Well. It has already been 3 months since the beginning of the mission.
What is going on.
Time. Time is going on.
And it is flying innit?
hello everyone!!
It's May? What the. I have to tell you the strangest thing ever is
putting someone on date to be baptized in June. We are already
planning to June? That's nuts.
Oh my goodness speaking of baptisms...EMILIA!
Happy day in Zion Emilia Filipa Dunguigue entered the waters of
baptism April 30th at precisely 11:53 (because all convert baptisms
start late). And she could not be happier!!
Although my companion and the ward were pretty happy too :).
Emilia is amazing and I'm gonna tell you why she is! Here is part of
her story...(ps sister Cummings if I butcher this...my bad)and even
though I already told you some of it it's fine...
Sister Cummings (my fantastic late companion) and Sister Hibbard
(awesome missionary here before me) got to open this area for sisters
about 5 months ago (white washing--things you would never wish upon a
missionary). After hours of tracking they knocked on Emilias door and
began to teach her. She is a mother of 7 kids (4 live away with a set
of 3 year old twins and a set of 6 year old twins at home--wow super
cute but crazy) and has been divorced a few times now. She is working
and a full time mom and goes to school on the side. She is just a
little busy.
Well sister Cummings and sister Hibbard were able to teach her here
and there and she was very receptive! She belonged to a different
Christian church at the time, but really took to the Book of Mormon. I
remember sister Cummings talking all the time about their lessons with
Emilia. She would go on and on about how ready Emilia was to receive
the gospel. However, Emilia's life was really crazy and she had no time
to see the missionaries. We could never see her!
I can't tell you the number of times sister Cummings and I visited her
home (it was by a couple of investigators so not too out of the way)
and would knock and write notes and call and text. Almost to the point
of just camping outside her door. Okay not that extreme. However She
was on and off our investigator list again and again. I never actually
met her until the second half of the transfer on our miracle night.
I may have emailed this experience before, but I first met Emilia in
Walthamstow tube station. Sister Cummings and I had a day filled with
cancelled appointments and other not so fun things I mission brings.
But I am SO GRATEFUL that all of those appointments cancelled. Because
of this, Sister Cummings and I found ourselves in Walthamstow tube
station putting our oysters down to get through the turnstiles and who
should be also putting down their oyster, but Emilia! Sister Cummings
shouted and grabbed her with joy. We ran down together to catch the
tube (mind the gap please) because Emilia was running late to work. We
got to talk to her for a few minutes and believe or not she told us
she had been reading the Book of Mormon since sister Cummings last saw
her, nearly a full month ago!we were so excited. After talking, she
promised us we would see her at church tomorrow and did we ever. Her
and her 4 kids came to church the next day. (Looking back on this
experience helps me to realise what a miracle this truly was. I was
able to meet Emilia before sister Cummings left and Emilia was able to
come to church the next day--which she had to in order to be at church
enough to be baptized on April 30!)
The story continues,
I was with Sister Shigekiyo and we decided to stop by Emilias because
of a cancel,ed appointment and she was actually there!! We got to
schedule an appointment for the very next day!! It worked so perfectly
I can't even tell you. So we went to see her the next day.
We found out she was really enjoying the Book of Mormon and was loving
the book. She enjoyed the gospel teachings, but Emilia has a lot on
her plate. She said life was too overwhelming to have time for all the
gospel teachings. She kept saying, I have the Book of Mormon, isn't
that enough? At the end of the lesson we invited her to be baptized
and she said she couldn't do it. She said, that's what the sisters
asked before, why do you always ask this?! Well missionaries are
annoyingly persistent at times. But she said, I just don't have time.
I can't do it. It was hard, but she clearly had a very strong
testimony of the Book of Mormon, she just needed to realise what this
testimony meant for her life.
We were able to teach her again later that week and she opened up to
us more. She explained how hard her life was at times, but yet somehow
by reading the Book of Mormon, there was more peace. She is so sweet
she kept saying again and again, I can't explain it, but there is
something different. What a sweet testimony to hear. We had an
opportunity to explain the priesthood to her that lesson and testified
why we talk about baptism so much. It's not to add to the church or
for us missionaries to convince someone or do anything close to that
regard. Baptism is truly for her eternal salvation. it is of the
upmost highest importance. She said, I can't do it. I can't leave my
church. It's too hard. Life is too crazy and the people there are
pressuring me to stay. I just can't do it. I'll keep reading the Book
of Mormon, but my life just won't permit to do this right now. Sister
Shigekiyo and I listened and then just bore testimony of the
importance of this ordinance. Because we are blessed to know of these
teachings, we are able to explain to her what an opportunity it is to
have this sacred ordinance performed. I think the Spirit touched her
because by the end of the lesson, she told us she would decide by next
Wednesday if she was going to be baptized or not.
I emailed this part of the story a few weeks ago, but I'll tell you
what happened again.
That next Wednesday we went to her home and taught lesson 3. Halfway
through the lesson, Emilia revealed to us that she had gotten her
answer and she had decided. She said, I am ready to be baptized. She
said, whatever it takes, I want to be baptized by the right authority.
The Book of Mormon is changing my life, and I'm gonna stick with it.
A really sweet and special moment with her.
A few days later we went to her home and explained what needed to
happen before she could be baptized. (We had still not taught her word
or wisdom law of chastity or tithing. Oh gosh) we said, we still have
commandments to teach you before you can be baptized. She said,
whatever it takes, I will be baptized! And man did she ever hold on to
her promise. We then proceeded to teach her law of chastity and word
of wisdom and temples in the same lesson (not recommended).
Immediately she agreed to follow it and got rid of all her tea in the
house. She said, it'll be hard to tell the kids they can't have tea
anymore and I don't know how I'll explain the sudden change to them,
but if it is a commandment from God I will follow it! She is so
strong.
And as you may have picked up, no matter how much we gave her to
follow and no matter how much Satan tried to stop her, she was
determined to enter the waters of baptism. Wow did Satan try to stop
her. The week of her baptism was crazy. She had massive headaches, her
leg had this shooting pain so she couldn't run anymore (she likes to
run every morning), some family friends(new investigators!) are coming
to live in her home and she had to get all their tickets to fly them
from Portugal but could not get them for some reason, her teenage son
was not doing well and was in the hospital, the nursery she used to
take the 3 yr old twins to got cancelled, etc. Satan tried so hard to
stop her. Nevertheless she was so determined.
Saturday finally came and her brother watched her kids at home, so
that Emilia was able to come to the baptism alone. She said, this was
her special day and she didn't want kids climbing over her while she
prepared. Emilia arrived early and got dressed in her pretty white
baptism dress. She kept saying how nervous and excited she was!
Fortunately, some members were able to make it and there was a pretty
good turnout--and people brought food yay! The service was really nice
and unfortunately one of the speakers didn't come in time for his talk
so a missionary stepped in to cover (not the first time this has
happened) but it was a good time and the spirit was very strong.
Emilia was then baptized by Brother Augustine.
She walked out of the baptistery font and we wrapped a towel around
her. She has the biggest smile and said, I thought I would feel more
nervous, but I just feel so good! She grabbed her leg and said, the
pain is gone! And my head, I don't feel my headache anymore! She said,
I don't know I had these doubts before but now I am so so grateful I
am baptized. Oh I feel so good I am clean!
Precious precious moment in our lives.
The next day at church Emilia and Gustavo (a man the elders were
teaching who was also baptized with Emilia) were confirmed members of
the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and were both given
the gift of the Holy Ghost. How happy we all were to raise our hands
in support of their new membership.
So, how is Emilia doing now?
She is happy. She can hardly wait to go to the temple. She is so
excited to be a visiting teacher. She marvels at the stake centre in
Hyde Park and can't wait to go to stake conference because she will be
able to hear the organ being played. She is already so strong in the
gospel. She will definitely be a leader one day and is already
creating an amazing example for her kids and all she comes in contact
with. She is a prepared soul.
Nothing. There is nothing we as missionaries did to make this happen.
It was all from Heavenly Father. He touched her heart in ways we never
could. And I'm so grateful we were able to witness this.
Isn't the gospel in itself just an incredible thing to witness?
It certainly is.
As for now, keep enjoying Salt Lake City and see you before we know it!
Cheers!
Sister Soulier
What is going on.
Time. Time is going on.
And it is flying innit?
hello everyone!!
It's May? What the. I have to tell you the strangest thing ever is
putting someone on date to be baptized in June. We are already
planning to June? That's nuts.
Oh my goodness speaking of baptisms...EMILIA!
Happy day in Zion Emilia Filipa Dunguigue entered the waters of
baptism April 30th at precisely 11:53 (because all convert baptisms
start late). And she could not be happier!!
Although my companion and the ward were pretty happy too :).
Emilia is amazing and I'm gonna tell you why she is! Here is part of
her story...(ps sister Cummings if I butcher this...my bad)and even
though I already told you some of it it's fine...
Sister Cummings (my fantastic late companion) and Sister Hibbard
(awesome missionary here before me) got to open this area for sisters
about 5 months ago (white washing--things you would never wish upon a
missionary). After hours of tracking they knocked on Emilias door and
began to teach her. She is a mother of 7 kids (4 live away with a set
of 3 year old twins and a set of 6 year old twins at home--wow super
cute but crazy) and has been divorced a few times now. She is working
and a full time mom and goes to school on the side. She is just a
little busy.
Well sister Cummings and sister Hibbard were able to teach her here
and there and she was very receptive! She belonged to a different
Christian church at the time, but really took to the Book of Mormon. I
remember sister Cummings talking all the time about their lessons with
Emilia. She would go on and on about how ready Emilia was to receive
the gospel. However, Emilia's life was really crazy and she had no time
to see the missionaries. We could never see her!
I can't tell you the number of times sister Cummings and I visited her
home (it was by a couple of investigators so not too out of the way)
and would knock and write notes and call and text. Almost to the point
of just camping outside her door. Okay not that extreme. However She
was on and off our investigator list again and again. I never actually
met her until the second half of the transfer on our miracle night.
I may have emailed this experience before, but I first met Emilia in
Walthamstow tube station. Sister Cummings and I had a day filled with
cancelled appointments and other not so fun things I mission brings.
But I am SO GRATEFUL that all of those appointments cancelled. Because
of this, Sister Cummings and I found ourselves in Walthamstow tube
station putting our oysters down to get through the turnstiles and who
should be also putting down their oyster, but Emilia! Sister Cummings
shouted and grabbed her with joy. We ran down together to catch the
tube (mind the gap please) because Emilia was running late to work. We
got to talk to her for a few minutes and believe or not she told us
she had been reading the Book of Mormon since sister Cummings last saw
her, nearly a full month ago!we were so excited. After talking, she
promised us we would see her at church tomorrow and did we ever. Her
and her 4 kids came to church the next day. (Looking back on this
experience helps me to realise what a miracle this truly was. I was
able to meet Emilia before sister Cummings left and Emilia was able to
come to church the next day--which she had to in order to be at church
enough to be baptized on April 30!)
The story continues,
I was with Sister Shigekiyo and we decided to stop by Emilias because
of a cancel,ed appointment and she was actually there!! We got to
schedule an appointment for the very next day!! It worked so perfectly
I can't even tell you. So we went to see her the next day.
We found out she was really enjoying the Book of Mormon and was loving
the book. She enjoyed the gospel teachings, but Emilia has a lot on
her plate. She said life was too overwhelming to have time for all the
gospel teachings. She kept saying, I have the Book of Mormon, isn't
that enough? At the end of the lesson we invited her to be baptized
and she said she couldn't do it. She said, that's what the sisters
asked before, why do you always ask this?! Well missionaries are
annoyingly persistent at times. But she said, I just don't have time.
I can't do it. It was hard, but she clearly had a very strong
testimony of the Book of Mormon, she just needed to realise what this
testimony meant for her life.
We were able to teach her again later that week and she opened up to
us more. She explained how hard her life was at times, but yet somehow
by reading the Book of Mormon, there was more peace. She is so sweet
she kept saying again and again, I can't explain it, but there is
something different. What a sweet testimony to hear. We had an
opportunity to explain the priesthood to her that lesson and testified
why we talk about baptism so much. It's not to add to the church or
for us missionaries to convince someone or do anything close to that
regard. Baptism is truly for her eternal salvation. it is of the
upmost highest importance. She said, I can't do it. I can't leave my
church. It's too hard. Life is too crazy and the people there are
pressuring me to stay. I just can't do it. I'll keep reading the Book
of Mormon, but my life just won't permit to do this right now. Sister
Shigekiyo and I listened and then just bore testimony of the
importance of this ordinance. Because we are blessed to know of these
teachings, we are able to explain to her what an opportunity it is to
have this sacred ordinance performed. I think the Spirit touched her
because by the end of the lesson, she told us she would decide by next
Wednesday if she was going to be baptized or not.
I emailed this part of the story a few weeks ago, but I'll tell you
what happened again.
That next Wednesday we went to her home and taught lesson 3. Halfway
through the lesson, Emilia revealed to us that she had gotten her
answer and she had decided. She said, I am ready to be baptized. She
said, whatever it takes, I want to be baptized by the right authority.
The Book of Mormon is changing my life, and I'm gonna stick with it.
A really sweet and special moment with her.
A few days later we went to her home and explained what needed to
happen before she could be baptized. (We had still not taught her word
or wisdom law of chastity or tithing. Oh gosh) we said, we still have
commandments to teach you before you can be baptized. She said,
whatever it takes, I will be baptized! And man did she ever hold on to
her promise. We then proceeded to teach her law of chastity and word
of wisdom and temples in the same lesson (not recommended).
Immediately she agreed to follow it and got rid of all her tea in the
house. She said, it'll be hard to tell the kids they can't have tea
anymore and I don't know how I'll explain the sudden change to them,
but if it is a commandment from God I will follow it! She is so
strong.
And as you may have picked up, no matter how much we gave her to
follow and no matter how much Satan tried to stop her, she was
determined to enter the waters of baptism. Wow did Satan try to stop
her. The week of her baptism was crazy. She had massive headaches, her
leg had this shooting pain so she couldn't run anymore (she likes to
run every morning), some family friends(new investigators!) are coming
to live in her home and she had to get all their tickets to fly them
from Portugal but could not get them for some reason, her teenage son
was not doing well and was in the hospital, the nursery she used to
take the 3 yr old twins to got cancelled, etc. Satan tried so hard to
stop her. Nevertheless she was so determined.
Saturday finally came and her brother watched her kids at home, so
that Emilia was able to come to the baptism alone. She said, this was
her special day and she didn't want kids climbing over her while she
prepared. Emilia arrived early and got dressed in her pretty white
baptism dress. She kept saying how nervous and excited she was!
Fortunately, some members were able to make it and there was a pretty
good turnout--and people brought food yay! The service was really nice
and unfortunately one of the speakers didn't come in time for his talk
so a missionary stepped in to cover (not the first time this has
happened) but it was a good time and the spirit was very strong.
Emilia was then baptized by Brother Augustine.
She walked out of the baptistery font and we wrapped a towel around
her. She has the biggest smile and said, I thought I would feel more
nervous, but I just feel so good! She grabbed her leg and said, the
pain is gone! And my head, I don't feel my headache anymore! She said,
I don't know I had these doubts before but now I am so so grateful I
am baptized. Oh I feel so good I am clean!
Precious precious moment in our lives.
The next day at church Emilia and Gustavo (a man the elders were
teaching who was also baptized with Emilia) were confirmed members of
the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and were both given
the gift of the Holy Ghost. How happy we all were to raise our hands
in support of their new membership.
So, how is Emilia doing now?
She is happy. She can hardly wait to go to the temple. She is so
excited to be a visiting teacher. She marvels at the stake centre in
Hyde Park and can't wait to go to stake conference because she will be
able to hear the organ being played. She is already so strong in the
gospel. She will definitely be a leader one day and is already
creating an amazing example for her kids and all she comes in contact
with. She is a prepared soul.
Nothing. There is nothing we as missionaries did to make this happen.
It was all from Heavenly Father. He touched her heart in ways we never
could. And I'm so grateful we were able to witness this.
Isn't the gospel in itself just an incredible thing to witness?
It certainly is.
As for now, keep enjoying Salt Lake City and see you before we know it!
Cheers!
Sister Soulier
 |
| Such a popular African meal. Rice, meat, carrots, potatoes and fried plantains! |
 |
| Abigail White on BYU Study Abroad |
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