So after a long dry season, we finally had a baptism! Let's just say that he was worth the wait. Brother O is awesome! He is so prepared. We taught him EVERYTHING (as in all the commandments, all lesson 5 and the plan of salvation) on Tuesday. He was free and he is hungry to know all that there is to know. When we taught him about fasting, he said "Can I fast before I get baptized?" Of course! (Yesterday he decided to fast, and he just sat and read his scriptures as we all ate. He's the best!!) He interviewed the next morning (But I wasn't there because I was on a switch off in Saphaan Sung). He passed with flying colors! He loves reading the Scriptures, and he has such faith. Apparently he also really wants to meet the prophet after watching Conference. He also chose the hymn "We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet" for the opening hymn at his baptism. Well, okay! He's so good. I just can't get over the fact that he is only 21! (3 days younger than me) and we are the ones teaching him about these things that will change his life forever. It seems very rare that you find someone this age who is so excited to keep God's commandments with exactness.
Even though things were crazy (the person supposed to baptize him thought it was next week and wasn't prepared, and the back-up guy went home already so Elder Fin had to baptize him) it went great! He shared a great innocent testimony, and I can't wait to see what great things God has prepared for him in the future!
Overall I really learned that God is preparing His children to receive the Gospel. For a long time I have been feeling a little disappointed about the lack of baptisms we have experienced lately. But I did receive a witness that God is preparing the best of the best to be strong converts and future leaders in His kingdom. I'm glad that we were blessed in finding and teaching Brother O. It really does show me that God's promised blessings are sure, as long as we are faithful to His commandments. We just have to keep going, keep improving, and God will prepare the way. It is a trial of faith that we must pass sometimes in order to receive the blessings. Not no matter when the blessings come, they will come to the faithful.
I am also learning more and more about how the Spirit works through us. In simple decisions we made this week (such as where to eat or when to go shopping for groceries for Sunday) we were able to be made instruments in God's hands! Saturday we went to eat at KFC, and we just so happened to get there at the same time as the Thanapon family who we have been working with lately. Coincidence? I don't think so... They bought us ice cream and they said they would come to church. Guess what: They actually came!!!
Then Saturday afternoon we were teaching a more difficult investigator a second lesson. As we were talking I was just praying for guidance. He is a little more hard-hearted and looks for more physical evidence than a spiritual witness. He says that he just wants to know how to be saved because he doesn't want to be born again. So as we were talking, I started telling him something about a witness in prayer that I received and I really didn't even know why I was saying what I was or where I was going with it. After I awkwardly stopped speaking (I didn't know the point of what I was saying or if it would really even answer his question) but then he said something. He said that what I said was exactly something his dad said to him long ago, and it was something that he felt strongly about and that he remembered even unto this day. He then asked "How did you know?" I ask myself how He knows all the time. The rest of the lesson went a lot better as his heart was opened just a little more!
Then that night we were at Tesco a little early so we were waiting for the Elders to get there. We couldn't find what we needed so we were just searching aimlessly. And then I see Sister Mamea talking to someone. Little did I know that we would be led to these 2 people who we had just been discussing with each other how to get in contact with them! The wife hadn't been to church in a while, and I've never actually met her, but members kept telling us we needed to visit them, but we just felt awkward about it. But then we met them and it was all good! She came to church for the first time in a long time yesterday.
Miracles are happening! Just be faithful and wait for God's hand to be revealed in all things!
17 Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.
And now what you have all been waiting for:
Pictures!
Brother O! And now you see what happens when you give a Khon Thai your camera. EFFECT!
With Elder Pratt and Elder Davis. Elder ANngkham and Elder Finlayson weren't there because they had to hurry home to get baptismal clothes so Elder Fin could baptize him. Wouldn't be a baptism if something didn't go haywire!
Yay Bangkapi!
Sister Khanoon - a Recent Convert who I LOVE! She used to be our neighbor....until the Elders stole our house.
Great things are happening. Never doubt the Lord's hand and role in all things!
Love,
Sister Norrell
No comments:
Post a Comment