Dear Family,
We had a great week! I am going to recap the last two days of last week.
Saturday: During our studies, Bro. Griffin came upstairs and
invited us to go do street contacting by the convention center that
morning. They had a big republican convention and Bro. Griffin was
invited to give the invocation. Pretty cool. We did
some contacting and got a new investigator.
Later during the day, we went to contact a referral. We knew the
street, but didn't know the house number. We were driving pretty slow
down the street, and saw a lady out working in her yard. I thought-oh
maybe we can ask this lady if she knows where
Lena lives. Then Sister Gladden said, "That's her." She got out of
the car and said, "Hey Lena!" It totally was her. I thought it was
pretty cool that the spirit told her it was Lena.
That night, we went to a lesson with BJ. We've been teaching BJ
for quite some time, and she knows the BOM is true..but was having a
hard time because she didn't want to leave her church. We taught the
restoration in this demonstration we have with cups.
The foundation of apostles and prophets is key-and all the doctrines
and principles of the gospel are built upon that strong foundation.
After we taught, she said, "I'm so glad God showed me this today". She
really understood the apostacy and how the authority
of the priesthood could bless her life. She said she felt that her
prayer was answered that night. This was a big stepping stone-and a
miracle, if you ask me. To receive an answer to prayer is a great
blessing.
When we got home that night, it finally dawned on us that the best
day of our lives was the next day. It was the day Brother Bledsoe would
be baptized. We started to get really excited, so we did a happy
dance, which I so graciously recorded. :) We felt
like it was Christmas Eve cause we couldn't sleep-that's how excited we
were. So I sang myself Christmas songs in hopes of faling asleep.
Sunday: We got to Glenwood and everything was hopping. Everyone
came in their best clothes, carrying plates and plates of food for the
lunch afterward. The fridge was completely full. Our stake president,
Pres. Beheshti, and mission president, Pres.
Petersen both came. They were the speakers for sacrament meeting. The
spirit was there. Their talks were powerful. So many people came for
the baptism. We had the whole branch and then quite a few members of
the Hot Springs ward who know the Bledsoes. One
of my absolute favorite parts was meeting their beautiful family.
Brother Bledsoe's son Garry came from California to baptize him. He
brought his wife, and three of his kids( who are all grown now with
their own children). His kids are Katherine, Jeff,
and Kristie. Kristie brought her kids too. So Brother Bledsoe had his
wife, children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren there for
his baptism. The moment I met them, I felt a love for them that I
cannot describe. I felt as if I had known them
my whole life. I know I say that all the time, but I really did.
Garry took me and my companion aside and thanked us sincerely for
teaching his father. He said that he
knew we were called to this exact mission for the purpose of
bringing his dad into the waters of baptism and receiving the gospel.
So many elders had tried to teach him in the past. I know that this
must have been the right time, and I know it was
Heavenly Father who did it, because I didn't do a thing. I just met
him and loved him and tried my best to teach. Garry said that his dad
told him that they adopted us as the daughters they never had. He said
he considered us sisters, and that if we were
ever in the San Diego area to call them up. It was so meaningful to
feel that love and acceptance from that beautiful family. In a year's
time, Bro Bledsoe will be sealed to them.
There's more..but it's too long..Antwon and his family are
making a ton of progress. They are truly ready for the gospel. We are
seeing Antwon change. He's in 3 Nephi! Well, he said he kinda skipped
around, but he's read a lot of it. It's way more
exciting than it sounds, I promise.
I love you all. I feel really happy. Mostly because of Brother
Bledsoe's family. Now I have two amazing families! I just cant believe
it.
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