She Prayed that God Would Show Her the Path

From Braelyn Bean

Teaching in Peru

This week was a very special one, I was able to baptize La Hermana Verly. We were looking for an old investigator one night about a month ago and, as we were knocking the door, a women passed by. My companion asked her if she knew the person. She said no and began to open the door to her house. I had a very strong impression to talk to her, one that I have never felt before on my mission. So even though my companion already talked to her, I yelled after her.  I got my companions attention and he came after me. She let us in and let me just say she was prepared. After her baptism she told me and my companion that for 20 years people have knocked her door, from every religion, and that was the first time she had ever let anybody in. She had been praying to God before that, that He would show her the path.

The Answer is Already in Your Heart

From Cody Millward

Teaching in Peru

We are teaching a family [and] the dad got baptized not too long ago, just before I got here. The rest of the family wants to get baptized, but are kind of hesitant. They always make a few excuses. 

Well, we went to teach them today with our friend, Romel, who comes with us. Romel is 17 and he’s awesome! We were talking with her, not really getting anywhere, so were about to end the lesson to go on to the next one. All of a sudden Romel, who is really shy in public and doesn’t say a whole lot, straight-up tells her how it is! He says, “Sister, I know you’re a little scared right now, but so am I. I don’t talk a whole lot in public, but I want to tell you this: I want you to read a scripture in 1 Nephi 3:7 and then I  am going to ask you a question and want you to respond ‘si,’ or ‘no’.”

 Then she read it and Romel  asked, “Sister, do you believe that if we act God will provide a way for us to be obedient?”  She said, “Si, I do.” Romel continued, “Well there you have it, the answer is already in your heart! What do you think?” After a little bit more she accepted to be baptized this Saturday! It was a powerful experience! Members are a powerful force in this work, without them we cannot do anything. That was a great experience I had this week!

When Do I Get To Serve Like You Guys?

From Karsten Hinckley

Teaching in Thailand 

Sundays are great days! We had two baptisms yesterday and it was great to hear and feel of their testimonies! Both of the people that got baptized were referrals from recent converts.

[One of the people who was baptized was a] boy about my age. When asked why he wanted to learn he said," I want to be closer to God." As we taught this boy he gained a testimony of what we were teaching. One day after teaching he said," Elder, so when do I get to serve like you guys?" I was so happy to hear that! He knows what he needs to do. I told him that he had to wait a year after he had been a member. He was asking us all sorts of questions. “How are you going to visit all the people that you help teach? When do you get to see your mom? What is missionary service like?” He asked a lot of questions. I was so happy for this boy! 

When he bore his testimony after he was baptized, I was happy to hear the words that came out of his mouth! "If there are any of you how haven’t been baptized, I suggest that you learn about it and give it a try. I felt so good after I came out of the water and I knew that I was clean." He is a great guy and will be a solid member of the church! 

I can testify that after hard work and all that you can do the Lord will bless you! I know that you won’t find someone every single week who is ready, but as long as you give the effort the blessing will come. The Lord knows all that you are doing and everything you are giving so don’t forget that. I know that I can’t speak well nor understand all, but I know that those who are prepared will hear and listen. It is my prayer that my friends who are missionaries all over the world find success and help that one person! 

We Take So Much For Granted!

From David and Viola Ricks

Teaching in Germany

 Today we took the elders and went to a family where the mom is a Brazilian member.  She is really nice.  They live about 50 minute drive from the church.  The husband is a German non-member and have a six year old son.  The Elders gave such an awesome lesson.  The little boy, Darian, is a good reader, and can read the scriptures with a little help.  They let him read some verses from their new ipads.  He was in heaven!  Before he was just a little bored and causing trouble.  The young mom shed a few tears to see her little boy reading the Book of Mormon.  They told the story of Ammon from Alma.  She cannot come to church because she does not drive, and the husband isn't interested in driving so far, and so early on Sunday morning.  Dad gave Darian a copy of the Liahona-----Oh how he loved it and started reading and doing the activities in the back.  So when we left, dad gave him two more issues, and he jumped up and down in excitement.  We take so much for granted!