Mission to Paradise: September 21, 2015

Buen día! :)

Do you want to hear another miracle story?? I am sure you do!! Well....

Our investigator had a date set for her baptism and everything was good. Then her mom said no... She said she could wait until she was 18 if she wanted it. (5 years..). So she started to hide from us and did not show up to her baptism interview. She felt embarrassed and did not want to tell us that her mom had said no.... So she ignored our calls and had her brother lie to us and say she wasn't home...So we gave up hope. If the mom says no, the mom says no. And plus, I am pretty used to investigators hiding and lying to us, so I got over it. But it was new for Hermana Gividen. So there we are, with no hope.... And our district leader Elder Henry suggested that we fasted for her. And I was seriously doubting that it would do much... But I knew I had to set a good example for my baby, so we did Saturday night. Yesterday she came to church! And she begged us to let her be baptized on her original date! So we talked to the bishop and got it all set up. She called her dad and got permission from her dad. She passed the interview. And then she told her mom.... And her mom said she will support her and even come to the baptism!!! :) With fasting, praying, and working hard, we were able to see how important Faith and Hope are in missionary work. :) And now she will be baptized today! :) We are so excited that she made the decision and was brave enough to stand up for what she believes in. She is great. :)

Afterwards, Hermana Gividen asked me why fasting and praying for others helps them? If everyone has their own agency? And that is something I learned here in the mission too... It talks about this in Mosiah when Alma the younger was being wicked. He did not want to change. He wanted to destroy the church and was doing a good job at it. But his father prayed and fasted for him and an angle visited his son, helped him repent, and then he turned out to be one of the best missionaries ever! Alma the younger had no intentions of changing, but the faith and hope of his father helped him get where he needed to be without taking away his agency. So yes. Praying and fasting for other people really does help. God wants us to progress together as families and friends. He will help us to help others. Always.

Everything is going pretty amazingly here. It's P-Day. Hermana Gividen has her first baptism tonight. And we are full of faith, hope, and charity again! I am grateful for the opportunity I have to help train because it is helping me to remember the little things and be strong and to rely on my Heavenly Father. :) Hopefully Hermana Gividen doesn't think I am too bossy yet. ;)

Well have an excellent week! Do good things! Help, love, and forgive others! I love you all and am excited to see you soon! But not too soon.

Love,

Hermana Markle. :)