As the World Turns...

Dear readers.

I can't even explain how amazing this week was. We had two miracle baptisms yesterday, and i'll talk about the story of Nui later on. the longer i have been a missionary, the more fully i realize that i literally do nothing. this is all God. if i try and try and try to make miracles happen. i can't. i have something amazing in mind, and than God comes through with something 10x more awesome and i'm just the witness. In reality, He really doesn't NEED us to do His work. It is our privilege to work WITH Him.

before i go onto the story of the week, here's some recent discoveries i've made:

they just started selling super yummy smoothies/shakes at the 7/11. found my new addiction. oh, and i don't know what i'm going to do when i get home and 7/11 doesn't fit my every need like it does here. they're on EVERY corner here.

if i spray myself down with mosquito repellent before i go to bed, the number of mosquito bites i get decreases exponentially. wouldyalookatthat.

there is a mystery dog that comes in front of the gate to our house and poops right in the entry way. so when we walk out every morning there's a fresh pile. i mean...at least i think it's a dog...oh dear...

MIRACLE STORY.

. Last week while we were inviting, we met a young mom and her little girl. She said she had been baptized in another church before, but hadn't come to church in a long time. She said she would come to our church on Sunday. I called her one other time on Saturday to remind her, and sure enough she showed up last Sunday. Her name is Nui, and she is the perfect definition of the 'elect'. And she strengthened my testimony more than she'll ever know. Here's her story...Tuesday: the fist time we taught her. We taught the Restoration, and it made sense to her. She said that a year ago she had a dream about Jesus Christ. In response to that dream, she went and found a Christian church and was baptized, along with her baby girl. After that she didn't really continue going to that church. She felt like it was God's will that she met us in front of Big C and then had the chance to come to our church on Sunday. She said she had been feeling down on life, and that coming to our church made her feel so much better. She wanted to be baptized by the proper authority. By the end of the lesson she was asking us what laws/rules we have in order to be baptized. We explained the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity. Wednesday: We met with her for a second time, and taught her everything else she needed to learn. She wants to go to the Celestial Kingdom, and knows that baptism is the way. We explained that she would need to be married to her boyfriend or live in separate houses. She said that they both wanted to be married, but his mom has never approved, so they never were. She was determined to talk to him again about it, but asked what she should do if it wasn't successful. I asked her if she believed God would provide a way, and she said yes. She talked to her boyfriend that day. Thursday: We watched the 'Restoration' movie with her. She said she and her boyfriend were going to get married the next morning. Friday: She was married on Valentine's Day. Saturday: She was interviewed for baptism, and passed. Sunday: She was baptized. And her face showed that she was the happiest she had been in a while. Her testimony afterward was the best part. She said that she had been baptized before, but it wasn't the same. This time was so much better, and she knows it was correct. Before she was introduced to this church, she felt discouraged, sad, and down in her life. When she came to church, she knew everything would be ok. She said that before she talked to her boyfriend about getting married, she prayed for God's help. For some reason, this time around, his mom had no problem with them getting married, and said if that's what she needed to do in order to be baptized, then she should do it. She knew that was a direct answer to her prayers. When she said that she got married on Valentine's Day, everyone in the chapel cheered and clapped...She knows she is in the right way now. ..... I have known this girl for a week. But I love her. Because God loves her. This is what His work is all about.

Naturally, I have lots more to say, but I've already gone on long enough. So until next time...

Sister Steele

Nui and Gaw's baptism.  Nui is in front of Sister Steele and Gaw is to the left.