¡Hola!
This
past week was great! We had the miracle of having two baptisms
yesterday!!! It is a really cool story! So this last Tuesday we had the
impression of visiting two kids named shandé and samir aged 10 and 11
years old. We have been teaching the kids for a while now but their
parents never wanted them to get baptized, saying that they just didn´t
think that it was necessary for their kids to do. Well anyway we
followed the impression and went to their house to visit them. They came
out and we started talking and the thought came to my mind that I
should invite them to be baptized the next weekend. They had already
said that they wanted to but their parents were the problem and without
their signature, they could not be baptized. I invited them and they
were very happy about saying yes but they fully realized that they still
needed permission from their parents, especially their dad. Right in
that moment however their dad walked by and I called him over and
started talking to him. He had already said no to giving permission
probably a few hundred times but this time I felt the distinct
impression to talk to him about it. I honestly thought that this time
would be just like all the other times that he said no but to my suprise
his voice got very serious and said "you know, I have seen a change in
my kids since you have been talking to them. They have changed a lot and
yesterday they were begging me to let them be baptized. So you know, I
cannot keep my children from following their hearts if I can see that
they are serious about it." Needless to say we pulled out baptismal
registries that we always have and he signed them right on the spot!!!
The following week we worked on planning and preparing everything for
the upcoming baptisms and yesterday they werea able to enter into that
sacred covenant with God! It was incredible experience and it was really
proof to me that we can truly be tools in the hands of the Lord to
bring about the salvation of souls if we just let Him do it and listen
to the voice of His Spirit.
This
past week was great! We had the miracle of having two baptisms
yesterday!!! It is a really cool story! So this last Tuesday we had the
impression of visiting two kids named shandé and samir aged 10 and 11
years old. We have been teaching the kids for a while now but their
parents never wanted them to get baptized, saying that they just didn´t
think that it was necessary for their kids to do. Well anyway we
followed the impression and went to their house to visit them. They came
out and we started talking and the thought came to my mind that I
should invite them to be baptized the next weekend. They had already
said that they wanted to but their parents were the problem and without
their signature, they could not be baptized. I invited them and they
were very happy about saying yes but they fully realized that they still
needed permission from their parents, especially their dad. Right in
that moment however their dad walked by and I called him over and
started talking to him. He had already said no to giving permission
probably a few hundred times but this time I felt the distinct
impression to talk to him about it. I honestly thought that this time
would be just like all the other times that he said no but to my suprise
his voice got very serious and said "you know, I have seen a change in
my kids since you have been talking to them. They have changed a lot and
yesterday they were begging me to let them be baptized. So you know, I
cannot keep my children from following their hearts if I can see that
they are serious about it." Needless to say we pulled out baptismal
registries that we always have and he signed them right on the spot!!!
The following week we worked on planning and preparing everything for
the upcoming baptisms and yesterday they werea able to enter into that
sacred covenant with God! It was incredible experience and it was really
proof to me that we can truly be tools in the hands of the Lord to
bring about the salvation of souls if we just let Him do it and listen
to the voice of His Spirit.
Well that was basically the biggest thing that happened this week.
Other than that the weather is continuing to cool off and I almost
always wear a sweater now. It is still not too bad though. The ward is
doing well and we are working hard to try and help out the ward leaders
with things that they need. The members sure do keep us well fed around
here with plenty of food so no worries there haha. This last week I was
able to hold my first district meeting too! I thought that it was
alright but of course everyone else said it was great. Haha I have no
idea if they meant that or were just saying it to be nice. I talked a
lot about the importance of giving a commitment to every single person
that we teach. We ALWAYS invite people to keep a commitment that helps
them to repent and come unto Christ whether they are an investigator,
recent convert, less active, active member, or their pets. Every time we
talk to someone we strive to leave them as a better person and with
something to do that will help them be even better. If not, we are not
completing our purpose as missionaries. I also talked to them about
having a member present in every single lesson if it is at all possible.
The members are key to missionary work so I don´t want to see any of
you thinking that missionary work is only for missionaries or when I get
home I am going to punch you haha. I know and can testify that members
bring about miracles every single day in the mission field. If you are
not already, just try to do something for the full time missionaries who
are serving where you live, whether that is feed them, go out with them
on visits, pass references, or just talk for a few minutes and
encourage them. But most of all, PRAY FOR THEM! They need all the help
they can get as we strive every day to bring about the salvation of
souls. I will probably be having another distict meeting tomorrow but it
will be the second and last one of the transfer because next week we
have interviews with the mission president which takes the place of
district meeting for the week.
I am not really sure what time I will be writing next week cause
next Monday we will be going to the temple!!! I am so excited and
seriously cannot wait to be able to go through the temple here. It is
such a beautiful building and like I always say there is a Spirit in the
temple that you can not ever feel in any other place in the world. So I
am not sure if I will be writing on Monday or Tuesday or what. I am
sure that we will be giving time at some point to write but just keep an
eye out!
Well anyway I have to go now but I just want to end with my
testimony of this work as always. One thing I am learning is that we
never learn at our full potencial if we insist on not doing dificult
things. If we just go around keeping life easy and not doing anything
dificult because we dont want to go through the pain of doing it then we
will never learn as much as we can. We learn through experience and
trial, not through easy sleep and laziness. The mission thus far has
been a very difficult but even more rewarding experience for me and I
would not change it for the world. I absolutely love being in the
service of my God. Just as the Apostle Peter, once we realize and
understand our divine calling and potencial, there is no power or
influence in the world that can stop us from serving our Father. It took
him a lot of time and pain but once Peter came to that realization, he
was one of the greatest witnesses of Christ that has ever been upon the
face of the earth. I hope and pray that each of us can come to the same
realization of our calling from on high to preach and testify of the
Gospel of Christ to all the world, and to never give into or conform to
any influence in the world. When God is with us, the significance and
influence of man comes to naught. I am so grateful to be learning these
things and I am so grateful for the amazing family and friends I have
back home supporting me. Thanks for all that you all do and have a great
week!
Love,
Elder Zollinger
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