My Heart is in Texas: 3 Lessons, 5 Baptismal Dates

In Memory of Kristin

This last week Sister King and I were able to go to Kristin's funeral. She is a wonderful lady in my last area that had stage 4 breast cancer. We would go and paint our nails and tell her about our missionary experiences. She was pretty much our mission mom in that area. I love her so much but know that she is in a better place.

She was the only member in her family and set such a great example for them. She still does. The spirit at the service was amazing and many that were there to were not members of the church. They noticed a difference and we were able to talk to them about what Kristin believed in. Her Uncle and Aunt were the cutest though. The Aunt said to me, "The love in a Mormon church is unbelievable! You just can't find that anywhere else." We invited them to come to church and they knew exactly where the chapel was in their little town in Pennsylvania. I know that Kristin is with them and helping them find the truth.

It was so great to be with Sister King again for a couple hours! It reminded me of so many great memories! I love that girl to pieces!

The spirit teaches & testifies.

We were able to meet with Aieliaria this week and talk about The Gospel of Jesus Christ. The spirit is so strong when we meet with her. She has such a desire to find the truth and the spirit testifies to her when she does.

As we were talking with her I was so impressed by the spirit to tell her how much Heavenly Father loves her and is proud of her. How he wants her to know that she is making the right decision.

We asked her to pray about a date to be baptized. We told her the dates and that we know that she would even be prepared to be baptized next week. She looked at us through tears and said, "Really?! You think so?" and we both responded, "YES! We definitely think so."

It was such a special experience. We were trying to get her to come to the YSA ward but she really enjoys the family ward. So the sisters there will start teaching her! But I am so excited for her to be baptized!

She told us yesterday at church that she told her mom that she found a church that she really likes and wants to get baptized in. And her mom said, "But Aieliaria, you are a Lutheran. We are Lutherans." She bore a simple testimony to her and that she felt she was old enough to make her own decisions. She was scared that her mom would have been angry at her. But her mom was actually really proud of her and told her that it would be alright! Wow! What a blessing!

Anne Frank, Tupoc & the Plan of Salvation

Had probably the funniest lesson on the Plan of Salvation with three black girls, Edwana, Kiara, and Tamara! We were talking about the spirit world and how everyone goes there after we die and those that weren't baptized on Earth will be taught the gospel.

We talked about the importance of baptism. Edwana stops us, "Hold up. What is the correct way that we need to be baptized cuz I mean I don't want to mess this up. I don't want to get up there and realize I did it wrong."

We read Matthew 3 about when Jesus Christ is baptized and talked about the importance of being baptized with the priesthood authority, being fully immersed in the water, and then receiving the Gift of the Holy ghost after baptism.

We invited them to be baptized on August 30th. They accepted and we encouraged them to truly pray about it. They are a little sad because they really like their church. I hope that they will come to church and feel the spirit. Please pray for them that they will receive a direct answer as to the truthfulness of the gospel!

Other funny moments in the lesson:

We were talking about the Resurrection...

Edwana says under her breath... "It gonna be packed." and then a few seconds later after it sinks in... a little louder... "It gonna be packed. Everyone comes back?! Even the people from the 1800's?!"

"Yes." We respond. "Everyone."

"Ooh girl! You mean, I get to meet that girl that was hiding from the Nazi's and then they got her."

Me: "Anne Frank?"

"Yeah! Oh I knew I was gonna meet her! Ooh I'm so excited... I get to meet Tupoc..." and then lists a couple more people.

We are all just cracking up laughing at this point at her and she says, "Oh I hope that God has a sense of humor. Man, I don't want to go to the spirit world and he is all serious. I mean, I might tell him a joke and I hope he gets it. But he might tell me.... Woah there Edwana... too far." haha. It was so funny.

Social Media Missionary Work

On Monday, a member's sister, Paige, brought her friend Kwaku (Cway-koo) to FHE. Paige had posted a picture of her with a Book of Mormon on Instagram with her testimony and he commented on it saying that he would love to learn more! He had a received a Book of Mormon from friends in high school but now just started being interested in the church.

He prayed to ask if he should pursue learning about the Book of Mormon and he got a strong impression that he should! So we met twice this week and he accepted to be baptized on August 16th. He leaves for school in San Francisco on the 20th so we wanted him to be baptized before then!

He is just soaking up everything and already has done much researching for himself on lds.org. He said at his old Methodist church they used to tell them about "The Mormons" but none of what they told him was true! He has a strong testimony of Joseph Smith and he loves coming to church and learning because he said he didn't get that at his other church.

So... if you want to do some missionary work follow Paige's example and see what happens!

Love this gospel! Love y'all!