I could convey to you how Middle Eastern the scene felt; Kadilly, you should be jealous. (By the way, only three kinds of women wear skirts past their knees in Waterloo: sister missionaries, Muslims, and Mennonites.)
But that's not why I like him. Dariush is my favorite atheist because he truly wants to know the truth, and he's done his best to figure out the world. I like him because he thinks hard about things, especially God, and has many questions. It took us two and a half hours instead of the usual 45 minutes, but we taught him the Plan of Salvation. He's very open to learn and to experience new things and new cultures, but he wants proof. He wants to know why the Restoration happened in North America, why everyone with faith doesn't come to the same conclusions about religion, why God would care so much about him, why there isn't tangible evidence, and what's wrong with just living and dying anyway? You get the idea. Before we met with him the first time I was worried that I would not be able to explain things clearly, or that I wouldn't be able to answer his penetrating questions.
But we could. And after hours of logic and reasoning and questions and answers, Sister Loar and I walked away knowing more than ever that this is all very real. God is there, Jesus Christ lives, the scriptures are true, and Thomas S. Monson is a prophet. We know it not because of evidence that can be measured or signs that can be empirically observed and recorded. We know it because the Holy Ghost has borne witness to our hearts as we've studied, prayed, repented, made covenants, and kept the commandments. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is as real as it gets. It is true, I know, that the Lord calls the weak things of the earth to declare His gospel. But He doesn't leave us weak. He fills our mouths as we open them.
At the end of our last meeting Dariush told me that I would be a good teacher because I was well spoken and explained things well. He doesn't know yet that it was all the Lord, but we'll get there. I think he'll look great in a white jumpsuit. :-)
Okay, well, time is up and my companion is waiting patiently for me to finish. Being a missionary is the greatest privilege on earth, so go be one! Open your mouths. You'll be blessed. Love to everyone,
Sister Turvaville
p.s. Thanks for the organ music Grammy and Grandy! The branch president has requested a musical number, so he'll be pleased as well.
Copies of the Book of Mormon and two Bibles, all in different languages, representing the universal nature of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This isn't American or Judeo-Christian or cultural or Western or anything. It's true, and it's true for all of us. The Holy Ghost isn't limited by tongue or race, and everyone can have the same witness.
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