This week has been a whole big roller coaster! It has been amazing at times and for a short amount of time we thought the baptism was going to have to be cancelled. Lets just say a lot of prayer and fasting and trusting in Heavenly Father that he would prepare a way.
To start off the craziness we get a text from Josh Wednesday morning that went something along the lines of... " I am sorry I am going to have to cancel the appointment for today and also my baptismal date. My uncle has taken me and we are over a hundred miles away somewhere in Louisiana and he says we are not coming back." As soon as me and sister Turpin read this we were bawling. It was terrible, we prayed and prayed and we decided to fast that day for guidance on what to do and to know what way we could help if there was anything for two young girls to do to help him. We contacted everyone and all the missionaries were praying for him. I have never had to trust on my Savior and Heavenly Father so much or relied asking them to please prepare a way for Josh to be able to come back. It wasnt Josh who was the one who was holding himself back but his uncle and the adversary works wonders when people are so close to entering the waters of baptism. He knows they are doing the right thing and will do anything to make sure they are farther away from Heavenly Father. But anyways. Me and sister Turpin were able to receive priesthood blessing from our district leader Elder Kuepper. He Is amazing! Anyways after I had received my blessing I felt so calm and i knew everything was going to be ok. He said everything i needed to hear and gave direction and guidance for what i could do personally to help me understand why things like this happen. We were on our way to our last appointment when we received a call. it was from JOSH!!!!! He called and said his uncle had a change of heart and decided to turn around and come back home. It was an answer to so many prayers. Sometimes all you can do is leave it up to Heavenly Father and hope that the best comes out from it all. I know that me and sister Turpin were blessed beyond means that day and it is a day i will never forget. Prayer and Fasting really do work. If you are determined and willing to put everything on the alter of sacrifice He will prepare a way always like it says in 1 Nephi 3:7. But on the plus side that day we also got a text from our investigator Mike that said he was reading the Book of Mormon and that he is even more interested in being baptized! How awesome is that?!?!
Well now for my favorite part of the week! BAPTISM :) Boy does it bring me so much joy to be able to see someone accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ and follow his example and be baptized by someone who holds that priesthood authority. Well we told Josh to be at the church at 5 when his baptism wasnt until 6. But we know he is bad with time and so when we told him 5 we know that he wouldnt show up until 5;30 but turns out it wasnt until 5:45 that he showed up. There were so many people there to support him and it was awesome to see him shocked by how many people came. The spirit was so strong and everyone was crying by the end of the night. It was absolutely amazing. When he was actually baptized he had the biggest smile on his face when he got out of the water. Me and sister tuprin recited the Joseph Smith History while he was getting dressed and the spirit was incredible. Bishop made some remarks and told him to go on a mission! That is what we are hoping for anyways. At the end of the night when we were leaving he told us thank you for bringing him into this gospel. What an honor it was to help him find the truth and act upon it.
Sunday when he was confirmed was even more incredible. The blessing that he was given was so powerful and talked about missionary work and the many opportunities that he will have. He had such a bright light to him. One that was not there before. Oh how much we care and are so proud of him and his decision. He is awesome and will do wonderful things if he continues to follow the covenants he has made with his Heavenly father.
I know this gospel is true and i love it.
Be safe and Have a good week! Happy 2016
This is sister redfords email home but I took hers this week because I was to busy doing missionary work so this is what happened. I know she's a lot better at telling what went on then I am but here ya go!:) love you all!! I will talk to y'all next week!!:)
Ps. Congrats on getting married chau I love you!!!:)
Love sister turpin
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