I've Seen the Blessings...and it's Time I Recieve Them for Myself

From Cambree King

Teaching in Honduras 

Carmen, the girl who was confirmed last week, she is the one who didn’t go to work for food but went to Church. We were teaching her a lesson and her sisters as well. All of the children of that family are now members. Carmen’s mom, Jessica, actually gave us a little attention and listened in to what we were saying. We talked about prophets and Joseph Smith and living prophets today. Each of them started in with plenty of questions like, “What happens if the prophet dies?” or “How many prophets have there been?” Either way, Jessica was really interested in what we were saying. 

We were joking with her and asked her when she would make the decision to be baptized. She just looked at us and said, “You’re right... it’s something I need to do. I’ve seen the blessing that have come to my home and it’s time I receive them for myself.”

 We asked her if she would be baptized Saturday, July 4. She planned her baptism, but she wants it on a Sunday so she can just be baptized before church and then get confirmed. It was incredible. She has been visited by so many missionaries, but I guess that now is her time. It was incredible to see how feeling the Spirit and listening to the message of the Restoration can change the hearts of the people.

He Was Just Telling Me to Trust in Him

From Brooklyn Winn

Teaching in Argentina 

Well, this week we worked hard. For district meeting, we [traveled] 45 minutes on a bus to Biaha Blonca. That morning I got to see the sun come up and it was so pretty; it reminded me of Idaho. 

 God answers prayers always; some come late and some come very fast. I was just questioning my Spanish to God and then He was just telling me to trust in Him. The next day I had to give the scripture for a lunch. I just gave it my all and it was so good! The family understood it and they had tears in their eyes. Oh, prayer is very important!

She Needs the Gospel and She Knows It

From Cambree King

Teaching in Honduras 

... Carmen got confirmed. She got baptized a few weeks ago (Before I came here), but has never made it back to Church. The father of her two children got in an accident the day of her baptism, so he quit helping her pay for their food. She has been working Sundays simply so that her children can eat. We have tried and tried to help her come to church and this week she committed to come. Her little girl didn’t have milk to drink today, but we promised her that the Lord would bless her for her obedience and He understands her situation. We haven’t had the chance to verify with her, but I know that the Lord will provide. It was an incredible example of faith. She needs the gospel and she knows it.

He Shares our Heartaches and Joys

From David and Viola Ricks

Teaching in Germany

Last week the elders taught a man who has been coming to church for months.  He has so many questions and really wants to learn.  However, he is having a struggle leaving his Catholic roots  and Maria (the mother Mary).  He loves his printed prayers and can't understand the concept of  a personal, loving, Father in Heaven---actually share the heartaches, joys, and desires of our hearts with a divine being who loves us immeasurably. 

 I wrote him a letter, with my very poor German, and sent him a conference talk I thought would help.  He and I have made a good connection.  Hopefully something will happen with him in the near future.  We are enclosing a picture of him, the Elders and us.  His name is Bernhardt.  Keep him in your prayers please.  

The Lord Speaks Peace to Our Souls

A Special Witness: Remembering Elder L. Tom Perry

Imagine Heavenly Father Reaching Out To You

From Karsten Hinckley

Teaching in Thailand 

Things are going well here in Chaing Mai. I will start off with a lesson that we had with one of our investigators. This girl has met with us a few times already and she was telling us how she hasn’t really been praying. We tried to really explain how prayer is the way to get answers to anything and the way to really communicate with our Father in Heaven. 

We had a Church member in that lesson and what he told this girl was something I really liked. He told her to pray, but not only to talk the whole time: to wait and listen. He said that when you are done talking to your Heavenly Father, [you should] keep your eyes closed and wait for Heavenly Father’s response to your prayer. He said that sometimes when you get done you will miss out on what is trying to be related to you. As soon as you open your eyes you could miss out on a special answer. Imagine Heavenly Father reaching out to you with an answer right as you open your eyes. I hope that made sense. It really made me think how I will pray from here on out. 

Another miracle this week was a girl from English class. This past Tuesday she came up to me after we gave our spiritual thought and asked, “How or what do I have to do to go to church?” I said just come at 9 or 1. She said, “Okay, I will come at 1.” I said I would call her Saturday and just remind her. Well, she came that Sunday and she said that she felt the Spirit so strong. That isn’t the miracle though. About two to three months ago a spiritual thought was given about the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity. At the beginning of all of our English classes we teach everyone how to pray and we pray together. She was telling us how since the day of that spiritual thought, she has been praying with her friend to know the truth. She has been praying for the last two to three months on her own. Her friend is not a member either. She even skipped her class at school just to come! She only had time for the sacrament. She asked, “What do I have to do?” We said,  “You have to get baptized.” We will be teaching this girl from here on out. The Lord is truly preparing many of Gods children every day!