Updates and More

I have some super cool news. I graduate in May (not the cool news, but still good), so I decided that I was going to move back to Orlando so that I could teach RS in my old singles ward (the RS presidency wanted me to, and I LOVE teaching RS!). I had been thinking about this decision for a while, and made the decision to do it for sure on saturday. Well, the next day was the sunday before conference so I fasted (mistakingly thinking it was fast sunday). I fasted to know that my decision to move was right, and that I would be in the place where I could help the Lord most effectively. After Sacrament, a member of the stake called me into the office and issued a calling to be an Institute Instructor teaching Mission Prep. I just stared at him blankly, in silence. Had he REALLY just offered me my DREAM calling when I had just decided to move?!?! HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN!!! In the awkward, staring silence- he said "did you ever think you would be an institute teacher?" I didn't know what to do! I felt good about moving to Orlando! I thought about it during gospel doctrine and decided that it was the answer to my fast. I am going to have to commute every week (1.5 hours) to teach this class... but I am SO stinking excited!!! I am under the direction of the CES Institute Director and I will have a key to the building and everything (SO official)! I LOVE missionary work! I can't wait to share that love with prospective missionaries. I really hope that I can help those who are bordering on "not going" to fall on the side of "I CAN'T WAIT TO GO!" I've been home 18 months. Do you know how long the stake counselor thought I had been home? TEN (because of my behavior)! Now THAT'S a complement if I've ever heard one! I found out that two of my friends who took the first lesson a month ago (see my other post of "Two Birds with One Invite"), were each approached by a family member who angrily interrogated them about their visits with the Mormons. They each told me of their responses and I was AMAZED at the nearly perfect first lesson each of them taught to their accusers. Even though they didn't want to proceed with the lessons, each of them shared what they knew with others. They defended the LDS church with all that they had learned. What a sweet experience. Currently, I have been talking with one of my friends who is going through a "spiritual rehab". She is very in tune with "the universe" and very gay. I have a deep personal love for those who struggle with same gender attraction, but I am always very careful and hesitant when I want to share the gospel with them, knowing what they would have to sacrifice. However, I KNOW that they need these blessings, and I KNOW that it is my responsibility to share it with them. Today I was able to share a little bit about the church with her as we had lunch. Before we ate, I said "excuse me, I need to bless my food". I bowed my head and said a silent prayer. Afterwords, she smiled and said "I need to do that! What did you say?" I was able to share with her how to pray, and to tell her some of the things that I prayed for. She responded "I like that!". I don't know how far this will go, but I DO know that she needs to see the life of a Latter-day Saint who actually lives the gospel. Homosexuals rarely get to see "the good" aspects of the church, so I'm glad that I can be there. We had a very spiritually uplifting conversation. Did I tell you about the Jew I met while I was donating platelets and plasma? She has become my favorite phlebotomist! She is a jew who actually practices her religion! She speaks fluent Hebrew and everything. We talked about temples and some other gospel topics. I told her that I wanted to learn more about Judaism and she told me that she wants to learn more about the LDS church. I'm going to go to the synagogue with her on some friday. How could anyone NOT love missionary work!

Well this past Sunday we had some amazing miracles both having to do with church attendance. We are teaching Juan, who has a baptism date. We have taught him for maybe a month now, and he is already in the book of Mosiah, and he started from the beginning. So that's cool, but he had a problem with being able to go to church every week due to his schedule. Then, just out of the blue, without us even asking him to do it, he asked for Sunday off, and like that he got it. There was no conflict, or problem what so ever. It was amazing. So we are excited to get him prepared to be baptised.

Then the next was a couple, who we have been teaching for about 2 transfers now. They had a date but couldn't make it because the husband always worked on Sunday. Just recently we had a church tour with them. Then his wife asked if he could drop her of at church on his way to work, so we had it planned that she would go while he went to work. But when they got there on Sunday both were there to go to church. We asked him if he was going to stay and he said yes, because the night before some one called him and told him that he had Sunday off. It's amazing. So we are really looking forward for these people so that they can continue progressing and soon be baptized.

But these are just some of the miracles that Elder Staton and I have received.

 

Elder Gleaves

President,

...Will you please forward this section to sister bassett as a miracle?

This week, we were biking around, our appointment fell through, our three backups for the hour all didn't answer the door, and we were without plans. We were just contemplating what we should do, when I saw this guy walking by a street away. I felt like I should go talk to him, and as I got ready to go, he turns the corner and starts walking toward us. I felt REALLY urged then, so we talked to him. It was just after a District meeting about questions of the soul, and I asked him a question. He completely opened up, and said how he would like to learn more about why he's here. It was a really neat experience to me, how God had put us in the right street at the right time to talk with His child. Every soul is precious in His eyes.

Elder Morgan

From Elder Gomez:

So you know the challenge you issued at zone conference?  We gave it a shot.  On Saturday we attempted to contact as many former investigators as we possibly could.  We got a couple that might be worth following up on.  So we were thinking... where is this person who is ready for the gospel that Sister Bassett promised us?  We had a baptism that night, which by the way was amazing, and the sister of the baptizee (is that a word?? :) ) really felt the spirit and decided that she wanted to learn the gospel as well.  So there you go, your faith was not in vain.  We did find somebody who is ready for the gospel... even though we didn't exactly find them the way we would have expected.

Dear sister bassett

 

First, last Friday Elder Parkin and I were feeling a little discouraged because we haven't found any one in a while.  We had two potentials in the area book. So I took the time to get down on my knees and say a prayer. I talked with the Lord. "We are talking to a lot of people. We are trying to do as you wish but where are the blessings?" The answer I received was to wait. The Lord has his time. So being pacified, the next day we had a baptism for our investigator named Amy, which is a miracle in and of itself. Low and behold one of our members brought their friend to the baptism and she wants to learn more. How sweet is that.

 

See you Thursday

 

Love Elder Thomas 

Well the baptism of the family Parra was one of the most amazing services that I have attended. Not only because they were getting baptized, but also when I got there I saw a kid named Christian, whose family had been less active for years. When I was with Elder Salazar we had tried going by so many times, and just could never get them to church, but now their son got baptized, and their other son is thinking of going on a mission. It was amazing to see. I couldn't believe it. I sent a picture of the baptism of the Family Parra, so hopefully you get it. But also it was really cool because the brother that gave the talk based it almost perfectly on what Pres. Bassett talked about, with baptism just being the door that we can enter to start on the path towards God. He gave an amazing heartfelt talk.

Well thanks Sis Bassett for everything, especially your talk in stake conference.

Elder Gleaves