NEWS
(INVESTIGATOR'S NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO MAINTAIN ANONYMITY)
(INVESTIGATOR'S NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO MAINTAIN ANONYMITY)
August 26, 2013 "The Gospel of Jesus Christ in action!".
Lets see where to begin.... Well Daniel is Married and Baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
It was a crazy first week of the Transfer, we are beat, but we could not be happier! :)
So Saturday night we threw together a wedding! Several members volunteered to bring food and flowers! So we set up the Cultural hall simply, but nicely for the wedding. Bishop Magnone married them in the relief society. It was simple yet a beautiful wedding ceremony. Before the wedding started we ran into Daniel in the hall. He teared up and thanked us for all we had done and how grateful he was for everything. I teared up.. I felt like a proud mom or something! Aleyda looked beautiful and she cried as Daniel told her that he loved her and how happy he was that they were going down this path towards Christ. He testified of the joy that comes from following Jesus Christ and the joy he feels knowing they are doing what God wants them to do. He bore testimony 4 times through out the night. Twice to me and sister Foutz and twice to the group as a whole. My favorite moment was after they cut the cake how he thanked everyone and enthusiastically said he would be baptized tomorrow! The other was when he looked at me and Sister Foutz and told us he thought of us like his own daughters. It was a special night for him and Aleyda and I was grateful to be a part of it! I was also so grateful for the support of the members- they came together to make it a special night for their wedding as well as they all came to support him at his baptism!
I could not have hoped for a smoother baptism! He looked fantastic in his white jump suit! We put together a musical number for him (Papi- thank you for the violin! it has come in handy:) I also played it last night at a fireside at the VC- So fun! ). And at the end both he and Aleyda shared a powerful testimony of the Restored Gospel and how it has shaped their lives! sweet Aleyda cried as she expressed her love for the Savior and her gratitude for the blessings God has given her. In a year they will enter the temple and be sealed as a family!!
So i survived my first VC Training as a sister leader trainer, but just barely. We were using the projector to discuss managing our online area books for the teaching center. (In the teaching center we call and teach people from all over the world over the phone. usually member referrals from those who come into the vc. and we help them receive the missionaries and be baptized!) Well sister Barney and I were sitting on chairs on the stage using the computer to show the other sisters when i scooted my chair back and everyone gasped! i almost fell right off the stage. it was hilarious! it was a nice ice breaker if i must say so. But it went by quickly and wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. We also gave two tours to the 42 new missionaries and their trainers! The work is hastening!! This last week we had 13 baptisms for our mission and our mission in relatively small.
So here are some of my favorite Visitor Center tender mercies from the week!
1- This PMF (part member family) came into the VC on Wednesday Their son was going on a mission and was in the temple being endowed. So we showed around his mom and dad. His mom is a member and his dad is a non member. As we showed them around and taught them the mom began to cry and said all her son wants while he is on his mission is for his dad to be a baptized. She said he never goes with them to church things and was so happy to have him their with her. I asked the dad why he decided to go this time. he said he felt like he needed to support his son and wanted too. He also said he never goes to other things because he cant speak English Come to find out his wife and son attend the English ward because the Spanish ward is really far away from their home and he gets frustrated because he cant understand a lick of English he said he just needs someone to explain it to him in his own language! Sister Foutz and I got pretty excited at this moment!! we testified and taught and invited him to be baptized and he said YES, yes that is what i want. He said he wants to be baptized so when his son come back from his mission he can enter the temple with him, but he needs someone to teach him. So we sent the Spanish missionaries to his home and I will be calling him this week to teach him over the phone and follow up on if the missionaries got there. The neatest part though was when his son came out of the temple we were able to talk to him and tell him about his parents experience and he had tears in his eyes. I can not imagine not having you, mom and dad with me when i went through the temple. This young man has so much courage and faith and a desire to serve. I know the Lord is going to bless him and his family and I have no doubt in 2 years he and his mom and dad will enter that temple and who knows maybe his two sisters will even be there!
2-When sister Stevens and I were comps we taught this guy in the VC, David. He walked in and said he wanted to Be baptized! well i heard from him via email this last week and he was baptized and confirmed!
3- this man came in this last week who was waiting to go to the temple. We started talking to him and showed him gods Plan for his family. before we started the video we asked him a question and he began to tear up and tell us about what a special day this was for him because it had been a very very long time since he had been to the temple. He testified of the power of the Atonement and forgiveness. the spirit was so strong in that room and we cried with him. I know god loves us and wants us to return to him. All we have to do is want to and turn around! he never leaves and he never abandons and he always always forgives! This man shared with us that it had been a long road, but his family always supported him and helped him. It was so great to see him walk away with his parents into the temple!
I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and his example to us. He taught us the way and he walks with us the whole journey. Because of our actions we may distance ourselves from him, but if we get over our pride and put whats most important first and make significant changes he forgives us and fills us with true happiness! I am so grateful for that! I realized that I was able to see Daniel do that. I saw him from the beginning to where he is now and there is a big difference in the man he was when I first met him to the man he is today. That is the most wonderful thing about missions. Its not about numbers or who has the most baptism or success. Its about seeing people sincerely change. Change their lives to follow Jesus Christ. they Repent! they change and its hard, but the blessings are endless. and when they do put the effort into changing -you see a new light come into their eyes- one of hope and love. That's what it is all about- Helping others come unto Christ Helping others find true peace and happiness. Helping others find the truth they are looking for. the rest they need, the love they are missing. I know this work is Gods work. Sometimes I don't feel like i really do anything. I really am just a tool in Gods hands. people cant change from my words, but as they feel the spirit and as they recognize the truth- they want to change and then they act! And that's when the blessings come!
I love you mi familia gracias por todo!!! Por su apoyo y su ejemplo para mi!
Lets see where to begin.... Well Daniel is Married and Baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
It was a crazy first week of the Transfer, we are beat, but we could not be happier! :)
So Saturday night we threw together a wedding! Several members volunteered to bring food and flowers! So we set up the Cultural hall simply, but nicely for the wedding. Bishop Magnone married them in the relief society. It was simple yet a beautiful wedding ceremony. Before the wedding started we ran into Daniel in the hall. He teared up and thanked us for all we had done and how grateful he was for everything. I teared up.. I felt like a proud mom or something! Aleyda looked beautiful and she cried as Daniel told her that he loved her and how happy he was that they were going down this path towards Christ. He testified of the joy that comes from following Jesus Christ and the joy he feels knowing they are doing what God wants them to do. He bore testimony 4 times through out the night. Twice to me and sister Foutz and twice to the group as a whole. My favorite moment was after they cut the cake how he thanked everyone and enthusiastically said he would be baptized tomorrow! The other was when he looked at me and Sister Foutz and told us he thought of us like his own daughters. It was a special night for him and Aleyda and I was grateful to be a part of it! I was also so grateful for the support of the members- they came together to make it a special night for their wedding as well as they all came to support him at his baptism!
I could not have hoped for a smoother baptism! He looked fantastic in his white jump suit! We put together a musical number for him (Papi- thank you for the violin! it has come in handy:) I also played it last night at a fireside at the VC- So fun! ). And at the end both he and Aleyda shared a powerful testimony of the Restored Gospel and how it has shaped their lives! sweet Aleyda cried as she expressed her love for the Savior and her gratitude for the blessings God has given her. In a year they will enter the temple and be sealed as a family!!
So i survived my first VC Training as a sister leader trainer, but just barely. We were using the projector to discuss managing our online area books for the teaching center. (In the teaching center we call and teach people from all over the world over the phone. usually member referrals from those who come into the vc. and we help them receive the missionaries and be baptized!) Well sister Barney and I were sitting on chairs on the stage using the computer to show the other sisters when i scooted my chair back and everyone gasped! i almost fell right off the stage. it was hilarious! it was a nice ice breaker if i must say so. But it went by quickly and wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. We also gave two tours to the 42 new missionaries and their trainers! The work is hastening!! This last week we had 13 baptisms for our mission and our mission in relatively small.
So here are some of my favorite Visitor Center tender mercies from the week!
1- This PMF (part member family) came into the VC on Wednesday Their son was going on a mission and was in the temple being endowed. So we showed around his mom and dad. His mom is a member and his dad is a non member. As we showed them around and taught them the mom began to cry and said all her son wants while he is on his mission is for his dad to be a baptized. She said he never goes with them to church things and was so happy to have him their with her. I asked the dad why he decided to go this time. he said he felt like he needed to support his son and wanted too. He also said he never goes to other things because he cant speak English Come to find out his wife and son attend the English ward because the Spanish ward is really far away from their home and he gets frustrated because he cant understand a lick of English he said he just needs someone to explain it to him in his own language! Sister Foutz and I got pretty excited at this moment!! we testified and taught and invited him to be baptized and he said YES, yes that is what i want. He said he wants to be baptized so when his son come back from his mission he can enter the temple with him, but he needs someone to teach him. So we sent the Spanish missionaries to his home and I will be calling him this week to teach him over the phone and follow up on if the missionaries got there. The neatest part though was when his son came out of the temple we were able to talk to him and tell him about his parents experience and he had tears in his eyes. I can not imagine not having you, mom and dad with me when i went through the temple. This young man has so much courage and faith and a desire to serve. I know the Lord is going to bless him and his family and I have no doubt in 2 years he and his mom and dad will enter that temple and who knows maybe his two sisters will even be there!
2-When sister Stevens and I were comps we taught this guy in the VC, David. He walked in and said he wanted to Be baptized! well i heard from him via email this last week and he was baptized and confirmed!
3- this man came in this last week who was waiting to go to the temple. We started talking to him and showed him gods Plan for his family. before we started the video we asked him a question and he began to tear up and tell us about what a special day this was for him because it had been a very very long time since he had been to the temple. He testified of the power of the Atonement and forgiveness. the spirit was so strong in that room and we cried with him. I know god loves us and wants us to return to him. All we have to do is want to and turn around! he never leaves and he never abandons and he always always forgives! This man shared with us that it had been a long road, but his family always supported him and helped him. It was so great to see him walk away with his parents into the temple!
I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and his example to us. He taught us the way and he walks with us the whole journey. Because of our actions we may distance ourselves from him, but if we get over our pride and put whats most important first and make significant changes he forgives us and fills us with true happiness! I am so grateful for that! I realized that I was able to see Daniel do that. I saw him from the beginning to where he is now and there is a big difference in the man he was when I first met him to the man he is today. That is the most wonderful thing about missions. Its not about numbers or who has the most baptism or success. Its about seeing people sincerely change. Change their lives to follow Jesus Christ. they Repent! they change and its hard, but the blessings are endless. and when they do put the effort into changing -you see a new light come into their eyes- one of hope and love. That's what it is all about- Helping others come unto Christ Helping others find true peace and happiness. Helping others find the truth they are looking for. the rest they need, the love they are missing. I know this work is Gods work. Sometimes I don't feel like i really do anything. I really am just a tool in Gods hands. people cant change from my words, but as they feel the spirit and as they recognize the truth- they want to change and then they act! And that's when the blessings come!
I love you mi familia gracias por todo!!! Por su apoyo y su ejemplo para mi!
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