Dear Family and Friends,
What a great week it has been in NOM. (Nebraska Omaha Mission) We have
had so many miracles this week, but the biggest one is that CLAUDIA,
RAMSEY, AND CHRISTINA GOT BAPTIZED. It is a day that I will never
forget. We were going to have them wait another week, but Sister Belka
and I prayed so hard to know what to do, and we received the answer that
they needed to be BAPTIZED on Friday. We felt very strongly that they
needed access to the full atonement, and the power of the Holy Ghost to
do the things that we were asking them to do. We had 3 days to get
everything ready!! It was crazy, but so worth it. So Friday came
along. We were at the church to fill up the font. We started filling
it at 4:30, but we stopped filling it because a lady walked in who was
catholic, and we knew she needed a lesson, and so we started teaching
her and turned the font off because it was too loud. The lesson went
great, the spirit was so strong, but she wasn’t willing to meet with us
again, but we planted the seed hopefully. So we looked at the font and
knew we were in trouble. So we hurried and said a quick prayer. When
we opened our eyes Brother Jackson (a ward member) was leaning over the
font, and was like sister we have a problem. This is nowhere near full
and we are running out of time. Where is the pots and pans? Let the
fun begin. So for the next hour we have 4 faucets running at a time and
were running back and forth from the kitchen to the bathroom to the
font. It was a riot. Half of the water ended up being on the floor, but
don’t you worry we got the font filled just in time. So Claudia and
Ramsey were supposed to be at the Church at 5:30, but around 6:15 they
were still not there. I started to panic a little bit that they weren’t
going to show up for their own baptism, but come 6:30 they showed
up. Claudia was in tears. She said, “I don’t know what is wrong with
Ramsey he doesn’t want to be Baptized”. So I wrapped my arms around he
and told her, “Claudia remember what we told you yesterday about how
hard this day was going to be for you because Satan is going to do
everything in his power to not allow this to happen. I finally got her
calmed down, and then in walked Ramsey. He had no emotion or spirit
whatsoever. So I took him in the other room, and just talked to
him. He said, “I don’t know what happened I just don’t want to get
baptized. I can’t feel anything.” Ah Satan makes me so mad!! He had
totally gotten to him. I just took his hand and said, “Ramsey do you
know why you have had such a bad day? Satan doesn’t want you to get
baptized. He has done everything in his power to keep you from getting
baptized, but you kow that you need to get baptized. You have prayed
about it many times and the Holy Ghost has told you many times what you
should do. So we aren’t going to let Satan win are we? He then with
tears in his eyes said I know. We watched a film with him about the
Savior, as tears rolled down his cheeks he turned to us and said I am
ready. I will get baptized. I am so grateful for that experience that I
was able to be a part of. That I was able to see the power that the
devil can have, but also to see the power that we have. That we are
able to overcome Satan as we center our everyday lives on the Savior and
his teachings. I will never forget that experience. I have been to
many baptisms, but today was so different. Today I truly understood the
importance of Baptist. I understood and was able to remember those
covenants that I made 15 years ago. I finally realized what it means to
be a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Claudia got baptized first. As
she came out of the font she was beaming. She had the biggest smile on
her face. She just sat there and cried and then would laugh. It was so
darling. Christine who is nine went next she was so excited and just
so dang cute. My favorite was to watch Ramsey though because he had such
a rough day, but to watch his face and all of the grief and pain
disappear was something that I will never forget. He automatically had a
new light with him. I realized that this is why I am here. To witness
miracles and get to be the Lords servant. As I think back to the first
time I met them and then think of who they are now I am in awe. They
are completely different people and are as humble as they come. They
have allowed the power of the atonement to change them. They have become
fully converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They will ENDURE TO THE
END. I will forever be grateful that I was able to play a part in
their conversion.
This
week the gingerbread festival started. It is so amazing. We got to
set up for Christmas this week which was so fun. I loved every second
of it. I can’t believe that it is already this time of year. I love
this time of year. So back to the gingerbread. We have over 100
gingerbread house downstairs in the trail center. They are made from
ward members, and just anybody in the community. This is the 27 year
they have done this. The houses are incredible. I am amazed at how
creative people are. Last year we got 500 referrals from the
gingerbread. There was 25,000 people who came here. Talk about
amazing. So the trail center is up and running. I am so excited!! I
will be sure to send lots of pictures.
It has been such a great and humbling week. I hope that you all have a great THANKSGIVING!!
Ten things that I am grateful for
1. Being able to sacrifice 18 months to be a Missionary
2. My amazing family and friends
3. I am grateful for the power of the Atonement
4. I am grateful for a companion who loves me, and teaches me something every single day
5. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who knew me, and is so aware of me.
6. I am grateful for my testimony and the opportunity that I have to strengthen it each and every day
7. I am grateful for TREATS!!
8. I am grateful for nice friendly people who listen to my message
9. I am grateful to be in Nebraska and to be able to work with such amazing missionaries and leaders
10. I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and his Atoning Sacrifice for me!!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
Sister Whitt
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