Matters of Fulfilling our Potential TMM

TMM Becoming Matters

We hear the same story often, and we love it! People are searching for peace, for love, for belonging, and when they find it, they rejoice in the waters of baptism. Last Saturday we attended five baptisms. Rosa and her daughter Kim were baptized first. Rosa told us she is 41 years old and has sons who are 26 and 25. Kim is ten. Rosa was so thrilled to find the gospel of Jesus Christ, and it is giving her the confidence to become who she knows she can be. Raymundo is a retired cook who came to the gospel through Cindy—truly a missionary since her own baptism two or three months ago! (Another of Cindy’s friends was baptized this week.) Teddy and another man were baptized and exuded joy and gratitude. Teddy is YSA-age and told us as we drove him home what a great blessing it is to find the gospel. 

Sometimes trying to get all the ordinances done leads to a comedy of errors of sorts. Last Saturday was one of those days. After the first baptisms, someone started draining the font at the Stake Center. Panicked missionaries stopped the emptying and tried to refill the font, but the water was shut off. They began filling any large containers they could find from the hose outside and dumped them in. You just don’t realize how many gallons it takes to fill a font until you try to fill one this way! The Sisters were distraught. The Elders were doing their best to right the “wrong.” Finally we suggested that they call the missionaries at the other building (who were themselves preparing for two more baptisms) to see if we could move to the Los Presidentes building. Alas! The water was off in the other building, too! Finally Bishop Bahr came and got the stake building’s water flowing, and the other baptisms moved there. Some delays. Some frayed nerves. A happy ending and five very happy new converts.

I watched a Prager University video this week wherein Dennis Prager (a Jew) rejoiced in Christmas. He also said something that I have pondered all week—“I never ask what God can do for me. I ask what I can do for God!” What a wonderful way to look at things, especially this Christmas week! What can I do for Him and for His children? We are so grateful to be serving here in Laredo. It is teaching us a whole new understanding of Christ’s Atonement. He comes to us wherever we are and gives us everything we need to come to His Heavenly Home with the Father. Merry Christmas! 

TMM Gospel Blessings Matter

TMM Gospel Blessings Matter

A new convert had her three little children receive blessings on Sunday morning. Our seminary students turned in questions to be addressed by Elder Jimenez at the youth session of stake conference this Sunday. They will be singing “The Miracle” later at the general meeting. Sammy (54) proudly sports his new “Sunday clothes” that Elder Flanagan bought for him so that he could participate in Aaronic priesthood duties, and then with tears he expressed how much he learned at fast and testimony meeting and Sunday School. Johnny (about 40) insisted on pinky-promising all of us (Sisters, Elder F, Cameron, and me) that he would be at church on Sunday but missed it because he thought it was at night. It was wonderful to hear Johnny respond to the lesson on commandments, including the Word of Wisdom, positively and enthusiastically. Cameron was so excited to be with the missionaries to teach twice. He was caught up in the spirit of missionary work and loved the people, saying how much he would really miss being here. We have been teaching the Atonement (Gethsemane, Crucifixion, Resurrection) for two weeks—learning as much as the students did as we worked through the symbolism and tender mercies of God in all things. We were touched in every minute of testimonies on Sunday. In fact, every day we find reasons to be grateful for our years of learning and teaching the Gospel. We love our new converts, but we are aware of how blessed we are to have spent a life experiencing the blessings along the covenant path! As our hearts expand with love, our prayers of gratitude grow long.

The examples above strengthen our testimonies and commitment to Jesus Christ! The song “The Miracle” (I’m accompanying the Youth) takes my breath away. If you don’t know it, please listen on YouTube. It is a great way to sum up our year of studying the life and mission of our Savior. It is our testimony that His greatest miracle is the “one that rescues you and me.” We love you all and miss you (for six more months)!

Our sad little, bargain Texas Christmas tree was left by previous missionaries. Not wanting the expense of a new tree, but not wanting to limp through the season with a pre-lit tree that had no lights that worked in the middle section, we picked up some more lights and dressed the tree. We were amazed by the difference the new lights made (below)! Isn’t that true of our own lives, missing the splendor until more and more light is added? It was the LIGHT that resurrected this little symbol of Christ and His season of love.

The baptism picture is of the young mother (second from left) and the teenager with her boyfriend, who baptized her.