WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION: BAPTISM SATURDAY -May 22, 2010

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

BAPTISM SATURDAY -May 22, 2010

What a wonderful day. Pres. & I started out early and planned on going to 4 baptisms. We only managed to make it to three because of the traffic and the rain. But it was a very beautiful day and we got to witness 3 very special baptisms. They were for Ashley Resto, Patrick Anokye, and Martha Ward.

This is Martha Ward and her husband Austin. It has been a joy to watch Martha and hear about her conversion through the missionaries. Her husband is a member. He has been in Texas for military training and while he was there, Martha investigated his church. They had long wonderful converstions on the phone about the Gospel and they would read scriptures together over the phone. She is a talented, beautiful, woman who also serves in the military. She has come to the mission home firesides a couple of times and we have seen her testimony grow.

What was really special was to see a husband baptize his wife. It was incredibly touching to see a husband very tenderly take her into the font and then gently lower her into the water and then kiss her after she came out of the water. VERY SPIRITUAL. You could tell how happy they both were.

Martha and Austin with Elder Gillihan

Martha with Elder Geary

This is Elders Kotyk, Doman and Wilkinson just after Patrick Anokye. Elder Kotyk performed the baptism and Elder Wilkinson was the pianist.

All the young men and young women came out to support Ashley Resto for her baptism.

Ashley has good friends and has been attending church meetings with them. The Judd family are Ashleys church family and they have taken care of her as she has learned of the Gospel.

Elders Lawson and Loar are two of the missionaries that helped with Ashley's conversion.

Ashley's mom came to see her baptism.

Ashley and her good friend, Aubrey Judd.

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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.