Jeremy Got Baptized!

Staying in Many!

Good News! I'm staying in Many! Elder Davidson and I are together for at least one more transfer! This past week has been good. Jeremy is getting baptized today! After church on Sunday we were invited to to go over to Sister Leone's for the blessing of her grandchild. It was so nice of them to invite us to a really personal event for the family. While we were there, TJ (the dad of the child) asked Elder Davidson and myself to be in the circle for the blessing! It was such a sweet and humbling experience to be a part of that.

An awesome miracle happened yesterday! We went down to Florien and tried to contact a couple of people on our potential investigators list. Then, I had a prompting that we should go see a certain lady on our list. When we got there, she welcomed us in. We started to teach her about the Plan of Salvation. But one thing after another kept getting in the way--tons of distractions kept us from really being able to teach her. After about 20 minutes of barking dogs, phones ringing and dinner cooking, we were able to get her attention for about 5 minutes. During that short time we were able to wrap up the lesson and give her a Book of Mormon. We both bore testimony of it and how it could change her life. But, when Elder Davidson was bearing his, I said a silent prayer asking Heavenly Father if I should invite her to be baptized. And I got the response, "She has been totally prepared and is ready." So, after Elder Davidson asked invited her to read, I blurted out..."And once you know that the Book of Mormon is true, will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God?" She paused and then said, "Absolutely!" It was such a testimony builder! She said that she had really needed a pick-me-up, and then we just happened to show up. She then said, "Hey, do you have something, like some sort of pamphlet, that I could read before you come back by next time, and then you can check up on how I've been reading?" She was so ready! It was a sweet tender mercy of the Lord.

Parker's Blessing

From Sister Dawne Leone of the Many, LA Ward:

"Our sweet elders assisted with my grandson's blessing today! We received permission to do it at our home after church so that all my son-in-law's family, who aren't members, could attend. it was a wonderful afternoon with family, food, and fellowship! Then we gathered around the piano to sing hymns and some of our favorite Janice Kapp Perry songs. We can't convince Elder Bailey to sing with us but he is our official page turner! Thanks so much for sharing your sons with us. We love them and think of them as part of our family. Transfers are this week and we are praying both our good elders remain with us. They truly are amazing! Plus, they have another baptism Tuesday night! Here's a picture of me and my sweet Parker with our good elders!"

Love to all,

Dawne

Success!

"We met with Kelly's boyfriend again and taught him the Plan of Salvation. He really enjoyed it and said that it made a lot of sense. He said that he wanted to be baptized on Feb. 14! He was so prepared. I feel like the Lord has prepared this area so much!

We went over to Larry's for dinner on Friday and they made Jambalaya! It was so good! I love that stuff. Then we had a lesson with his whole family. It was a big crowd with lots of pressure;). But, we had an awesome and super spiritual lesson on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We then committed Larry's son-in-law for the 10th of March! He works offshore, so that's the soonest he could be baptized!

On a side note...I was talking to some of the other Elders and I asked them if Elder Davidson and I had been double transferred into Many because it was one those area that "sucked" (no work getting done, Elders not wanting to got there, etc.) And they said, "yes!" They said that no one wanted to go to Many because it's a small, dumpy town, far away from anything and there hadn't been success there for a long time! So, I guess President Wall thought putting Elder Davidson (an experienced, diligent, ex-zone-leader) and me (new, excited, not knowing any better than wanting to baptize everyone) here, there would be success. And so far, we have seen nothing but that!

I'm so thankful to be out serving the Lord, as much fun and excitement thatI have been hearing about back home, I wouldn't want to be doing anything else! I love and miss y'all so much! Stay safe, have fun and enjoy life!"

Friday and Saturday we had a specialized training. We went over what we learned from Elder Bednar and how we can each personally help the mission culture. It was an extremely cool spiritual opportunity to grow and learn as the newbie that I am! We also learned how to use the family history websites so we can show members and nonmembers how to start with family history! I saw that on Grandpa Morse's side, there is temple work done for ancestors that go back all the way to 800!

We have made a lot of progress with less active families and investigators. There is too much to share all of it, but I'd like to share one story. It is about the lady's boyfriend who wanted to be taught. We met with him yesterday at Sister Leone's home. he works off shore so we actually taught him two lessons because he goes back to work soon. He had actually read the entire Gospel Principles book and has started the Book of Mormon. I thought the coolest part is that he said, "I'm not doing this for Kelly (his gf). I'm doing this because I want to change my lifestyle and be that example that all of the members are to me. The Lord truly prepared him to accept the gospel! All we have to do is just teach him. We suggested the 14th, Valentine's Day to be baptized, but he said, "No...I want to be baptized sooner!" It was so sick! We are meeting with him this week, so I will keep you updated."

I got to baptize Beverly!

"This week was a good week! We had a baptism and some solid lessons! Beverly got baptized Saturday. It was quite the process. Her boyfriend has cancer and so she was down in Alexandria all week. She needed to be interviewed by our Zone Leaders before she got baptized on Saturday. Luckily, our Zone Leaders like in Alex and were able to go to the hospital and interview her down in the waiting room. Not the normal interview setting, but it happened! So, she was baptized on Saturday and I was the one that was blessed enough to baptize her! She was deathly afraid of water, so after a few minutes of talking her down, I was able to help her down into the water. She was scared, but she knew what she had to do and therefore she wanted to do it! I was extremely nervous as well! But, I said who knows how many silent prayers that everything would go smoothly and I would only have to perform it once. It was such an amazing experience! I have really grown to love Beverly--mainly because she is the fruits of our labors, meaning that Elder Davidson and I contacted her, taught her, I baptized her and yesterday, Elder Davidson confirmed her a member of the church and she received the Holy Ghost. Being able to see the change in her from beginning to end is such a blessing. I'm so thankful to be able to be an instrument in the Lord's hand and be a part of something so significant and life-changing!"

"I've Been Chosen!"

There were two exciting moments this week! First, we had a mission conference down in New Orleans with Elder Bednar! It was so awesome. He didn't give a talk, more of a discussion with us. So, missionaries were able to stand up and literally talk with an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ! It was awesome! I actually stood up and said something about what I learned and he said, "Thanks, Elder, that's a great insight." I nearly fainted. Hah! But, it was awesome. We talked about how we need to act with faith. The spirit was so strong there and I am so grateful to be able to witness the in person testimony of an Apostle! The last hour was a really neat experience. He actually opened it up to questions. he said that this will probably be the only time in our lives that we will be able to ask an apostle of the Savior any questions we wanted to, so don't ask stupid questions! Haha! It was cool!! We learned how the new prophet is chosen and then set apart. And also what the daily life of an apostle entails. So, we learned a lot.

The other cool moment this week is that on Saturday we are having two baptisms! And guess who they both chose to baptize them...ME! So, that's why I said, I've been chosen!" I'm kinda scared, but extremely excited. I'll be sure to send pictures!