Hello All,
It is finally summertime here in Bellevue. The sun is out more and flowers and trees are blooming. Cottonwood trees spread their cotton through the air, looking like a heavy snowstorm, and our apartment's parking lot often looks like freshly fallen snow. Welcome June!
This week was Jake and Lindsey's baptism. Let me say, of all the baptisms I have had this was the most special and spiritual! They are finally members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and they seem quite happy! We had two great lessons with them BEFORE their baptism on Sunday! One was reviewing the Plan of Salvation and the other, a Church tour, reviewing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They had to have been the most prepared and sincere investigators I have ever had, studying as much as 5 hours a day, reading scriptures, The Ensign, and articles on LDS.ORG before our lessons! I am truly honored that I had the opportunity to teach them and see them through to baptism. Thursday they had their baptismal interview, which I think they were a bit more nervous for than needed, but they passed with flying colors says our district leader. We asked them to write out their testimonies. When they gave us copies of them they were truly remarkable. Jake bore a sweet testimony. He was thankful for Christ and his family. Lindsey was grateful for patient missionaries and the peace that the gospel has brought into her life.
Saturday was their baptism day. They came excited, changed into their clothes, and we started the meeting. Sister Greenside gave a great talk about baptism and the Holy Ghost, while Elder Greenside baptized them. Elder Rodriguez and I were excited that he got the chance to baptize them, as they were his FIRST live baptisms. Jake, Lindsey, and the Greensides have become good friends. After the Baptism, Bishop Wilson welcomed them into the Bellevue 6th ward, giving them advice and telling them about how they would continue to progress in the gospel through Jake getting the Priesthood, getting sealed in the Temple, holding callings, and receiving their Patriarchal Blessings. The spirit was strong and the ward's support was great! Nearly 60 of Jake and Lindsey's new friends attended! As one of their missionaries, it made me quite happy to see the outpouring of love shown to them.After the Baptism the ward held a potluck at one of the Bishop's counselors houses. That was also well attended and Lindsey stood up and told everyone how grateful she was for their friendship. Lindsey and Jake have come a long way. As missionaries first started meeting with them 3 months ago they were nervous and somewhat reluctant to let missionaries in. But the gospel truly changes people for the better and they are a testimony to me that no matter what walk of life you come from, EVERYONE needs the gospel. Lindsey realizes that too. She is already doing missionary work and asked her sister, who has many problems, to take the missionary lessons in Florida! Her sister's first lesson sounded great and hopefully the lessons continue!
On Sunday I confirmed Jake a member of the Church. It was a remarkable experience to be a part of that! Sacrament meeting was truly made for them! The woman that spoke wrote her talk weeks ago. She was supposed to speak last week, but there wasn't enough time and was rescheduled for Sunday because they didn't have anyone to speak yet. She spoke about the Holy Ghost and recognizing its promptings. A high counselor spoke about following the commandments and the blessings of following them. The meeting was perfect and the spirit was strong! God truly had his hand in making it happen for the Jake and Kathy Stinson! They are going to be great, strong members of the Chruch. They are excited to serve the ward that has shown them so much love and support!
Yesterday was interviews with President Larkin. I am fine! And today the mission attended the Temple! So right now I am on quite a spiritual high! I feel good that the Stinson's are baptized and will continue to search for other opportunities to find new people to teach!
The Church is true!
~Elder Fetzer
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| Elder Rodriguez, Lindsey, Jake, Elder Fetzer |
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