WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION: 67 PLANNED BAPTISMS

Monday, September 14, 2009

67 PLANNED BAPTISMS

We were so excited when we got the list of baptism commitments for the next month. Even though it reads 67 some will undoubtedly fall through. But it is still a wonderful number of investigators who have received the baptism invitation and given a positive response to it. This last Sat while we were at the Marriott ranch there were over a dozen scheduled baptisms. We feel bad we weren't able to make any of them. But we are thrilled that so many took place. Our missionaries work so incredibly hard and we love it when they feel the success of a baptism. We have one companionship that knocked on 900 doors in 2 weeks. That is really working hard. The sad part is that there is only 1 baptism per 1000 homes tracked. But there are 600 for every 1000 when lessons are given in a members home to the members friend. That is according to David B. Haight. Learning to be member missionaries is one of the hardest things for members of the church.

I think one of the best things the parents of our missionaries could do for their missionary is to invite a friend to take the lessons in their home and feel the same joy of missionary work that their kids are experiencing. Wouldn't it be fun if we had a mission wide project where all of the parents participated in this and we had dozens of families learning the gospel in the homes of parents. What do you think?

1 comment:

Ashlee and RicoSeptember 14, 2009 at 9:56 AM
Amazing! That is so cool...67! My talk went well yesterday and your stories were a hit. I wish I would have read this post to make this challenge to my ward...i love it
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Stephanie Smith Fireside

Last Sunday evening we were privileged to attend a fireside in the mission. It was held at a beautiful old chapel in McLean. One of the pictures shows the inside of the chapel and the wood beams on the very steep-pitched ceiling of the room. The gym is under the chapel in the basement. I have never seen a floorplan like this one. Very unique. This fireside hosted Sister Stephanie Smith. Her story was in the Ensign sometime in the last year. She has a remarkable conversion story. She has held very high government positions and at one time was 5th in command at the CIA. She said something at the first of her talk that I wrote down: she said, "I've been on some remarkable adventures. But no adventure in my lifetime has been as extraordinary and life-changing as my path to conversion and baptism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. She then told about her introduction to the church. She was at a time in her life with tremendous worldly success achieved after clawing her way to the top without any regard for others, and she felt her life was shattering into a million pieces. At this time she turned to a colleague she admired who was a member of the church. He told her two things. That her Heavenly Father knew her by name and loved her and that Heavenly Father had a plan for her success. The next day he sent her a map to the temple visitor center. She told how when the missionary sisters came to her door, she didn't think she could relate to these young women. The first thing they did was ask if they could sing to her. They sang,"I am a Child of God." That was the beginning of her conversion, a long a beautiful story. You can read it on the web at Meridian Magazine. Her testimony was a real inspiration to me. There were over 350 people there and she does a great missionary work speaking to investigators. What a blessing to have heard her and felt her spirit.

Chelsea Our recent Convert

We have met the sweetest young sister. Chelsea is amazing. She joined the church during the last year and has an incredible testimony also. She never misses any missionary function and we were able to take her with us to the Stephanie Smith Fireside. She also came to the mission home a few weeks ago and we had family night. She gave the lesson and is was unbelievable. She is hoping to go on a mission next year. What a great young woman. This is a picture of her with Elders Ganaway and Gifford.