While serving in the Cape Verde Praia Mission in 2005, my companion and I weren't having much success. I felt I hadn't accomplished much for the previous six months. We weren't close to a convert baptism. I felt hopeless.

During interviews with President Daryl K. Hobson, I was told to forget about that and put my trust in the Lord. He shared a scripture, Alma 38:5, and I realized that I needed to stop focusing on my own weaknesses and to put my trust in the Lord — that He would guide us.

Soon afterward we started finding more people willing to hear about the restored gospel. One day we knocked on a door close to our home and met a man named Silvio. We taught him a very powerful lesson about the Restoration and, afterward, he agreed to make a commitment for another day.

We continued teaching him; every lesson was an extremely spiritual experience. But after teaching about the commandments, we noticed a change in his mood. He allowed us to visit and teach, but he was no longer willing to attend Church meetings. When we invited him to be baptized, he wasn't willing to change his life-style.

My companion and I were discouraged. We had done what our mission president had counseled. I had forgotten about myself and I was putting my trust in the Lord. Why were we still not finding success?

A short time later, we ran into Silvio in the street with a friend of his. He introduced us to Nilton and told us that he'd be interested in taking the missionary lessons. We began teaching Nilton. He had prayed to know if the Book of Mormon was true and if Joseph Smith was a prophet.

He had received an answer by the Spirit.

One night we were reviewing the Plan of Salvation when I had the strongest impression to invite him to be baptized. We hadn't planned to invite him yet, but the impression was strong so, after testifying, I invited him to be baptized.

He paused for a second, then looked at us and said he had already been baptized in another church.

I asked if he truly believed deep in his heart that the Book of Mormon was true. He answered, "Yes."

I said, "If the Book of Mormon is true, Joseph Smith was a prophet called by God.... If Joseph Smith was a prophet, then this is the Church of Jesus Christ, the only Church with the fullness of the gospel."

I asked him again if he was willing to be baptized, and he agreed.

About the same time we taught Nilton, we began teaching his friend, Jair. Both Nilton and Jair were baptized in November 2005. Both are now preparing to serve missions.

Through this experience I learned that God is always preparing His people. As long as we put our trust in Him, He will lead us to those who are ready to hear and accept the gospel.

— Andrew Danson is a member of the Wasatch 5th Ward, Salt Lake Wasatch Stake.