Marvelous Work and a Wonder® Testimonials

I was born in Riga, Latvia in 1973 and have lived in Latvia all my life, except two years of missionary service in the USA (NY, NY North mission: served Bronx, Yonkers and Manhattan).

I have three brothers (one older than me and two younger) and one sister (older than me). I was raised in an atheist family even though I later found out that there is some Lutheran ancestry. The religion could not be openly practiced in Soviet times unless you were not afraid to get into a trouble or even a jail. We never talked about the religion in our home, even after Latvia regained its “independence” in 1990.

I think that my childhood was good and quite a happy time. All my needs were provided for even though we were not rich. Most of my life I have lived in a three-room apartment with my three brothers, parents and grandparents (so that’s eight people). We didn’t own a car but we had a TV and other things many people don’t have, even today. I had great parents who never forced anything on me. I didn’t feel my free will to be impeded; I could do what I wanted, whatever made me happy.

I remember myself as a child that I could be rather happy being alone, just playing in a sandbox and making sand-cakes. I have had a few friends in my life, and it seems that there was always one or none at a time. That’s what I enjoy most in relationships – one to one interaction. And I think that I never had enemies, I could get along with any person. Maybe that’s because I am very quiet and don’t speak too much. I would rather listen to others, and I have discovered that people like when someone listens to them.

As my basic needs were provided for, I could concentrate on things that I liked. My grades at school were good; I was always curious and wanted to learn new things. My favorite subjects at school were chemistry and literature.

At the age of 10, I started to play tennis and badminton. That was completely my own choice; nobody forced me to do that. I enjoyed playing tennis to the level that I went to summer camps where we had two trainings per day and competitions. I didn’t like competitions. Maybe that’s because I almost always lost. I liked to play for fun, for enjoyment. So, when I was about 13, I quit playing tennis because I was often a loser and I felt that my trainer didn’t really want to work with me anymore.

Then, I started to engage in the field of photography. Again, that was 100% my choice and desire. I loved to make pictures, to catch some cool moments. That was my passion till about 16-17.

At the same time, during my teenage years, I started to look for the truth about some existential questions. My mind became occupied with questions about human existence, about the purpose of life. I have read various books on subjects of philosophy and religion. Then, when I was about 16-17 years old, I was introduced to an organized religion by my sister. My sister seemed to have found some happiness in religion and the Bible, and I wanted to explore that. Again, that was completely my choice and desire to do that. So, I became a born-again Christian who spoke in tongues, sang praises to God, went to various services, and read the Bible a lot. It seemed to me that I had found some answers, but not to a full satisfaction.

One thing that bothered me was the concept of reincarnation. I strongly believed in reincarnation even though that church did not approve of that. Also, I could not fully justify in my mind and heart about jumping and singing in praising the Almighty and being merry when so many people in the world greatly suffer. So, after a year or so I stopped attending that church and any other church.

To the suffering many people have, I was introduced literally when I took my first job in a hospital. After graduation of high school at the age of 18, I applied for studies in the Faculty of Chemistry. I completed my first year but then quit as I didn’t feel that to be the right thing for me: to become a chemist, a scientist, a teacher or someone like that. I wanted to do something else. I wanted to help people in some more practical ways.

So, I found a job in a hospital as a hospital attendant, a stretcher-bearer. I was placed in the toughest unit: intensive care. I was witnessing people suffering and dying every single day. There were days that we carried six-seven corpses to the morgue. It was a hard job, both emotionally and physically, nevertheless, that was an experience which I probably needed. I saw how fragile is the human life, I saw even young people dying and being in a coma for many days and months.

After a year, I ended up in the hospital myself. I had some heart problems and also my back was somewhat hurt by carrying those stretchers with some good weight on them. I was also exempted from the military service which was a mandatory duty for all men at that time. That’s because I have some health problems.

Then, I got an offer to work as a watchman in a Lutheran church and a concert hall. That was a time when I could relax, listen to some organ music, contemplate life, and plan for the future. Somehow, I got very interested in natural remedies, healing properties of plants. I read some books about that. Then, consequently, I decided to study pharmacy which went very well for me.

I liked chemistry, biology and other subjects taught in that faculty. I even got a job as a laboratory assistant in the department of Pharmaceutical chemistry. I graduated with a Master’s degree and worked another year as a lecturer for pharmacy students. I didn’t feel too comfortable in teaching students but I didn’t know what else I should do. At the same time, I started my postgraduate studies for a doctorate degree and was quite heavily involved in some scientific research (electrochemistry studies of some molecules).

Then, in the spring of 1999, when I was coming home from my work, two missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints talked to me in the trolley-bus and offered to get a free copy of the Book of Mormon. I felt intrigued as I didn’t have any knowledge about that book. Also, it seemed to me that I saw some light in the eyes of those missionaries. They looked happy and relaxed.

To make a long story short: I started to read the Book of Mormon and it felt to me to be “true” so I was baptized in two weeks. After a year, I quit my job and studies so that I could serve a mission, then served in various leadership positions which I never really liked. Some things occasionally bothered me about the Church (especially some historical issues) but I put those things on “shelves”.

In addition, I was busy with my immediate family and job. I found a job as a sales representative for a pharmaceutical company which was selling natural medicines and food supplements. I really liked my job as I was driving around the whole country and visiting over-the-counter pharmacies. Later, I worked for another pharmaceutical company, then worked as a clinical research associate for a short time and a year for a government agency.

During all those years after my mission, I also worked as a translator for the Church. That was my side-job as a freelancer. I like to translate very much, to put the words of another language into my native tongue. Mostly I translate from English, but I also know some Russian.

I married in 2003, a year after my mission, at the age of 30. I would probably have stayed single all my life, if not for the teachings of the Church and advice of leaders to marry and get sealed in the temple.

In August of 2004, our twin boys were born: Kristofers and Rimants. That was something challenging to us — to take care of two little ones at the same time. But I liked being a father and a provider for my family. Then, in December of 2006, the third son Olivers was born. That added to our joy but also there was much more to do in caring for the boys.

Then, in December of 2008, my wife suddenly left me with our three children and moved to Germany where she had found another man.

That was quite a shock for me but I didn’t grieve much for my wife. I was more shocked about the fact that I had to be a single father and care for three little children (Olivers was barely two years old at that time). Somehow, I was able to take care of them with the help of babysitters and extended family.

We had some good times together: we went to the swimming pool once in a while; we lived two summers in a tent, which was fun. I was very busy, but happy. I haven’t felt overly depressed. I have not forced my children to do any sports or anything of sorts, I let them do what they want.

Our divorce was finalized in 2009 and I stayed single till 2014 when I married again. In 2013, I gave custody of Olivers to his mother in Germany. Now Olivers lives in Germany and speaks very little Latvian. I miss him but probably not too much because of the knowledge provided by the MWAW. Actually, I have never gotten too attached to people in my life. From experience, I know that we come and go …

In 2014, I married again. My wife was a kindergarten teacher for Olivers; that’s how we met. I needed some help in raising my children, and she has helped me a lot. We have a son Lehijs; he was born in December, 2015.

I found the Work in the autumn of 2012 as I was searching the internet for something about the Church, about the problems of Mormonism. I found this YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ac_fLUHiBw. The part about The Sealed Portion of the Book of Mormon (about 31:28) got my attention and I further searched the internet and found the MWAW website, books, and other information. On the same day, I ordered some books. Surprisingly, those books were delivered to my door in a few days.

It’s difficult to describe my feelings while reading The Sealed Portion and other books of the MWAW, but I have felt absorbed in the MWAW since that time.

Well, from the very beginning, it seemed to me that the most crucial information is about solving poverty and inequality. Therefore, Human Reality stood out as a book which contains the simple solutions now outlined in The Humanity Party^®’s plan. Also, this book seemed to be almost non-religious and, therefore, for more people to read and accept (according to my understanding at that time).

Well, all the books of the MWAW are great and serve their specific purpose to get the Real Truth^® through the filters of the prejudicial minds and hardened hearts. And these additional writings and broadcasts presented through the websites (realilluminati.org;
humanityparty.com) … I just marvel and wonder.

How my life has changed since finding the Marvelous Work and a Wonder^® and The Humanity Party^®?

I feel less judgmental to other people. I think I understand more about the importance of free will each of us has. I feel I am more open-minded, happier, and more patient with myself and others. I feel more at peace. I know that we all are equal human beings.

I would like to become more like a little child, be humble, kind, and compassionate. I still have a lot to learn. And I am in no way better than anybody else.

The Real Truth^® is gradually casting the pride out of me. I still feel to be full of pride but at least I can notice pride in me and work accordingly to get rid of my pride.

I believe that the plan of The Humanity Party^® is perfect and the only possible plan to eliminate poverty throughout the world. I feel a desire to support this great plan, and I am still learning to do it properly, without impeding the free will of others.

The MWAW is like a Pearl of Great Price for me. I am getting answers to all my questions about human reality through the MWAW. Thanks!

Arnis Kalnins

arnisk2015@gmail.com