Oh my word. What a great week. For so many reasons.
First, we got to go to the temple! It's been about 3 months since I went last, and I loved it so much. Despite having to wake up at 4 am to get there for the 8 am session. I guess it just shows that any sacrifice is worth it to go to the temple!
And KATHRYN GOT BAPTIZED! Holy wow. She brought her entire family, and they were so supportive and happy for her. Her three daughters asked us when it was their turn to get baptized. So just expect to hear about their baptisms soon! Kathryn was so nervous and giddy right before, but she just glowed and smiled from ear to ear after the baptism. But she doesn't like to smile for pictures... so the pictures don't show it. Haha
We finally got to see Vicky again. Remember our awkward encounter with her and the A/C guy? So we finally we able to make and keep an appt with her, and it was worth it. We taught her the first lesson, but I was really nervous because I watched her eyebrow shoot right up while I was recounting the First Vision. We were able to resolve that concern just by testifying how we came to know that was true for ourselves, and how she can have that same belief herself if she just prayed about it. I love testifying. Testifying is the fastest way to bring the Spirit, especially when you testify that they will know this is true themselves one day.
But the best part was that we were talking about baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. She asked, "How do you baptize?" and I responded "in the name of Jesus Christ, and by immersion." "So, what happens if you don't go all the way under?" "Then we do it again!" And she said, "Really? I was baptized by immersion, but I'm terrified of water, so I guess my hand kept shooting up out of the water. But they didn't redo it, they said it was fine. But I always thought I needed to be baptized again." WOW. Talk about prepared to hear the gospel! And then she said, "I love the way I feel when I feel the Holy Spirit. I just feel warm and energetic. I wish I could have that feeling all the time. I can tell that you have that feeling, and I can feel the spirit you bring into my home." Which was the perfect time to testify of how we CAN feel the Holy Ghost all the time after we are baptized and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. We then invited her to pray about baptism and she said "Yes, I will definitely pray about it, and I'll read your book before you come on Thursday."
Wow. Just wow. I love Vicky. And I think this is the perfect example of how we can't get discouraged when inviting people to hear the gospel. She was very skeptical at first, and I was really nervous that the lesson wouldn't go well. But once we started testifying, the Spirit took over, and the lesson turned around completely to her almost begging to be baptized again. I love watching the Spirit change hearts. It is seriously the BEST part about a mission.
Please continue to pray for Kathryn and her family, Harold, Vicky and Kaylin. I would really appreciate your prayers on their behalf.
I love you all! Have a great week!
Sister Laser
Sister Laser,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful time in your mission this is, and congratulations on your success!
When I was a missionary I had kind of the same experience with a person being scared of total immersion in water. She never told us anything about it before the performing of the ordinance. I was not the elder who was going to baptize her, but another missionary. When she was baptized, she lift her right hand up. The elder repeated the ordinance and the second time she also lift her right hand. Then, I realized about her fears (trauma) and in that same very moment I went down into the water to help (I didn't care about my pants getting wet, and there was no time to get a white baptismal outfit for me). The elder who was going to baptize her was on her left side and I stood up next to her on her right side. Then, I asked the elder to start over with the baptismal prayer. After the prayer, we both, the elder and I, help her slowly to be immersed in the water. She felt so confident this time, that a total immersion was easy and perfect.
Later, after the baptism meeting was over, she told us that when she was a child she almost drowned in the water and since that time, she never got into a pool or water. She got a trauma she couldn't overcome the rest of her life.
Vicky may have a trauma of some sort related to water, that is why she kept her hand shooting up out of the water. Discuss with her more about her concerns of being totally immersed in water and ask her if two elders helping her to get immersed would help.
Keep posting about your missionary experiences, we like to read them.