Hello.

Hello.

 

I was debating whether or not to mention the weather (I'm sure you're all sick of hearing about it), but I decided that since we went through a heat wave this week, I'd mention it. So like I said, we went through a really, really rough heat wave. I heard that the "real feel" one day was 114 degrees. Because of the nasty heat, we tried our darned hardest to stay inside, which meant visiting a lot of the less active members in the ward.

 

On Tuesday we had a lesson with two brothers that we've been teaching. It's been really neat to see their progression, because it started as a "yeah, I'll learn about your church" to a yearning to experience the gospel. We hadn't invited them to baptism yet, so on Tuesday we knew we needed to try. Sister Hall had the best invitation that I've ever heard (background info: usually when we commit these two to something we use the starter "Can we ask you a question...")

 

(On the subject of baptism) "Can we ask you a question?"

*Pause* (They looked kind of worried)

"As you come to know these things, will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized?"
*Shocked faces*

 

But! It was really neat. We sat in silence for quite some time until one of the brothers said, "Wow. I think I'm going to have to go to church first before I can be baptized." The other one was very honest and said he couldn't answer us, but genuinely said, "Now I'm going to have to think about this." The miracle is that because we already established a relationship with them, and because they knew we were just pushing them to grow, they didn't respond negatively. I know the way I described it was super lame, but it was truly a neat moment! I knew that if we would've invited them to be baptized the first lesson, they wouldn't have cared and might not have let us come back. But since we followed the promptings of the Spirit, we were able to establish trust and then give them a clear choice.

 

Sunday. Sunday, Sunday... it was probably the most unusual Sunday ever. Our ward was going to have an ice cream social right after sacrament meeting, and since missionaries love church, we decided to go to the Bethlehem ward to get our full church. The Bethlehem Elders (Elders Anderson and Miller) had been asked to sing in primary, but to the primary chorister's surprise, six missionaries came and sang "Called to Serve." And if you're wondering, yes, I willingly sung.

 

Later on we went to our ward. We had the sacrament (bread and water) portion of the meeting, Bishop Smith spoke, then... ice cream. I've never had anything like it. But the purpose was to get to know people better in the Whitehall ward and the Allentown Spanish branch. But as nice as eating ice cream was, the best part of the day was this: Sister Cressman came to church!!! Miracle! We've been working with her since I first got here, and it went from not wanting to hear anything about the church, to hear wanting to come, to her actually coming! What an amazing thing! I know that going to church is so important because that's where we renew our baptismal covenants and promise to Heavenly Father that we'll keep trying to be like Christ.

 

Take an different look at the sacrament prayer (on the bread):

 

"O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father,

that they are willing to:

 - - take upon them the name of thy Son,

 - - and always remember him

 - - and keep his commandments which he has given them;

that they may:

 - - always have his Spirit to be with them.

Amen."

 

"O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this water to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father,

that they do:

 - - always remember him,

that they may:

- -             have his Spirit to be with them. Amen."

 

Just look at the difference between the two. Which is the greater sacrifice? What can we learn? I'll let you ponder on that.

 

Love you!

Sister Sarah Singleton

Look! The Monopoly man (Brother Stofko) with a bolo tie.

 Elder Hardy photobombing us.