WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION: The Miracle of Children

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

The Miracle of Children

Our Assistants, Elder Gannaway and Elder Gifford were out tracting a few days ago and saw a woman walking with some children. They approached her. One of them was visiting with the woman and one was talking to a little boy. The woman was kind but not interested. But the little boy, who was 6 yrs. old, said, "My mom would be interested." So he took them to his house. He opened the front door and yelled, "Hey Mom, I brought the missionaries and they want to teach you." She came and visited with them. They were a family from Ghana, Africa. They said they would like to hear the lessons and set an appointment. When they returned for the appointment a couple of days later, there was a man visiting who happened to speak their native language from Ghana and so he interpreted the lesson into their language so they could understand it better. What a blessing. Heavenly Father takes care of his children who are ready. He must have had the visitor there and ready to interpret. They have scheduled another lesson with them.

These same Elders were out tracting today and visited with a woman at her door. They had printed up some maps to the church house and invited her to church on Sunday. They asked her what she would like to get out of church and to write it on the back of the map. She did and they told her to come on Sunday and see if she finds her answer. Then they prayed with her at her door.

These young men are really valiant. They constantly amaze me with their fortitude and the spirit they carry with them as they go from door to door with the Gospel message. Elders Gannaway and Gifford remind me of Alma and Ammon and other Book of Mormon missionaries who labored with such love and devotion to the work. Thank you Elders for your incredible example of what a missionary should be.

We have many missionaries who work with this same determination and spirit. Heavenly Father must love them all so much for this great work they are performing. " How great shall be their joy if they bring save one soul into the kingdom."

1 comment:

provobaileysAugust 14, 2009 at 4:57 AM
Thank you or expanding the story. Elder Gifford wrote a shorter version of this story in his letter home last week but it is nice to get more details. I have found that sometimes men leave the good stuff out and get right down to business when they share things so thanks for remembering the good stuff.
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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.