Making Dumplings at Tina's home to prepare for her baptism the next day!
Sister Young
My week has been spectacular! Beginning with Tina Young, the Chinese sister that got baptized. For weeks we were struggling with setting a date for her baptism. She was worried she didn't know enough. Last week she had finished the entire Book of Mormon in English and in Chinese! Along with the Teaching of the Presidents manual, Gospel Principles, and the Bible. Talk about a fast and dedicated reader! She loved every bit of it. Obviously there is a lot she still needs to understand, but hey, we study the gospel our entire lives!
One evening, right after 5 police cars raced into the neighborhood for a drug bust or something just down the street, we had an incredible lesson with Tina and a member in her house. After breaking down faith and repentance in simple terms for her to understand, I invited her to be baptized and she continued to say, "Oh not yet, not yet, I'm still learning." The member stepped right in and read Mosiah 18: 8-10 talking about the people at the waters of Mormon being baptized and how they were desirous to enter into the fold, mourn with those that mourn, comfort those that stand in need of comfort, standing as a witness of God at all times, in all things, and in all places. He then asked Tina if this was the desire of her heart and she said Yes! Then if so, you are ready to be baptized next weekend. And she agreed by saying, "Yes, why not!"
The next day, in order to fit in all the lessons in time, we taught all 12 or so commandments in one lesson with her fully accepting it all. Giving up tea, coffee, her Buddhist statues, and anything else that she needed to change. She was eager to accept.
Charles Moye was referred to us by one of my good friends in 2nd ward from the beginning of my mission. He had talked up the church with his roommate before he left to Georgia and then called us out of nowhere to go visit him. The next day we had an incredible Restoration lesson with him excited to read the Book of Mormon and come to church. He accepted to be baptized that day for August 9th! A few days later we went back to follow up and he had read the Book of Mormon and received a call from his friend. She asked what he was up to and he replied by saying he was meeting with us and reading the Book. She then started to go off with all kinds of anti and terrible things about the church. Multiple wife's, blacks can't be baptized in the church and make it to heaven, woman can't be pastors, on and on and on..... Before he was filled with peace and the love of God and once she said all of these things he started to feel sick inside and recognized it was the influence of the Devil. So he hung up on that chick and blocked her number! Hahaha
I later asked him in this point of his life, if he could ask God one question what would it be? He replied by asking what his purpose was in life and where he came from. We then, having been prepared to teach the Plan of Salvation that day, gave him the pamphlet and we had one of the most spiritual, in detail lesson of the first half of the Plan of Salvation. It was great to teach in unity and feel comfortable in telling him anything because he was so humble and willing to accept all that we had to say. As I was baring my testimony and telling him of my conversion story, we both started to get emotional and feel overwhelmed with the Love of God. Charles had had a rough life, he has given up his old lifestyle and is looking for more peace and direction.
Charles went to church yesterday for all three hours and in Elders Quorum he stood and told everyone that he loves the church, he loves all the people there, and that he's looking forward to being baptized in three weeks and joining the ward family.
Not much luck otherwise in the work. Have talked to many people, and still have a long list of potentials to go through. Were fixin to bake more cookies for the members that need some lovin this week.
Until next time,
Elder G
Fishing at the quarries this morning for P-day!
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