Thought i'd start you all off with a cliff hanger there. I will tell you the whole story from the beginning.
So Sister Safsten and I have just been going about our normal missionary lives. Nothing super crazy has been happening and we've just been having a good ole' time. AND THEN..... On Tuesday, we had exchanges with the sisters in Pendleton. Sister Safsten stayed here and while I was in Pendleton. The sisters in Walla get this referral from a member in our ward (Brother Hafen, who is amazing). He gives us the name of a less-active man who's son in law is interested in taking the discussions. I come back and Sister Safsten is all excited, telling me how we need to contact this family. We give them a call and we set up a time to meet the next night. On our way there, we were stopping by a potential investigator and this giant fat cat comes up to us. This lady in our ward gave us lazer pointers, for some odd reason, so we decide to play with this cat (the only natural thing to do). The cat starts freaking out, runs into the street and gets hit by a CAR. Luckily, it got up and ran away but of course we are freaking out, thinking we just killed someones cat. Great. So we knock on this door across the street to tell them. ( it wasn't their cat) but they turn out to be a less active family that we had no idea about! They agreed to let us come back. Who would've thought that a spastic fat cat would lead us to this family?
We leave them and continue on our way to our golden referral. As soon as we get there we are warmly welcomed by the less-active parents, their less-active daughter and her non-member husband, and their three non-member children ( Ben; 13, Whitley; 10, and David; 7). They are so excited to meet with us, their faces are just glowing. We sit down and start to talk and the spirit fills the room. Darren (the non-member father) begins to tell us about his life-changing experience. On Monday there was a funeral for their grandfather held at the church. His wife Corrie and her father sang "I know that my Redeemer Lives" and Darren said he had an overwhelming feeling come over him. He had a complete change of heart. He mentioned that he had absolutely no interest in religion before the funeral but now he wanted to know and do everything he possibly could to come closer to Christ. Sister Safsten and I are just sitting there in awe at this family who is 100 percent ready to follow their Savior. After teaching them and inviting them to be baptized, they all accepted and want to be baptized as soon as possible. Tears were shed when they expressed their desires to be sealed a year from now in the Boise, Idaho Temple to be an eternal family.
We have had 3 lessons with them since them and we met them on Wednesday. They are so excited about everything they learn. I don't think I've even understood the term "becoming as a little child" until we met Darren and his family. The light that fills their eyes is unmistakable and we are so grateful to the Lord for placing them in our path and allowing the Spirit to guide and teach them.
Believe it or not, we had more miracles happen with another family as well! Nimo (yes, we found her. HA) has been investigating for a while. She finally is ready to commit so we were able to have a church tour with her, her sister Ama, and her son Willy on Saturday. The Spirit was so strong as it testified of the eternal truths of Christ's Gospel. They too want to be baptized.
AND THE BEST PART........
They all came to church on Sunday to take the sacrament and to be taught even more by the Spirit! Sister Safsten and I are OVERWHELMED with gratitude. These wonderful families were literally just placed into our paths and we feel so humbled to be a small part of the Lords amazing work. I know that as we let the spirit guide us completely in our lives, the Lord can use us as instruments to guide, love and serve one another.
This week was amazing and I am so grateful for all of the love and support. I know Christ is at the head of His church and His missionary work. Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Sister Madeline Whetten
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| Sister Safsten and I in front of the lovely (tiny) Blue Mountains |
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