CONFERENCE…exclamation point!
October 8, 2013
Wow, I just have to start off by saying that this was a fantastic week. We had some disappointments and hard times, as always, but overall, this week was wonderful for many reasons, the biggest of which was GENERAL CONFERENCE!!! Conference was fantastic, both for me and for our investigators. Also, we, the Americans, had the blessing of being able to watch three of the four sessions in English. That was fun, like a mini English party for three sessions in our own little private room, ha. I was super grateful for that, because although I can understand Spanish pretty well, in the one session we had to watch in Spanish, I sometimes had to focus so much on understanding the words that I missed some of the Spirit. But that’s okay, I loved it all anyway. I loved all of the talks of course, but especially the talk by Ulisses Soares, and by Edward Dube, and Richard J. Maynes, all of which focused on more complete conversion and optimism in the face of trials. I also loved the emphasis on the importance of families and the role of women as we’re trying to work with and strengthen investigator, part-member, and less-active families. And, of course, I was loving the emphasis on missionary work! exclamation point! :) Totally in love with S. Gifford Nielson’s enthusiasm, yeah? Also, loved the talk by President Uchtdorf. SO perfect for so many of our investigators and especially for SO many less-active members. "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith." So profound for everyone, no matter at what stage of conversion you’re in.
Wow, I just have to start off by saying that this was a fantastic week. We had some disappointments and hard times, as always, but overall, this week was wonderful for many reasons, the biggest of which was GENERAL CONFERENCE!!! Conference was fantastic, both for me and for our investigators. Also, we, the Americans, had the blessing of being able to watch three of the four sessions in English. That was fun, like a mini English party for three sessions in our own little private room, ha. I was super grateful for that, because although I can understand Spanish pretty well, in the one session we had to watch in Spanish, I sometimes had to focus so much on understanding the words that I missed some of the Spirit. But that’s okay, I loved it all anyway. I loved all of the talks of course, but especially the talk by Ulisses Soares, and by Edward Dube, and Richard J. Maynes, all of which focused on more complete conversion and optimism in the face of trials. I also loved the emphasis on the importance of families and the role of women as we’re trying to work with and strengthen investigator, part-member, and less-active families. And, of course, I was loving the emphasis on missionary work! exclamation point! :) Totally in love with S. Gifford Nielson’s enthusiasm, yeah? Also, loved the talk by President Uchtdorf. SO perfect for so many of our investigators and especially for SO many less-active members. "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith." So profound for everyone, no matter at what stage of conversion you’re in.
We
have the blessing of having the stake center in our area, so we could easily
bring investigators to conference, and we did just that, for every session of
conference. This made conference an excellent opportunity for investigators to
receive personal revelation, and we saw the miracles. Miracle number 1: after a
week of not being able to get in contact with a very discouraged Hugo who, it appeared,
did NOT want to talk to us anymore, he showed up out of nowhere at the Saturday
afternoon session of conference! I still have no idea how he learned that we
had conference, but we had a lesson with him immediately afterwards, and he has
really made a firm decision to change and keep the commandments. However, he’s
afraid to commit to another baptism date because he’s afraid of messing up
again. We’re praying for him, that we can find a way to help him have the
confidence to act.
Miracle number 2:We had two investigators, sisters, accept a baptism date this week for the 26th of October. But, they said that they would get baptized only if they felt like they received a strong answer from God. We invited them to conference and they agreed to come. I was sitting next to them during the Sunday morning session (the only one where I had to watch in Spanish, and boy am I glad I was in the same room with them for this miracle moment). They were listening with some interest to the talks, but didn’t seem especially fascinated. Then, it was time for President Monson to talk. I leaned over and whispered to the, "The man who’s about to talk is the living prophet of God on the earth, like how we explained with Joseph Smith. He talks to God the same way Moses and Abraham talked to God." They immediately got super focused and listened super attentively the whole time, then during the song, they started whispering to each other. At the end of the conference, I asked them how the felt. Monica and Naneth both said, "He was talking directly to us." and Naneth explained, "We could feel something different when he started talking. Something strange... it was as though God was talking straight to us." Wow, I could feel the Spirit so strong in that moment and I explained to them that this was the Holy Ghost testifying to them of the truthfulness of our message, that President Monson really is a prophet, and that this is his church. Wow, such a sweet experience. I’m so happy for them.
Miracle number 2:We had two investigators, sisters, accept a baptism date this week for the 26th of October. But, they said that they would get baptized only if they felt like they received a strong answer from God. We invited them to conference and they agreed to come. I was sitting next to them during the Sunday morning session (the only one where I had to watch in Spanish, and boy am I glad I was in the same room with them for this miracle moment). They were listening with some interest to the talks, but didn’t seem especially fascinated. Then, it was time for President Monson to talk. I leaned over and whispered to the, "The man who’s about to talk is the living prophet of God on the earth, like how we explained with Joseph Smith. He talks to God the same way Moses and Abraham talked to God." They immediately got super focused and listened super attentively the whole time, then during the song, they started whispering to each other. At the end of the conference, I asked them how the felt. Monica and Naneth both said, "He was talking directly to us." and Naneth explained, "We could feel something different when he started talking. Something strange... it was as though God was talking straight to us." Wow, I could feel the Spirit so strong in that moment and I explained to them that this was the Holy Ghost testifying to them of the truthfulness of our message, that President Monson really is a prophet, and that this is his church. Wow, such a sweet experience. I’m so happy for them.
Okay,
I feel like this email is SUPER long, but one more story, this one a little
crazy. We have this investigator, Veronica, who has been an investigator for
basically forever. She wants to get baptized, but has to get married first and
had a huge problem getting some papers together so that she can get married.
Finally, we set a marriage date for the 25th and a baptism date for the 26th.
She came to three of the four sessions of conference, but after the first one,
we were leaving the chapel when a man walked up to us and said to Veronica,
"I know you. You’re a member of the church!" We explained that no,
although she has come to church faithfully for like six months, she’s not a
member. He said, "No no no, I know you. You were baptized when you were 12
years old, here in Braniff when it was a branch. I know because I was branch
president." He then congratulated us on reactivating her, and walked away.
The most bizarre moment ever. Turns out, Veronica was in a severe accident
where she injured her head like 8 years ago and has some severe memory loss.
She remembers going to church sometimes when she was young, but didn’t know
that she was baptized. Pretty bizarre, yeah? So now we have to search for her
baptism papers, because they should be here in Braniff somewhere. Pretty wild.
Also, we have no idea who that man was, since he appeared out of nowhere and
didn’t say his name, then promptly disappeared. One of the three Nephites,
anyone? ;) Ha, the mission is wild.
Anyway,
I love you all and I love this gospel and I love my mission and I love the Lord
and the miracles he provides! This work is His work and this church is His
church, and He will bless us for all of our service in it. Missionary work...
exclamation point!!!! :)
Love,Hermana Chelsie Faulk
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