A great week...almost kidnapped, Eric's mom got baptized, lessons in leadership, Sabbath Day testimony!

 When Luke uploaded his pictures from the week I thought this picture was of Eric and I was really hoping it was his mom that got baptized....sure enough Luke was so excited to report that Eric is doing GREAT and he just had the opportunity to baptize his mom!!!!  What a hug blessing!  Luke said that Eric's mom reminds him so much of Jackie.  So much faith, always spoke doctrine, and very sweet.  She has had doubts on baptism and if she was ready, so when Luke got this picture from Elder Packer he was thrilled!  

We had a great conversation today.  Of course Luke had to get the sports update from Matt.  Sadly the top players from our Utah State basketball team are being transferred.  So Sad!!!  I think Luke thought he was going to come home and watch them make it to the sweet 16.  But now there's not a chance, so instead Luke said he will come home and try out for the team :)  ha ha ha!  

Then Luke told us about an inactive family they are working with.  He was teaching them about keeping the Sabbath day holy and he said he is so grateful for all the sacrifices that he made as a teenager because then he could truly testify of the blessings of keeping the Sabbath day holy.  I felt the Spirit so strong because I know it wasn't easy.  There were teams that he couldn't even try out for because they only played on Sundays.  There were tournaments that he couldn't see through to the end because the final games were on Sundays.  There were party's that he had to be left out of because they were on Sundays.  You hope and pray that your kids see the blessings and don't blame you for missing out on opportunities!  So it was amazing to hear his testimony. 

Then Luke told us a funny story...they were in a neighborhood reaching out to inactive families and all of a sudden they heard a guy yelling out for help.  His truck was stuck in the mud.  So Luke and Elder Backman run over to help and are trying to push the truck.  The guy told them to get into the back of the truck so the weight would help him get traction.  They jumped in and finally the truck was freed from the mud!  But as he was pulling out instead of stopping to let Luke and his companion out he just kept driving!  The thought flashed into Luke's mind that he and his companion were getting kid napped! :) ha ha ha!  But he had to drive around the neighborhood so he wouldn't get stuck again and finally brought them back around and dropped them off. :)  

Their friend Aylen is still getting close to baptism.  The only problem is that it's finals time in school and so she is swamped and couldn't make it to church Sunday.  But they don't doubt that she will get baptized.  They had such a spiritual experience with her when they asked her to pray to know if the things they shared with her were true.  The Spirit was very strong and right after the prayer she didn't say anything but got up quickly and went to the bathroom.  They were confused and wondered what was happening.  She got back and shared that she was overcome with the Spirit!  She has found answers, now she just needs to act on those promptings!

Luke is really getting an education on the ups and downs of leadership.  He found some pornography on one of the elders phones in his zone.  He thought he would report it to president and he would take it from there.  But instead Luke had to confront the elder and help him with the repentance process.  He expressed love and let him know he was there for him.  He was so nervous when he had to call him and confront him.  He and his companion practiced and it was so hard and awkward!  Man leadership is never easy!  But I'm so grateful for the lessons he is learning!

So proud of my boy and the amazing way he is learning and growing!