Luke's first week in Santa Fe
We talked to Luke today and were excited to hear that he is LOVING his new area! He couldn't wait to share the miracles that he experienced this week. He and his companion were looking over their area book and Luke noticed some yellow dots next to some names indicating that they were interested. He also noticed that they had come to church twice already! So he asked about them and they were two kids, one that is almost 9 years old and a girl that is 14 years old, Valentina and Anna. Their grandmother Nellie is a very active member of the church. In fact she feeds the missionaries lunch every Wednesday. So Luke and his companion went over for lunch and her 2 granddaughters happened to show up during their lunch. But Luke and his companion knew that they needed permission from the kid's parents in order to be taught. Instead of teaching them the gospel they invited them to attend their English class that they were offering. The two of them came and Luke and his companion, Elder Moulton, did their best to teach the English class. After about 30 minutes of it Luke was bored himself and thought the girls probably needed a break too. So they stopped to give a spiritual thought. The girls LOVED the message and were on the edges of their seats listening intently.
They talked to the girls and asked them if they thought their parents would give them permission to be taught but Anna shared that she had been baptized in the Catholic church and so her mom didn't feel like she needed to be baptized again. Anna was so sad that her mom wouldn't let her be baptized. She had been reading the scriptures with her grandma and said she always felt the Spirit when they did so. She decided to take a picture of the Elders teaching them English and wanted to show her mom so they could see what nice young men they were and hoped her heart would be changed. So she told Luke and Elder Moulton to stand by the chalkboard and look really nice :) Then she told them they looked too big and intimidating and so she had them kneel down by the chalkboard. :) Luke said he was smiling his sweetest smile he could :)
Then Luke had a prompting to tell the girls that if they read their scriptures and prayed and bore testimony to their mom of their desire to be baptized, that their mom's heart would be softened. Luke remembered in a training that he had that the leader had told him that as missionaries when you are prompted to make a promise the Lord will help you keep that promise. But after Luke made the promise he got a little nervous, wondering if the promise was too bold and if their mom didn't let them that they would lose faith.
Sunday came around and the girls were at the church 30 minutes before church even started. They loved church and set up a time with their grandma to have a lesson at her house after church. Luke ate some crazy soup at a members house and his stomach was acting up. He wanted to just go home after church but he knew he didn't want to let these sweet girls down so he sucked it up and went to the appointment. He said as they walked up the girls came running outside with their Book of Mormons in hand and their Plan of Salvation pamphlet. He was so excited that they were so eager to learn. As he was sitting there with this awesome grandma and these cute kids that were cherishing the opportunity to learn the gospel of Jesus Christ, Luke thought to himself "This is why I'm here." And then he thought of all the people that he was trying to convince and had to practically chase them down every Sunday to try to get them to church, and thought what a waste of time that was. Here he was sharing the message with girls who knew of the gospels value and cherished it! He felt the Spirit so strong.
The girls had such great comments and you could tell that they had read the pamphlet that the Elders asked them to read. At the beginning they were about to start with a prayer, which usually one of the missionaries gives until the investigators feel more comfortable. But instead the little 9 year old offered to say it! He said she gave the most beautiful prayer. She prayed that their ears would be open to hear and understand the message that was being shared. She also asked for a blessing that her mom's heart would be open to them getting baptized. These sweet girls had been taught so much by their faithful grandma. Luke thought about the Parable of the Sower and thought that this is the good ground where the seed of faith can be planted and it will grow.
During the lesson they started to talk about the Spirit world and Luke said he could feel my dad, Grandpa Gillespie there. It hit him so strong and he shared with them that his Grandpa was in the Spirit World doing the same work that Luke was doing right now. He was testifying of Christ and the Plan of Salvation to those in the Spirit World who had not yet heard it. He said he could feel my dad their almost testifying to them. What an amazing experience!!!! I am so grateful that my dad is there with Luke. One of those angels that are buoying him up!
At the end of the lesson Luke felt prompted to tell the girls how special they were. He told them no matter if their mom says yes or no to them getting baptized, he said if they continued to try to learn and pray that they would be blessed. Again he was doubting his promise a little bit and wanted them to know that even if she says no now that they will have an opportunity again.
At the end of the lesson they realized that they only had one Book of Mormon left for the two girls and felt bad that one would be without until they could get some more. And the sweet 14 year old, Anna, told the Elders to give it to her younger sister. Her mom was probably going to let Valentina get baptized because she wasn't baptized in the Catholic church yet so she should have the Book of Mormon. Also because it was almost her birthday. What a selfless girl! Her grandma said she is always like that, patient and very giving.
Luke said they fasted so hard all day Sunday. They fasted for these sweet girls that the opportunity would be opened to them. Luke and his companion were in a different lesson, teaching a newly baptized member, when all of a sudden their phone rang and it was Nellie, the grandma. They were anxious to hear what she was calling about. They wrapped up the lesson they were in and sprinted to the church to call Nellie back. (They aren't supposed to be on their phones in the streets for their safety) They got to the church and immediately called her. She let the Elders know that she had talked with the girl's mom and the girls shared with her their testimonies and their desire to be baptized. AND THE MOM SAID YES!!!!! Luke said he was overwhelmed with JOY!!!! What a huge miracle!!! Luke learned not to doubt the Lord. Also he had been praying recently to be able to see God's hand in his life and he felt like this was a huge answer. He witnessed the Lord's hand helping to soften the heart of Valentina and Anna's mom! What a miracle and a blessing!
It was such an amazing call with Luke today. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father has blessed him so abundantly, and that he is recognizing God's hand in all that he is doing!
Luke also mentioned that he listened to a mission changing, and life changing, talk this week by Elder Bednar called The Character of Christ. He said it has changed his whole perspective on his mission. I can't wait to read it. So grateful for missionary work and that Luke is out there serving the Lord. What a huge blessing that will change his life forever!
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