Week 94

     The Geddes duo 

           Missionaries

   Another awesome week for the great land of Arkansas!!  So y'all remember the story I told last week of finding a family and blessing their home?  We have seen them like 4 times this week and they are so legit!  She fed us on our first visit with them, and  we brought a member who had been one of their kids substitute teachers.  We taught them after the dinner, and they want to be baptized in two weeks!  They also came to Book of Mormon class, and after she asked me "how do people deny this book when it says the same things the bible says?".  She told me how she was glad she came to the class. Her husband played basketball with us afterward as well.  Then in our next appointment we taught her and her daughter the Plan of Salvation.  When we got there she asked "what about all those people who didn't get baptized with the proper Priesthood Authority".  We explained to her about baptisms of the dead and temples and she loved it!  They came to church this last week, and they enjoyed the service.  She came up to me after and told me how grateful she was that we knocked on her door and, how much she loves about learning!   We are pretty excited for them and to see them several times this week!  

  For exchanges this week I got to go up to Paragould with Elder Geddes!!  So it was the Geddes duo and we had a great time.  Every time we introduced ourselves everyone was so confused, and we were able to teach a lot of really good lessons.  I also got to conduct my first Baptismal interview of my entire mission!!  He was a Marshallese guy named Ken, and he was very ready to be baptized.  He was a way nice guy, and the interview went well.  He was baptized and confirmed this last Sunday, and elder Geddes said he kept saying "one more step" referring to the temple because his wife is already a member.  

When we exchanged back we met up in Jonesboro, and I got to visit Claudio and his family.  They are doing really well and were super excited to see me.  My "Sobrino" has grown a ton already.  Claudio is doing great, and still loving the gospel!  It was really nice to see them again. It felt like going home.  We also got to drop by to see Takiya and she has decided that she wants to serve a mission!!!  That is awesome because she has always kind of wanted to, but now it is in her plans.  She also gave a talk this past Sunday in Jonesboro.  

  This week we had a member move from Nevada, his name if Brother Fitzgerald and he was baptized 3 years ago.  He has been helping us out a Lot ,and we are excited to have him here!  This morning we got a call from him saying that he met a lady at the hospital and told her about blessings.  It was her dad that was dying and she said that she would like for him to get a blessing. We met brother Fitzgerald at the hospital, and went to give the blessing.  The whole family was there and they said he only had a day or so left to live.  I gave the blessing and basically told him that he would pass in peace, and will learn more once he goes to the other side.  It was a cool experience and the family was grateful.  After we left I told Elder Plaira "we will probably never know what happens to that guy".  A couple hours later Brother Fitzgerald calls and says someone wants to talk to us.  A lady came on the phone and it was the lady who requested her dad got a blessing.  She told us that a few minutes after we left he passed away peacefully.  She said thank you so much and that's what he needed.  It is amazing the power of the priesthood! It truly connects Heaven and earth and I'm grateful it's back on the earth today.  

All is well in Arkansas, have a wonderful week and I love y'all!!

                       

                Searcy Zone Leadership                               Baseball with the Mauldins