Allison was baptized yesterday! That was INCREDIBLE! I feel like I hardly did anything, it was still stressful, but the mundane preparation for the baptism was taken over by the branch. We sat down to start the baptism, I looked back to see the WHOLE CHAPEL FILLED. the entire branch attended, along with all of Allie's friends and family. The branch jumped on her friends and family like hungry lions just waiting to share the Gospel. They have a deep love for missionary work, and an immediate love for anyone who walks in the building. IT IS REMARKABLE to see their enthusiasm and efforts lead to Allie's baptism.
Allie's just on fire. The Spirit was overflowing at her baptism. We had a lady come and sing and I could've sworn she was looking directly at God while she was singing. It was the most incredible music number I've ever heard. While she was changing the primary sang for us, incredible. The Spirit of music changes my life ALL THE TIME. It does something special to us.
The story with Allie: a year ago she literally walked into one of the members homes thinking it was an open house, turns out it was Sister Steuer's birthday party. They built a friendship through selling essential oils. One event lead to another, and she was taking lessons from the missionaries. She dropped them after some time and recently picked them up again. She has a BURNING testimony of the Book of Mormon and has found the peace she's been searching for.
This morning at 5:45 am: we get a text from Allie telling us that her daughter Ava wants to be baptized. Her daughter is nine years old. She recognizes so clearly the difference the Gospel has brought her mother. We want so badly to baptize her, but we need both parents permission. It breaks my heart. I am praying earnestly for her dad's heart to be softened!! We expect a miracle to happen!!
Still on for two mystery baptisms on August 10th. We had a close call this last week. The elders in the neighboring ward are teaching a couple in the fringes of our boundaries with a baptismal date of August 10th. President Hawks, 2nd councilor in the Mission Presidency, wanted us to meet him. Anyone that goes to visit them drives through our ward. I have no idea what the heck is going to happen. Originally, it was our members that invited them to church. They were passed on to the other missionaries a little while ago. The Stake President is deciding which ward would be best for them. My honest opinion is to let them stay there with those missionaries. They have worked so hard to teach and baptize this couple! We'll see what happens.
August 10th is teasing my mind, it helps me work harder. I want it SO badly!
We had MLC last Tuesday and I was so impressed with the way that meeting run, it took me off guard. We took that format and brought it to our coordination with our branch mission leader. Never before have I had such an effective coordination! We prepared an agenda with the elders prior to our meeting. We are now starting a 40 day branch fast for the missionaries to teach two prepared families, a better way to record the family mission plans we've been committing families to, and instruction from President and Sister Stoker formatted like a 5th Sunday. We have a purpose for going and visiting members, we are there to follow up, to help them with their commitment to the family mission plan, and to be TOOLS for them.
Trust from the members is coming. We are having MORE AND MORE people invite us over to their homes, they want to work WITH US. Many of the members are teaching people by themselves, they do incredible work!
So Friday we went to a lobster dinner... LITTLE DID I KNOW I AM ALLERGIC TO SHELLFISH! A little after we ate my mouth felt funny. I pushed it aside. We got home and my gums and teeth were on FIRE, they were pulsing and swelling. It was horrible. I call one of the mouth surgeons in the ward and he told me to go get some meds and swish them around my mouth. I felt like Hitch when they race to the grocery store to grab some Benadryl! On the plus side, I didn't like lobster much. Straight from the ocean or in an airtight bag in the freezer, I'll pass from now on!
Anyone have anything they use to study the Isaiah chapters? I could use it.
"Humility isn't thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less." - C.S.Lewis
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