So, we had another baptism this week!
Technically, we had 4 people get baptized, but only one of them was from our area. Her name is Angelina. We found her when we taught her friend at her house. She didn't seem to listen too much to us, and was kinda in the background. But that Sunday she ended up coming to Church, so we went back and taught her more, and then on from there until she was baptized!
It was a great thing; at first, she didn't feel like she was ready. That seems to be a big problem here; they fear being baptized, because they're afraid that they will sin after their baptism. We help them by explaining (again) about the atonement and repentance and how the Holy Ghost works and helps etc. We talked with her for a long time (this was the morning of her baptismal date - last Saturday), listened to her, and helped her concerns. In the end, we were prompted to have her pray and ask God what she should do, and then whatever she felt God told her to do, we would do our best to help her with that decision. She prayed, and after a long silent pause, she said that she would be baptized. We each bore our testimonies and then asked her if there was anything we could do to help her. She said no, so we went our way to help prepare the baptism. Later that day, she showed up, still a little worried. But she took those small steps of faith and was baptized. She said she felt happy afterward, and promised to be to Church on time the next day to be Confirmed and Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. That Sunday (the next day), she did just that. The rest of the day, she was beaming like nothing she's ever done before. She said it was a wonderfully happy day for her, and she just couldn't stop smiling! It was great! Haha; it truly is what all this work is for. Seeing people be able to change their lives for the better, receive such joy and happiness, and know that they have the fullness of the Lord's Gospel - and now, the constant companionship of the Comforter - to help them make it through life. Why would anyone not want that? It truly is a miraculous wonder that can only come from the Lord!
That's the amazing thing of all this. The Gospel isn't some high-risk thing. It's like one of those 30-Day Risks-Free Trial things. Just live the Gospel for one month; take the discussions with the Missionaries, and live it. One month; 30 days. That's it. For 30 days of the rest of your existence, live the Gospel and see if you feel better or not. That's 5 minutes of reading a day, saying a prayer before you go to bed, and then coming to Church only once a week (that's a mere 4 times). Seriously; what else are you doing Sunday morning? No one has THAT tight of a schedule. And if it's work, then take it off for 4 weeks. Just try it, and I can promise that your life will be happier, and full of more joy. When you see how great it is, you can then choose for yourself what you want to do with that knowledge. Nothing in the Gospel has you live a BAD life; it does nothing but improve. It's a promise from God; live the Gospel, be happy. Simple as that. If you don't live the Gospel, there's no promise. Why not try that promise?
Technically, we had 4 people get baptized, but only one of them was from our area. Her name is Angelina. We found her when we taught her friend at her house. She didn't seem to listen too much to us, and was kinda in the background. But that Sunday she ended up coming to Church, so we went back and taught her more, and then on from there until she was baptized!
It was a great thing; at first, she didn't feel like she was ready. That seems to be a big problem here; they fear being baptized, because they're afraid that they will sin after their baptism. We help them by explaining (again) about the atonement and repentance and how the Holy Ghost works and helps etc. We talked with her for a long time (this was the morning of her baptismal date - last Saturday), listened to her, and helped her concerns. In the end, we were prompted to have her pray and ask God what she should do, and then whatever she felt God told her to do, we would do our best to help her with that decision. She prayed, and after a long silent pause, she said that she would be baptized. We each bore our testimonies and then asked her if there was anything we could do to help her. She said no, so we went our way to help prepare the baptism. Later that day, she showed up, still a little worried. But she took those small steps of faith and was baptized. She said she felt happy afterward, and promised to be to Church on time the next day to be Confirmed and Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. That Sunday (the next day), she did just that. The rest of the day, she was beaming like nothing she's ever done before. She said it was a wonderfully happy day for her, and she just couldn't stop smiling! It was great! Haha; it truly is what all this work is for. Seeing people be able to change their lives for the better, receive such joy and happiness, and know that they have the fullness of the Lord's Gospel - and now, the constant companionship of the Comforter - to help them make it through life. Why would anyone not want that? It truly is a miraculous wonder that can only come from the Lord!
That's the amazing thing of all this. The Gospel isn't some high-risk thing. It's like one of those 30-Day Risks-Free Trial things. Just live the Gospel for one month; take the discussions with the Missionaries, and live it. One month; 30 days. That's it. For 30 days of the rest of your existence, live the Gospel and see if you feel better or not. That's 5 minutes of reading a day, saying a prayer before you go to bed, and then coming to Church only once a week (that's a mere 4 times). Seriously; what else are you doing Sunday morning? No one has THAT tight of a schedule. And if it's work, then take it off for 4 weeks. Just try it, and I can promise that your life will be happier, and full of more joy. When you see how great it is, you can then choose for yourself what you want to do with that knowledge. Nothing in the Gospel has you live a BAD life; it does nothing but improve. It's a promise from God; live the Gospel, be happy. Simple as that. If you don't live the Gospel, there's no promise. Why not try that promise?
"Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Mal. 3:10). [Yes, technically for tithing, but it goes with the rest of the Gospel too]
Oh, the other fun thing was that, Sunday morning, we had to go on splits. I went with Elder Cobbinah (Elder Bills' companion) and help pick up some small kids who needed to be confirmed (8 or 9 yrs old, something like that) since their Grandma wasn't in town due to some huge-long funeral thing they do here in Ghana. Honestly, it was quite a pain; three kids - 2 boys (9 and 7), and then a girl (8) - walking, like, 3 miles or so to Church in the hot Ghana sun, on busy dirt roads. I am glad fatherhood is not my concern right now! hahaha
Anyways, sorry this one is so short, but time is short.
This Gospel is Marvelous, Wonderful, Everlasting, and True! Give it a try; I promise you with all my heart, you won't be sorry you did!
--Elder Collings
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