I cannot believe that it has been seven days since I was
last in a family history center emailing. We have done so much work this week.
Elder Ellestad and I get along on a high performing level. We are putting in
the hours to find, teach, and baptize. We both want to give our whole heart to
the work. We get up at six, and by 7:30 we are planning. Friday morning we even
went for a 6.4 mile run , getting up at six and still planning by 7:30. When we
don't have dinners, we work through the evening. We are seeing many mighty
miracles. I am so happy to be in this area again.
Andrew and Goshen, the two children who were baptized last
night, have been one of those miracles. I met their family for the first time
almost 18 months ago. At that time they were staying on the east side of town
with their cousins who were baptized in January earlier this year. Their father
was abusive. He was the only obstacle between their and their mother's baptism.
Since I last saw them almost a year ago their parents have gotten a divorce,
and mom took the kids to live with her. They were somewhere in the United
States, but we and their cousins didn't know where they were. A few days before
the transfer the cousins got in contact with them. Transfers came, and I was
back in the area that they were living in, and I was blessed to be a part of
the baptisms and confirmations of the kids. Mom is getting baptized in two
weeks. This family is one that I love and have thought about and prayed for
often since leaving Pioneer Park last May. It is a merciful gift from a
merciful God that I have returned for this.
My first convert in Fresno and his wife will be getting
sealed in the temple near the end of this transfer. Another blessing!
Last night we were recontacting a potential when her
granddaughter came out of the house almost in tears. Her name was Nancy Vang,
another investigator who I taught and loved over a year ago who was dropped
when she was kicked out of her apartment during a week she didn't have a phone.
Since last seeing her she has had a hard time. Abusive relationships, drug
abuse, losing the custody of her children, and going through rehab without
family support at the time. She has way more tattoos than the last time I saw
her. As we talked together we wept together. Without any prompting from us she
told us how she needed to be baptized. A week ago she downloaded the gospel
library app and began reading the Book of Mormon. I do not know if she will be
able to fully repent in the time I still have left, but seeing her again and
seeing her humbled and penitent, even more than before, is miraculous to me. I
feel so blessed. There is no other place I would rather be a missionary at this
moment.
Elder Ellestad and I are going to keep going at this. We are
having a great time!
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