Sister Lowe/Hansen - Midwood 1 - Jan 7, 1996 - BAPTIZE WEEKLY - "You’ve promised us that if we commit daily, we can baptize weekly. I’ve never done it, but this week, I made my resolve. I will be a Challenging and Testifying missionary. Right after District Meeting, we had an appointment with a lady. We taught her a First and challenged her to be baptized. She accepted. Saturday we taught two Second Discussions. I just burned inside. I felt as if I was literally on fire. I couldn’t wait to teach again, so I could challenge another person to come unto Christ. I feel so amazed at this power.

NOTE: Both Sisters commenced a chain of baptizing consecutively for 6 weeks, then a one week interruption and then at least a three week continuing pattern. They knew that they could do it!"

Sis McBride/Sego - Flushing 11 - Apr 21, 1996 - "BIRDS ON FRONT PORCHES - We had 2 hours to fill before our appointment, so off we went with much faith. It worked. We found some really wonderful people. The great thing was that the number of birds on the doorstep was the EXACT number of people that we found inside the apartment! The added bonus was that they were cute little birds and not those ghastly pidgins."

Elder Weinman/Hurtado - Bushwick 1 - Apr 15, 1996 - "SPIRIT OVERRIDES PLANNER - Following the spirit is the key. I’ve found that the Lord’s schedule is different to mine and my planner. It takes powerful faith to follow the spirit and juke your next appointment, to teach a fearless, instead of just getting a name and address, and teach later. Whenever we have done this, our appointment has always juked us. I’m learning a lot about the spirit and am constantly being reminded that this is not my work but the Lords. I’ve also made a goal to obtain referrals for all other companionships including the spanish."

Elder Almoney/Shakespear - Flushing 11 - Apr 2, 1996 - "APARTMENT NUMBERS - We walked into a building and I got two numbers come into my mind, at first 4, then ;later 6. I knew they were not related. My companion then had the number "51", which when subtracted is 4, and when added is 6. He had the key, which confirmed the first."

Elder Almoney/Shakespear - Flushing 11 - Mar 17, 1996 - "APARTMENT NUMBERS - We were buzzing and I told my companion, that the prepared person in this building will have apartment #’s which add up to "11". Then we prayed in the elevator to know which floor the person (s) were on and I came up with 6 & 2, and Elder Shakespear said 4. So we stopped at 2. The door opened and I felt bad, so I said "Close the door quick. This floor’s wrong!" As we went to the sixth floor, we turned our heads, saw a wreath on the door, asked to teach, and we taught him a First. We found a girl on the 4th Floor too. We both followed the spirit. Cool part was that the first apartment # was 632 = 11."

Elder Priddis/Izatt - Jamaica 11 Sp - Feb 26, 1996 - "NAME OF A STREET - I prayed and heard the name "Lincoln". I told my companion, but we both didn’t know anything named Lincoln, so we went to another building named Clinton, another President, but went up the wrong road, but found "Lincoln", across the street in the sister’s area. We decided to follow the spirit and stand on each floor of the building for 1 minute, waiting for those the Lord had prepared to come out of their apartments. On the first floor we just stood there waiting. Just then a door opened, we fearlessed the man who turns out to be a friend of our Ward Correlator, and knows a lot about the church, and likes it. We taught him right there in the lobby. It was our only discussion the whole day. We were so impressed. We finally listened to and followed the spirit, felt good."

Hna Callister/Lopez - Rego Park 11 Sp - Feb 26, 1996 - "STREET NUMBERS - One and half weeks ago, I was on a split with Dianna, a girl Elder Erickson baptized. We had an appointment, but were juked. We decided to pray to know where the Lord wanted us to go. As I prayed, a small simple thought came into my mind - "87". When I closed the prayer, another came - "31". So, I said, "We’re going to 87th St and 31st Ave. I knew we should go to the right hand side of the street, half-way up the block. We knocked on only three doors. On the third door, we found Laurin Novas, a 19 year old girl from the Dominican Republic. During a powerful First, she felt the spirit very strongly during the Joseph Smith story. Laurin was baptized yesterday, and is so happy. I have never had an experience before where specific numbers and places have come into my head like that. No burning bosom or fireworks, just small thoughts. Laurin was definitely prepared, and the charlas were absolutely beautiful. I am so grateful for this experience of learning to recognize and follow the spirit."

Hna Orgill/Roa - Richmond Hill 11 - Jan 2, 1996 - "RED BOW ON A WHITE DOOR - I had always wondered how McNairy and Kidd played this game, and now I'm learning. Hna Roa asked me questions about where to go and what we would find. I answered almost without thinking; we were to go to 129th St, look for a white door with recessed parts, a red bow on the door and the #7 in the address. I knew what kind of person we were looking for. We went to the street and noone was outside. We started tracting white doors. Finally we came to the last house on the street; guess what? A white door, #7 in the address, red bow etc. A middle aged man opened the door, and immediately without question, invited us in for a charla. We have been constantly praying to be led to future priesthood holders. The Lord answers our prayers when we exercise faith."

Elder Phillips/Hammond - Brooklyn Deaf - Dec 17, 1995 - "WHITE SNOW CAPS - We needed help finding deaf people. We prayerfully asked the Lord to have anyone who knew deaf to be wearing a white snow cap that day. Sure enough, as soon as we had tracted our last house, we started home, when a lady named Barbara popped out of the store next to us wearing a white snow cap. Her neighbor has two deaf sisters. I had a huge smile on my face the whole time we talked to her. The Lord does answer our prayers of faith."

Elder Tenney/Ahlmer - Dec 15, 1995 - "YELLOW HAT OR SCARF - Elder Ahlmer prayed to fearless people wearing a yellow hat or scarf. It worked well, he got a few referrals."

Elder Pierce/Bateman - Richmond Hill 11 Sp - Nov 26, 1995 - "HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS - Church was over and we were fearlessing along Jamaica Ave. It wasn't going very well, so Elder Bateman suggested that we begin faith tracting, and he asked me to think of a sign to look for. The first thing that came to me was to tract those doors that still had Halloween decorations in the windows. We prayed about it, and it felt right. The very first house we visited, we made an appointment with for today. As ridiculous as it may sound, faith tracting works!"

Elder Draney/Turner - Rockland SI - Nov 27, 1995 - "FAMILIES - This really works, we asked to be led to a family and that is what we got. In this large condominium, we passed lots of doors before we were led to that special door. We only knocked one door, and it was a great family from the Philippines. The father has now been baptized, and now he will baptize the wife next week. This is the best, and they have so many friends to work. The spirit let us know which door. You could really tell."

Elder Hurst/Taft - Brooklyn Chinese - Nov 26, 1995 - "OPEN WINDOWS - Elder Harris and I were spirit tracting and had prayed to be led to prepared people with open windows. At only 36 F, (2 c), we were not quite sure if that was appropriate. I felt impressed to look at this certain house, as I told Elder Harris "How about this one?" At that very moment, the window slid open, and we began a conversation with a wonderful man. S T really works."

Elder Snider/Schenck - Flushing Korean - Nov 26, 1995 - "LED TO APPOINTMENT SET WITH OTHER MISSIONARIES - I was on a split with Elder Shakespear, and we went ST. We skipped a few streets, and rang the bell of someone who was waiting for us, because of the appointment made with him by Elders Warren and Kim, but who had not as yet informed us of the appointment. Although we were late for the scheduled time, we taught him an awesome first discussion. That was the only house we knocked on that entire street. It was a miracle."

Sister Hinckley/Leffler - Flushing 11 - Nov 27, 1995 - "INCREASE PERSONAL FAITH - After the Zone Meeting, and in the mission field 2 weeks, I really wanted to try my faith. I would try to quickly react to the first thought that came into my mind. I would go down certain streets just because I felt like it, not really knowing why. Then I would listen and try to see who I should fearless. Those people I stopped were receptive and gave us their name and address. Though I have hopes for these fearlesses, this was the first step in increasing my faith. By weak things shall strong things come to pass."

Hna Callister/Roa - Flushing 1 Sp - Nov 20, 1995 - "LED NEXT DOOR TO INVESTIGATORS - Yesterday Kelly and Gladys were baptized. We were initially trying to contact their next door neighbor, who was never home. As we were standing at the door one day , we just had this urge to knock on the next door. We did, Gladys answered. We made an appointment to return, because they were busy, but they were interested. The day that we taught them a first, we also taught Gloria a first, who lives in a totally different part of the area. There was a Branch party that night, and we had invited them all to attend. Well they all showed up together! Gladys and Gloria are sisters! We didn't know that at first. Gloria will be baptized soon. It is so much fun to take a step back and look at how our Heavenly Father works through the spirit, to tell us where to go and when."

Elder Purcell/Porter - Terryville Ward - Nov 26, 1995 - "COLORED HOUSES - When I first arrived in this area, I pictured a red house in my head, that housed a lovely family we were to baptize. We struggled all month, but no red house and no family. After our baptisms last Sunday night, we prayed faithfully for help to find this red house. We located an old media referral, that had been here for many months, but could never contact them. Well we finally went there anyway, found our red house and our family of five that lived there. We thank the Lord for answering our prayers."

Hna Callister/Roa - Flushing 1 Sp - Nov 26, 1995 - "PEOPLE OUTSIDE THEIR HOMES - We have heard so much about telling the Lord a "sign" that would help guide us to those whom he had prepared. Well, we both thought of a sign and I had my companion tell me hers first. It was exactly the same sign I had thought of. We decided that since we have an area where there aren't many spanish people, that those who are ready will need to just be outside their houses for whatever reason. So we looked for people getting their mail, going out to the car, opening their front door just coming out or coming home. It hadn't been three minutes after telling the Lord what we wanted, that we came upon a really neat guy cleaning his car right outside his house, in the cold! He has a family. We were so excited. The Lord certainly is in charge of this work!"

Elder Turley/Kim - Flushing Korean - Nov 27, 1995 - "FEARLESS ANYONE THAT THE SPIRIT DIRECTS - On Saturday, we walked past a Laundromat and I felt a peace and good feeling as I looked in. We went a little further and I felt that feeling leave. We returned, I walked in and talked to and fearlessed an Hispanic man. Saturday afternoon we had a Korean street meeting. The signs we made attracted attention and appeared to touch many hearts. I felt great gratitude and humility and know that the Savior loves and walks with us, as we continue to work with all His children."

Elder Hymas/Shaw - Brooklyn Deaf - Nov 27, 1995 - "FEARLESS THOSE WHO KNOW DEAF PEOPLE - I believe that we have the way to implement the use of faith in our work. We have begun to tell the Lord to lead us to those who know deaf people. We request of the Lord a different sign each day such as those who have a red jacket on, or who are walking a black dog, or carrying a baby in their arms, or wearing a Seattle Mariner's Baseball cap (World's Series time only). These are the ones who know deaf people, where they live, and be willing to give us their details. If they ask us why, we tell them "God sent us to them, to ask them". Then when the spirit directs, we try and fearless them also. We have had quite a deal of success. The Lord is leading us to about one good lead every day, which is more than we are used to.

This Zone has many good missionaries and I am humbled by being able to represent them. I learn a lot from each one. I see Elders like Farley, Wilcken, Kelly and Shaw who are all just hungry to baptize and the others too. They are great men, warriors on the Lord's side. I love them all."

Elder Ward/Izatt - Jamaica 11 Sp - Nov 20, 1995 - "ELEVATOR - Elder Izatt and I were spirit tracting a building last week. We didn't get in any doors, but we had a few return appointments. We were on our way out, rather discouraged, because we really felt that there was someone prepared in that building. As we got off the elevator, a spanish lady got on, along with some other people. My comp quickly fearlessed her. She said OK and told us her room number and a good time to come by. It was that quick. When we taught her the first discussion, she said she had seen in a dream that she was to be baptized that next weekend. She was a golden commit! I then remembered that I had prayed as I came into this area for miracles to occur. I had prayed specifically for dreams and visions. I never expected the Lord to answer my prayer in this manner. Her whole family came over from New Jersey for her baptism, were touched by the spirit, and we have already sent the referrals over."

Elder Schwenke/Alvarez - Staten Island 111 Sp - Nov 20, 1995 - "CHINESE MEMBER LOOKING FOR CHURCH - Last night after Leader's Meeting, we were walking home, just leaving the Curbishley's home. I walked past a short oriental looking man and the spirit told me to fearless him. I replied to the spirit "But he's Chinese!". Again the spirit insisted, so I said that I was sorry. As I was conversing with the spirit, he was now some 5 steps behind, and I kind of shouted "Excuse me, but do you speak spanish?" "Yes, and are you from the Mormon Church?" He told us that he has been looking for the church as he was baptized in Mexico last year and that he lived with 4 other men. All kinds of miracles have been occurring as I strive to work hard and to be a worthy representative of Jesus Christ. I know that the Lord will use me because I have been blessed with natural skills of being "cheerful and outgoing" and have the great concept of not being a "compound missionary" and that is to be myself and be a missionary at the same time. This means not having to change the way I act. So many missionaries try to adopt a "front", which is not them. Most of the time, investigators, members and other missionaries can see right through these fake acts, and not to feel comfortable in trusting them."

Elder Scott Anderson/Salinas - Rego Park 11 Sp - Nov 12, 1995 - "PREPARED PEOPLE WEAR CERTAIN COLORS - Our DL, Elder Tormod Anderson told us about the "color system", where you pray to have the golden people wear a certain color to be more easily recognized. I didn't really notice any manifestations during our fearlessing, but three times in two days, our favorite investigators were wearing the right color. In one discussion in which our investigator wore the right color, I prayed that he would cry when he felt the spirit. His eyes got watery. In the second discussion, we previewed the topics of the discussion to which he quickly responded "OK, let's start with talking about my baptism!" We felt it inappropriate to argue."

Elder Harr/Degraffenreid - Richmond Hill 11 Sp - Nov 19, 1995 - "WRONG ADDRESS LED TO RIGHT FAMILY - We received a fearless referral from the sisters, and looked it up one day. A Colombian girl (17) answered the door and said that the person didn't live there. We immediately fearlessed her and she invited us in and we taught her and her grandmother a great first. She is a really intelligent girl and both she and her grandmother are great people, eager to hear the message. Had it not been for the false referral, we may never have found them."

Elder Castro/Malan - Huntington Sp - Nov 12, 1995 - "LED TO YELLOW (RED) HOUSE - A member told us that there was a new spanish family in the neighborhood, and that they lived in a yellow house. We found a yellow house in the area described, we had the spirit confirm it to us, so we knocked, and found a whole Dominican family, with about 15 living there. After we left from the first visit, we again looked at the outside of the house. It was not yellow anymore, it was red. We later found the house we were told about and we were rejected. This experience proves to me that the Lord will work miracles, change our view to further his work and lead us to prepared people, especially as it is more difficult out here on the island to find."

Elder Palfreyman/Harmon - South Shore Ward - Nov 5, 1995 - "PORCH LIGHTS ON OR OPEN DOORS AT SPECIFIC TIME - Elder Mugleston and I were on a split last Thursday, so Wednesday night we prayed that the Lord would prepare the people in the homes around our 1 pm appointment. We told the Lord that we would tract that specific spot from 12 - 3. We also asked him to have the porch lights on, or an open door at the homes he wanted us to tract. So on Thursday from 12 - 1 we tracted and noone was interested. We then went to our 1 pm appointment, only to be told he couldn't meet with us. We got in the car and were about to drive to a different part of the area, but the key wouldn't turn to start the car, no matter what we did. After praying, both of us felt that we should tract for another 30 minutes, then come back. We tracted and in the next 30 minutes got 2 appointments fro the next day. We went back to the car and it started right away. We knew the Lord had prepared those people upon our request, and would not allow us to leave until we had been led to those families, just because we had changed our previous plans.

Elder Leishman/Rasmussen - Terryville Ward - Oct 30, 1995 - "PORCH LIGHTS LEFT ON - I needed to get greater faith. One of the biggest challenges on Long Island is finding people. I was reading the story of Jacob when I got an idea. We look for people mainly during the day. So with faith and similar to the brother of Jared, I asked "to lead us to prepared people, please leave porch lights on during the day."
We could then find during appointments and whilst tracting. It's worked, we've gone from finding 1 - 2 people per week, to 1 - 2 people per day. 80% of those were found because I saw a porch light on during the day. Not necessarily their porch light, but often a neighbor. The Lord knows I'm looking for porch lights, so he allows the people to accidentally leave them on to get our attention. When I see one lit, I check to see if I feel the spirit. If I don't, I move on. If I do, we start knocking, and without fail, we find someone every time. The key is not the area, but the faith and spirituality of the missionary."

Hna Kidd/Arroyo - Ridgewood Sp -Oct 30, 1995 - "FAITH or SPIRIT TRACTING PRINCIPLES - I have marveled how often my Patriarchal Blessing talks about faith, and the power I am entitled to if I "increase my faith" and use it to build the kingdom. My research began, daily searching the scriptures with a new found hunger, to learn all I could about faith and bringing more souls unto Christ. I read Alma 26:22 in a new way. The equation from it, I placed on the wall. Now comes the works. Elder McNairy came on a split with us and taught us "faith tracting" and being led by the spirit. It completely changed my mission. Hna Arroyo and I no longer just look up media referrals all day (Law of Moses), we have the Lord guide us and we expect Him to do so. Everyday we dedicate a few hours to be led only by what the Lord tells us. We pray for this time slot specifically in the morning and often at night. When that part of the day comes, we trust everything that comes to our hands and just do it. The Lord has told us which way to turn, how many blocks to walk, house numbers and to look for open doors. We have seen miracles take place. I trust my companion's revelation completely and she trusts mine. The more we do it, the more success we see and the better we get at it. We come home exhausted having labored "much in the spirit". It really wears us out. It is having complete and utter faith that the Lord will tell you where to go and who to fearless. We have yet to fearless someone unprepared.

Elder McNairy/Castro - Bushwick Ridgewood Sp - Sep 3, 1995 - "PREPARED PEOPLE AND BUILDINGS TO GLOW - The area is beginning to open up into what I call "hot spots" or "clusters". As we pray for spiritual guidance, the Lord leads us to certain streets, and the streets seem to be full of spiritual energy as we follow the spirit, we find all the potential baptisms on that street. It's as if certain floors of certain buildings seem to glow or stick out, 100% of the time we will teach someone on that floor. This has been the key to the success in this area. The Lord has given us all of our baptisms in this manner. This is the most effective way, I have ever worked, and as a result, we had 15 baptisms last month and 3 this week, with a possibility of 10 before the end of the week. At this rate we should have 15 - 20 by the 3rd week of September.

In Alma 26:22, the revelation that has never before been given, is exactly what I've been receiving for the past month. As I repent with faith and work hard, I am given this gift of revelation. I can't believe what has been happening to me, I wonder if I'm the only one, I wonder if many missionaries have these same feelings. I sometimes feel all alone with this type of missionary work, and I hesitate to share all of this with my companion or District, because they aren't ready for it. This isn't just following the spirit, it's more, I have felt things and seen things that are without doubt, miracles. I have seen with my mind's eye, floors of buildings filled with the spirit, and gone to that floor, found families and taught and baptized them. I walked from one side of my area to the other without fearlessing anyone or even talking to anyone, walked into a building, knocked one door, taught a discussion, then left the building without knocking any other doors. (That family was baptized last month, a week after I met them.) To me this is the beginning of what the Lord has in store for me and a few others. I strongly feel that this is how we will reach 630 and more in one month. President by the time I'm 18 months out, the mission will be peaking with the majority of the elders and sisters being in the prime of their mission. As I perfect this style of work as much as I can, I feel I can teach this, at which time I believe the mission will be ready for it. I feel the Lord has given me this gift, to prepare me for the time when I can take it to the mission as a whole, whenever that time may be. I know this is the way the Sons of Mosiah and Alma worked, and when they baptized thousands, we will too!"

Elder Pressley/Williams - Riverhead Unit - May 1, 1995 - "SPIRIT TRACTING ON LONG ISLAND - In between appointments we had some spare time and decided to go tracting where we had left off, but had forgotten our map of the streets tracted, so decided to follow the spirit. We drove into one neighborhood and it didn't feel right. We then decided to drive a little way down the road to another neighborhood where we had tracted before, and again it just didn't feel right. So we felt that we should go to a different area that we hadn't worked at all. We then turned onto this street and instead of stopping and starting at the beginning and working our way down and back up, we again felt that we should go to the end of the street. We prayed and got out of the car. Across the street I noticed some kids waiving out the window and decided to go there first. The woman was so prepared. She goes to a Baptist church, but doesn't smoke, drink and is legally married (I saw the Certificate)! It was a family of 7, 4 of which are of baptismal age. It was such a huge testimony builder to me, on how to follow the spirit and how the Lord leads us to His prepared people."

Elder Hall/Atwood - ZL - Plainview 11 - Aug 28, 1994 - "SPIRIT TRACTING - I thankyou for this new day, my new companion, calling and area. I feel good. Although in the area only 4 days, we have taught 14 very spiritual discussions this week, tracting houses all day long. We taught families and potential priesthood. On Saturday night at 8.30 pm we were winding up the week and had tracted all day long. We felt that we could not teach and still make it home on time, so we started walking home down a back road. (They also have a car). My companion picked out a house at random and said "This is the one, let's try it." We knocked on the door and the lady let us in. We taught a spiritual first and laced a couple of friends she had with her. The church is true."

Elder Martinez/Savage - DL - Bushwick 11 Sp - Aug 7, 1994 - "SPIRIT TRACTING - I asked my companion what shall we do in this street. He said "Anything you feel inspired to do!". I looked at the building we were walking by and said "Let's tract this building!" We went to the top floor and knocked on the door. A Dominican lady and her 2 children received us in without asking who we were and served us food without even knowing our names. By the end of our visit we taught a beautiful 1st Discussion and the Lord had prepared them."