May 7, 2018 in Ellsworth, Maine

Hello!

This week has been great both A. and A. (2 separate people we’re teaching) decided to be baptized and are working for June 16th!

A.’s lesson was pretty awesome! We were there with a member and got to know her. She has learned from missionaries before but went away, and now came back. We were teaching Christ’s gospel, which is all about Faith which leads us to repent, or change. As we repent we will want to be baptized, which is a covenant or promise with God to try to follow Him more closely. As we promise God to do that, God promises us the gift of the Holy Ghost which helps us feel peace and happiness, as well as leads us to make better choices. As we taught, A. had all kinds of questions and concerns. She started to focus on baptism and lots of hold ups she would have. We talked, shared scriptures and discussed how baptism isn’t the end, we have to continue to have faith, repent, be baptized(or take the sacrament), and continue to receive the Holy Ghost through our whole life, as a repeated cycle. Eventually our member had to leave part way in but we were able to keep talking. Eventually I felt I should pause. I asked for a second to consider how I wanted to word my question, and I prayed for what I should say. Without really thinking, I listened to myself ask, “Alicia, do you think God wants you to be baptized?” In response, she told us about how she had sabotaged the dates missionaries had given her to be baptized before because she was too nervous. She told of how she’s tried to turn to other places for the “truth” but couldn’t find it. She told of how God always draws her back to the church, and how the Book of Mormon has changed her. She is kinder, more willing to speak up for herself, and feels closer to God. Eventually she said, “So ya, he does want me to be baptized... I was thinking June.”

Haha, I was so happy! She decided on June 16th. 😊

We had interviews this week and I learned a lot as usual, but this time it wasn’t from what was said. As I looked at how I was helping the missionaries around me, because lots of the interview was focused on the others I could help, I realized a day or two later that I could change my approach to be better and more Christlike.

We had Stake Conference in Bangor and it was really fun to see people from Newport again! :)


N. is falling off which is sad, but we’re going to try seeing what’s going on. P. is good! We saw him yesterday and he wants to bring three of his kids and his girlfriend to church! :) Others are all good as well. We had a great lesson with J. this week! He talked about how he loves the church and if his wife likes it, they will join! We’re glad he enjoys the social and family centered environment there, but now we’re really focusing on getting him into the center of our message, which brings a more powerful spiritual witness that this is the true church. We really need to get him to regularly read and pray about the Book of Mormon, to gain a testimony of Christ and the restoration of His church.

J. talked about how he loves us and it surprised me when he started telling Elder Dayley how grateful he is for me! He said he felt like he really knows me and knows I care, that all the Elders have been really amazing and some of the best people he’s ever met, but he has a special connection with me. It was super nice of him, and I’m grateful I know him as well! A couple other people, members and investigators, said similar things this week. They felt like they knew me before and had a special connection. I have thought about that a lot as I’ve heard these things. Even though when I first got my Mission call to New Hampshire of all places I wasn’t incredibly thrilled, I’ve come to know that God really does know where he needs us and has a plan in place. I’m grateful that God is a lot smarter than I am! ;)

Love,

Elder Branch

Us and the Machias Elders

A neat finding idea...