So, this last week was awesome; we baptized 4 people on Saturday, and they all got confirmed on Sunday! Christiana Brown was one - Elder. Nembaware got to confirm her - and then Mummi Aku - I confirmed her - and her two kids, Helen and Roland. It was great to see a family baptized (in part, anyways; the rest will come with time, as some aren't 8 yet). I'm also happy for Christiana, a single mother, who has the Gospel in her life to help guide her as she raises her little son - he's reaching his 'terrible twos' age; haha. It was truly amazing teaching these four; I thoroughly enjoyed it, and am so blessed to have been the tool that Christ used to bring these children back to Him.
We should be having 3 more people baptized on the 26th - Gabriel, Albert, and Prince (Aku's nehpew). It's turning out to be a wonderful month, and I really am blessed to be here. What's more, is that we already have 12 dates for the 9th of April! We're praying and working very hard so that all 12 happen. One of them is another family - the Folami family. We met the mother, Evelyn, when we were passing her house. She called us, and then akwardly told us that she sees us passing every day, and something told her that the next time she sees us, she needs to call us over and ask us what we have to share with her. So, she did! We met her, and right at that moment, her husband came home (well, near home; it was at her electronics store... kinda hard to explain; haha) and sat down. He introduced himself as Raymond, and mentioned that for 'various reasons' he had come home early that day, which he normally doesn't do. We taught him about the Restoration, how Christ built His Church, about Preisthood authority, the Apostasy (he really liked that part, especially when I used the term 'billboard prophets' that they see around here), and then about Joseph Smith and the Restoration. The two are smart! It was great, and they really liked it. This was on Saturday, mind you. We then committed them to Church on Sunday. Raymond looked at his wife, and asked "well, what do you think? Should we honor them in their teaching?" then proceeded "yea, we'll come to Church tomorrow." And they did! The whole family - them and all three kids! It was great, and the Ward was very happy to see them. I think the Ward members are beginning to love doing missionary work, and seeing new people, and are really starting to open up and be active in the process. It's truly wonderful.
There are many others who came as well - 10 came this week, not counting the 4 that were baptized! - but I couldn't name them all. They're all great though, and I'm really happy to see so many wonderful people learning the Gospel and feeling the Holy Ghost confirm the Truth to them.
This kinda brings me to my title. I have seen miracles worked here when it comes to family activities. As Mummi Aku told me one day, she loves it when we come because her children know nothing about God. She said they didn't know how to pray, didn't really know who He was, or anything. They had some faith, but it wasn't very strong. But since we started teaching her, her family has grown in knowledge, happiness, love, and countless other things. I saw how the entire family changed from when we first met, to how they are now. All of this came because they prayed as a family, and because they read the Book of Mormon as a family. I am thoroughly convinced of the healing power of the Lord that can be obtained by reading the Book of Mormon. When we read it, we are blessed; quietly, but surely. When we read it as a family, even just 5 verses a day, the Spirit will slowly but surely testify of it's Truth unto us, and our family will grow closer because of it. When we read it on our own, our family and friends will see the greater light and joy we have in our lives, the greater happiness, the true happiness that can only come from the Lord. I know these things, these small and simple things, will bring about great miracles. But we have to have the faith and courage to do it. We must be the example. No matter who we are, if we want happiness, for us and our family, we need to read the Book of Mormon, and we need to pray. Christ said "Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed" (3 Nephi 18:21). We are also told by the prophet Jacob that we are to "search the prophets" that we may "have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy" (Jacob 4:6). He then explains that by "having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken."
The Spirit will testify to all those who hear the scriptures the Truth therein. If we are given even a small portion of them, day by day, we will eventually obtain that faith. The same is for all those around us. Read the Book of Mormon with those you love. Read it out loud with them if they don't want to read it themselves. Read together; talk about what you read; share your insights and feelings. Do whatever you can, and they will eventually feel the Spirit and gain a knowledge of it's Truth. Have the faith and courage to do these things, no matter what you may have reasoned in your mind. For, as the Lord has said, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).
I know this Gospel is True, and I love it and the Work with all my heart, might, mind, and strength! I love you all!
--Elder Collings
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