In The Great Wide Somewhere: 06/19/17

I <3 Diane!

The First Evidence Of Medicine

"What was it?"

"When God Gave Moses Two Tablets" -Johnny Ray

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I love that guy

Ya'll I could sit here and use all kinda fancy language to explain this week, but let me just sum it up into one sentence

Best Week In The History Of Ever

I'm serious. This week was one that I will never forget, there were so many MIRACLES

way too many to get them all down

but here is a decent shot at it

{Preface:

When District Leader Elder Casper did call-ins, we were feelin kind of down. We found out that all of our baptismal commitments that were set for that Saturday in our district dropped unexpectedly

three that had intended to be baptized that Saturday, gone

I decided with Sister Palmer to fast for Diane and for progression in the work on Tuesday, and we invited the whole district to do the same. We all fasted for the work of the salvation of souls.

I may have mentioned this but Diane had been out of town for about three weeks, we stayed in contact, until the last week when she seemingly dropped off the face of the planet:(

This happens ya'll

I'd say without a doubt

every single person that gets close to baptism has some kind of a freak incident happen where everything is pointing them away from it.

If they don't "retain a remembrance" of the things they have felt leading up to that point

they lose that battle.

Sometimes they end up coming out of it and still winning the war;

other times they allow that doubt to spiral out of control.

I think we all experience something similar every time we make a decision to take a leap of faith and follow Gods will

but oh how sweet when the opposition arises and we pull through with the help of our Savior Jesus Christ who strengthens us!

Diane had some doubts, she was out of town, sickness hit, emergency room, distractions, and she did not contact us for a week.

We called and texted to no avail.

The day she got home we went over there and she was outside...

I jumped out of the car while it was still moving (not recommended) to just about tackle her in a bear hug because I've missed her so much and because I'm wondering what is going on.

her doubts seemed to lift

She realized by the Spirit, that satan had been tryna tell her that she didn't want to be baptized,

"but then I said back to him, YES I DO."

and with that simple phrase, we knew she was ready!

Two days later she was baptized, what a beautiful day it was

and yesterday she was confirmed, the Spirit was so strong

-receive the Holy Ghost-

My heart is so full of gratitude for the Lord and this gift that He has allowed me to participate in

I am so thankful to Him!

What a beautiful thing.

At her baptism, Diane bore her testimony, it was very sweet, and powerful. Her sister and four grandchildren were there to support her, and I know they were touched as well. Many doors have been opened already, Diane will be a huge instrument in influencing more of our brothers and sisters to come unto Christ.

SUCH A HUMBLING MOMENT

This is what the power of God does, it influences us for good and helps us to yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit.

~another miracle of the best week ever~

While on exchanges with one of my favorite humans that has changed my life: Sister Jackson

We ran to the cemetery and back

and later in the day

we ran across some fantastic things

1. Johnny who lost his legs to diabetes and sings in a gospel choir/sang for us and let us take pictures of him with the Book of Mormon.

2. A self online referral from mormon.org that we straightway went to meet and turns out, he has been reading and praying about the Book of Mormon ever since missionaries gave it to him last week at CHURCH in ATMORE (where Sister Palmer just came from) where his less active fiance's cousin took them and now both he and his less active fiance have been fiercely taking the lessons and came to the Jay church yesterday and he has accepted the invitation to be baptized especially because they want to be sealed in the temple and his fiance is loving coming back to church!

3. Really gross old ladies underwear that we had to sort while volunteering at a thrift store for foster children. yikes.

4. My lovely 'bama fama -ly the Crains who made us a fancy pasta meal with strawberry delicious drinks that they even put whole strawberries on the side of the glasses. I felt like a queen.

They are the sweetest, and they are excited and preparing to go to the temple.

We got to go contacting at the blueberry festival that is legendary around here

this was Saturday

I couldn't help myself and bought a cute key chain for my sister who I hope still likes pandas because it's a panda and people's favorite animals change sometimes in a year plus so hoping for the best with that

I also ate a hand dipped corn dog and some blueberry banana bread

The South Has My Heart

that or they're going to attack it

literally they're tryna give me a future heart attack with all this buttery food

Sunday was Fathers Day and what a beautiful day it was

Happy Fathers day yesterday dad, I love you bunches and I am so thankful that you are my Earthly Father that has been the example I need to know of the love of my Heavenly One!

I think this is the third Fathers day I have missed and in a row, but rest assured, I still love you SO BIG

This week brought many other tender mercies and miracles.

Someone asked me recently, "What do you love most about your new self?"

Without giving it much thought I replied, "The way I pray."

Initially I thought that probably seemed really simple, but the beauty of the gospel is simple. So is God's plan for me.

Sincere prayer. Wow. I have never said sincere prayers like I have here. Even in the past week I have seen the strength that comes from really tuning in to the Spirit even before beginning a prayer.

Kind of like a pre prayer.

I know that I am praying the right way, when I reach the point of spiritual fulfillment that leaves me missing my Father in Heaven and my Savior Jesus Christ.

I miss them, because through prayer, I begin to remember them.

I know that it is REAL prayer, connecting to God, that has changed my life probably more than anything else.

All. Energy. Of. Heart.

with all your heart, might, mind, and strength

pray unto the Father

let His will become ours as we communicate by His spirit, as we go through our Advocate, in His very name, Jesus Christ, we pray, we praise, we progress.

"God our Father hear us pray. Send thy grace this Holy Day."

Pray often, without ceasing, call upon Him. We have been commanded to do so, and we are the benefactors when we do.

I love my Father in Heaven, I am grateful to Him and His children and my own Earthly parents who lead me, guide me, and walk beside me. They truly help me find the way.. to live with Him someday.

PRAY ALWAYS

that ye may come off conqueror

Teaching a lesson to Johnny Ray and Rhoda, I felt inspired to promise Johnny Ray that if he would come to church he would feel more happiness and joy in his life as he heeded the things he felt there.

Shortly after, we invited Rhoda to pray. As she spoke she began to cry

"God I'm sorry I have been so stubborn. I know that I have been telling you that I have had a lack of joy, and I know what this Sister said tonight was an answer to my prayers. That we need to come to church, and that they were sent to us for joy and happiness. Thank you for helping me hear. Please give us the strength to come to church this week."

My heart was softened immensely. The power of prayer is in some ways very incomprehensible.

If I were to try to describe to you how it is possible that I can type a word into a device and send it around the world in less than 5 seconds, I would utterly fail. I do not understand.

But I know this: It works.

"IT WORKS." -Elder Uceda

If I were to try to comprehend how one God hears and answers billions of His children's prayers that are thought, said, or sung sometimes all at once, I would also fail. I do not understand how that is possible. It's not even probable to my human mind..

but I know this:

It Works.