Date: Tue, Jan 20, 2015 at 11:49 AM
Subject: Dimple, Sleepless Sundays, & I Want That
Subject: Dimple, Sleepless Sundays, & I Want That
Yall!
We went to the temple with Dimple, our 20 year old Indian recent convert, to do baptisms for the dead on Saturday! She did three family names and had a beautiful experience. Two or three other recent convert girls her age were also doing baptisms for the first time. I felt the Spirit bear powerful witness that what she was doing was good and right as she was baptized for her ancestors. That was a special treat for me!
Kaylee is progressing well! We had a great miracle at her lesson. We had committed her previously to pray about a baptismal date. When we asked how that was going, she said, "Do you really want to know my answer?"
Of course we did!
She said, "I feel like I need to come to church more for God to take this baptism seriously."
Well! We were thrilled! She still has the struggle of getting off work at 6am Sunday mornings, but we knocked on her door at 8am to wake her up, and partway through 9am sacrament meeting, she walked in with three of her kids! She stayed for two hours. We hope to have her on date this week!
We had a pretty remarkable experience in Gospel Principles class at church! Brother Bradley, our Ward Mission Leader, usually starts the class with a Q&A session. We have recent converts and investigators regularly in attendance, so the questions are sincere and it's usually a very fruitful discussion. Well, this week, we never really got to the actual lesson because the investigators and recent converts started teaching each other! Our investigator Kaylee turned around and asked Anna (baptized a month ago), "How did you decide to join the church?"
Anna, in her eloquent way, explained that like Kaylee, she had grown up Catholic and had been faithful to it for twenty five years. Then, when she found inconsistencies between the Bible and her faith, she converted to a non-denominational faith. Twenty years later, she learned about the Restoration of Christ's church and His priesthood (God's authority to act in his name) and after much careful prayer, study, discussion, she received her answer that this truly is Christ's church, and converted to our faith.
Anna's friend she brought with her, Pam, whispered, "I want that." (We're teaching her this week!)
Another investigator, Eric, popped in. "What I love the most about this church is the people. Everyone is giving and genuinely interested in each other's lives." Eric hasn't yet embraced a belief in Jesus Christ, but he still bore a beautiful testimony of finding enlightenment in his studies with the elders. He concluded, "I'm still trying to figure out the details, but of all the churches I've been to, this one feels the most right."
Then Tim, an excommunicated member working his way back, also bore his testimony of God's grace and desire to help us change. He testified that through careful prayer and study, we can know that Joseph Smith is a prophet and that this is Christ's church through the Book of Mormon, the book upon which the validity of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and it's doctrines hinge. If it is what we say it is, and it's true, then this must be Christ's Church; there is no other way we could have such a book. It was beautifully put.
The rest of us sat listening to this incredible exchange of testimonies from such vastly different backgrounds and experience with the Church. I've never experienced anything like it before. The Spirit was definitely present in that meeting.
Our area is flourishing. Investigators are coming out of the woodwork. We tracted yesterday for fifteen minutes and left with two return appointments; two of Anna's friends she brought to church are now investigators; someone we contacted a few months ago texted us last night and asked if we could talk to her about Jesus. That's only naming a brief few. The even better miracles are the desires for change we are witnessing. A less active member got rid of her coffee maker last night. A recent convert wants us to help her prepare for the temple. Another is bringing her sister to a missionary fireside. There is so much beauty and growth going on all around us! I'm so happy to be part of so many miracles, and thrilled to spend at least the next six weeks here in Athens with dear Sister Porter.
Have a beautiful week!
Sister Taylor
P.S. Remember Alexa's miracle last week at Walmart? She accepted the invitation to be baptized. She's working towards a date! :)
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