Sunday, December 2, 2012

A Surprise Baptism

November 24

This week overall was a low-key one, with a great finish this morning! Due to the large changes in the mission over the next few months, our transfer planning and the to-do items generated from our meeting last Monday have kept us busy in the office nearly all day every day! With zone conferences, zone leader council, and a transfer in the next few weeks, we are full time in preparation for those coming events. I am grateful to be finishing my mission in this way - being in the office working in the assignment that I have has taught me a lot about strengths and weaknesses I have that will help me with settling into my future. The Lord has opened by eyes the past month or so as to what direction my future could take. I am grateful for His help!

This morning we had a surprise baptism! Despite not being able to proselyte in our area daily, we have been incredibly blessed with investigators and referrals to teach and work with. When Elder Sommerfeldt and I teamed up at the beginning of the transfer we didn't have anyone in our teaching pool. We made an extra effort to use our time effectively and do the best with the time that we had been allotted. About 2 weeks ago we were passed an investigator by some other missionaries in the city. He had been taught for about 6 months without much real progression. He was an active Christian in another church, but hadn't experienced much spiritual growth through his meeting with the missionaries. Elder Sommerfeldt and I in our first meeting with him sensed that he wasn't taking the restoration and the missionary visits seriously. We bluntly called him to repentance, invited him to be humble, and testified that eternity hung in the balance with his decisions and willingness to let go of his pride and search for truth in our message. A few days later we met with him again, and his whole countenance had changed. He listened to us, the spirit was present, he had kept commitments, and he spoke and asked questions with real intent. He buried himself in the Book of Mormon, accepted a baptismal date, and allowed the spirit to work in him. In a matter of days he gained a testimony of the restoration and desired to be baptized before his baptismal date. We put together a baptismal program and baptized him as soon as circumstances would allow. His baptism was this morning, and it was a great service. After his baptism he shared his testimony, and the spirit of the Lord was felt. I'm grateful to be a tool in the Master's hands to bring about salvation in the lives of others. I love this work!

Elder Porter

 Baptism!!

Niagra Falls

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