Baptism for the Mitchells!

Yesterday dad, Ryan, and mom, Martha, and daughter, Elizabeth, and son, Michael Mitchell were all baptized!  Michael is the young man that was on day 5 of a 40 day fast looking for "guidance" when the Lord directed us to them.

Today, they were confirmed. They are the newest members of the Merced 1st ward and they are so excited!
 The ward has done an excellent job of  fellowshipping them.  The Primary teacher went over, visiting teacher, Bishopric, ward missionaries, Relief Society and all of us full time missionaries.  Martha can't wait to be a visiting teacher and go over to sisters' homes to teach and help them!  She just can't hardly wait.  Puts the rest of us visiting teachers to shame. Two other children that are over eight are still taking lessons and then there are two other children four and six.  They are counting the minutes until they they are old enough and  can be baptized too.

How awesome is this?!!

So Grateful

Today we were able to hear Jon over the phone trying to say he loved us so much. We are so grateful for this.  You can't get any closer to death than Jon has been this past week, and live to talk about it.  He was so sick, in both body and soul.  We are so grateful to an all-wise Heavenly Father for His intervention in Jon's behalf. And we know that Jon's life was spared to give him additional time in this life for a very good reason.
We really appreciate the family that has supported him!  We have been so happy with the love they have shown him. We are very proud of what this says about them. And they have let us be a part of it even on this mission through texts and calls and skype. 
We are especially grateful for the support and inspiration Heavenly Father has given to us through this terribly difficult and challenging time.  We know that we can trust in Him.

And by the sweat of their brow

I

Sweet potatoe harvest employs many of the Spanish people in this area in the fall.They drive over an hour to get to the field that is ready, start work by 6 am, and make minimum wage. They have to wear masks and get covered in dirt. Then they arrive home again at 6 pm and do it all over again 6 days a week. It humbles me just to see this.

Five is a magic number

Today we had five investigators from five different families at Sacrament Meeting!
 
Edgar, the non-member, came with his wife and her less active sister that we visited earlier in the week!
Victor came with his wife and three children.  Victor is a non-member-so far!
Maria de Jesus is back from Mexico and she came.  She had a blessing for her legs last time she was here and they don't hurt her any more!
Alonzo is an older man investigating the church and he brought his neighbor, also not a member.
We had trouble seating everyone in our Relief Society room and the chapel looked great with all the people!

But like all good shepherds, the missionaries sorrowed over the ones who didn't come. With the four Elder missionaries and us in the Branch, everyone (investigators included) gets multiple visits each week. It is a great team to be on.

One of our members that recently moved to St. George came back to visit today.  All she could say to the sisters in Relief Society was "Utah is a whole different world!"  And she is right.

All of the Elder missionaries and Elder Pack sang "love at home" in Spanish for the musical number. They sounded really good.  They sang their hearts out for the Elder that is finishing his mission this week  and going home to Australia. We sure get attached to the missionaries we work with!



 

Funner than Disneyland!

What a great feeling it is to have the perfect investigator appointment turn out perfectly!

A Mormon lady started coming to our Branch and I learned she is living with her sister who hasn't been to church in 15 years, but who is a member. And the lady's husband has listened to the missionary lessons years ago but isn't a member.  So, we had our work cut out for us right?

Upon hearing that the husband is out of a job right now, Elder Pack went  through list of Mormon business owners here in Merced and called the most likely one for this man. We took the application over and helped him fill it out since his native language is Spanish.

I visited with the two women while Elder Pack helped the man.  By the time the application was filled out I had both sisters committed to coming  to church Sunday and bringing the Elders over to teach in the home this Friday!

Elder Pack was talking gospel to the man this whole time in addition to the application.  We also showed them a couple of the Bible Video movies which set a sweet spirit in the home.  But everyone, including his wife, was amazed when he said "I'm going to church Sunday". We love a good investigator and  you could just feel that he is such a good man.

We have very promising appointments for every day this week!  This is so much fun!  It's better than Disneyland!

The Numbers Add Up

Recently we were taught an interesting concept for missionary work. Everyone should be a part of the tidal wave of missionary work that is here now.  Joseph Smith said sharing the gospel is the most important work we can do. And here is an easy and effective way for members of a Branch of Ward to help.  That's you!

There are about 46 Sundays in a year where conferences of some kind are not scheduled. Generally, two adult speakers and one youth speaker are asked to speak. And oftentimes a musical number is included. 

And believe it or not, everyone knows someone in their extended family, neighbors or friends that are inactive or not members of the church. It might be hard to just ask one of them if they want to come to church with you.  But it isn't hard to say "I have been asked to give a talk, sermon, musical number, etc at church this week.  Would you come to support me?  Listen to me?  Give me feedback? Hear your grandkids or family?  That is easy!

And look at the numbers.  That means 92 friends of the speakers, 46 friends of the youth at least, and 46 friends of the person performing a musical number.  And THAT means 184 people there in God's house each year, feeling His spirit where an ordinance is taking place, being fellowshipped by everyone there, with questions that the missionaries (full-time or ward and branch) are happy to answer!

Numbers don't lie.  Thirty of the people invited will join the church. And you can do it all over again the next year!  Try it and be sure to ask for the Spirit's help in knowing who to ask this week.

Another Amazing Missionary Experience!

Yesterday was Zone Conference and we sat next to a man who had already been on a mission about 30 years ago.  He had only been a member 16 months when he got his mission call.  Since he is Spanish/Indian he wanted to go on a Spanish speaking mission. But he was called on a mission to Scotland!  Being new in the church he took his call to his Bishop and said he wanted to send it back and get a new one.  After the Bishop called him to repentance and explained that this was a call from the Prophet, the man named Tom DeDios, accepted the call and went to Scotland.

While there they found a group of refugees from Chile.  He was the only missionary in Scotland at that time that spoke Spanish!  And so he taught and participated in baptizing enough people that they started a Branch there in Scotland!

How fun it must be for the Lord when He orchestrates these kinds of miracles. I'll go where you want me to go dear Lord, I'll be what you want me to be.