We have been trying to get in contact with one of our investigators
(Jack) for like a month now and we were finally able to have our
schedules line up, boy was it incredible! We went over and reviewed
the Restoration and the Plan of Salvation with him and really focused on
the Priesthood and Baptism, and then it transitioned perfectly into the
gospel of Jesus Christ. As we taught, their dog was being so loud but Jack was 100% focused on us,and he felt the Spirit so strongly it caused him to tear up. As we
talked, we could tell that he truly just wants to be forgiven and clean
from all his sins, so we were able to set a baptismal date with him for June 10th!! Honestly, this lesson was what I have dreamed of since I was
a kid. I have always wanted to be teaching someone and have them feel
the power behind the message, start to tear up, and accept the
invitation to baptism. It was one of the most powerful lessons that iIhave been in on my mission. We then went over another time this week and
taught the Word of Wisdom and he completely agreed with it all and
talked about how he has been trying to quit smoking and he wants to live
the Word of Wisdom. We told him that we were able to give Cassie (John Berger's wife) a blessing to help her quit and she hasn't smoked since. He said "Could you do that for me?!' Right when we said yes he
jumped out of his seat, dropped to his knees in front of us, it was
one of the most humbling things I have ever seen. He has such a strong
desire to change, and he wants to become better and I can see how much
joy this gospel will bring his life!
Last week we went down to Foley for John's baptismal interview,
which he passed!! We then went to the mall and hung out with him and his
family for a while. While hanging out we got talking about what we want
to do when we get home and I told them that I don't know, Cassie said
that it was okay, cause she didn't know what she wanted to be until she
was 25. Then john said "Well I knew what I wanted to be since I was 6
years old" and he continued to say "a good husband and a good father" it
was so cool to hear that coming from such a big muscular guy with
tattoos all over his body, and it made me realize that my goal should be
to be the best husband and father that I can be, and that it is my goal!!
Then on Saturday, we were able to hold a baptismal service for John,
and it was so perfect!! There was such a sweet spirit there! Something
our mission president wants us to do is to have the person being
baptized bear their testimony after being baptized, so we had john
do that. Even though we could tell he was nervous and didn't know what to
really say, he bore a simple and sweet testimony of the things that he
has come to know to be true and he closed his testimony with "........
and I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that this church is true!" It
was so powerful! I am so thankful that I have had the opportunity to
help teach such a wonderful man about the restored gospel and see it
change his life!
Recently, God has been blessing us with a lot of success, and it is
really humbling! I have learned more than ever that God is the one in
charge and that we are just tools in his hands, but it is our job to be
the best tool that we can be, so He can trust us so use us. God has
such a perfect plan, all we have to do is be humble enough to listen!
Transfer calls were this week and I found out that i am being
transferred to Enterprise, Alabama. I am sad to leave this area and the
people that we are teaching but also exited to go to a new area and see
new things and learn a whole lot more!!
Thanks for all that you do, all that you say, and all that you say you do!
Elder Schipaanboord
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