July 5, 2010

Dearest Mom and family

This past week was quite miraculous. Let's start with the beginning of last week. M., almost 18 year old girl who has been up north for the past 3-4 weeks, returned. We were able to meet with her and we set a baptismal date for July 17th! During that teach she testified how the gospel came just at the right time in her life because she was depressed and about to take a scholarship for the violin even though this was not her dream but other's. She expressed how the gospel has given her the peace that she has never felt and yearned for. She is happiest that she has ever been. The whole teach was spectacular. She is ready to be baptized. But because she has committed it seems that the adversary is doing his best to stop it. This past sunday her brother got into a car wreck where he ended in the hospital. M. found out about this at 6am sunday morning. She doesn't live with her family so she couldn't go visit him but just wait and hear back about his condition. Despite the circumstances, she came to church when it was fast sunday. President Brown, who was present with Elder Causse (Europe Area Presidency), noticed M. in the congregation even though he had not met her before. He said, '' She stood out from all the other members.'' After the meeting a member pulled Elder Henderson and I aside and informed us about M's situation for we knew nothing about it.The member asked M. if she wanted a priesthood blessing and M. said yes but let the elders do it. So Elder Henderson, President Brown, the member, and I gathered in a small room and gave her a blessing of comfort and counsel. Before the blessing M. was trembling and almost fainting because if she lost her brother from the car wreck then that would be her second brother , but after the blessing she was at complete peace. She, afterwards, went to Relief Society where she bore her testimony and invited all to her baptism! The Lord definitely protected her from the powers of the adversary.

Then Elder Causse visited the north zone where Elder Henderson and I were instructed by him for 12 hours= 6 hours zone conference, 3 hours zone leader council, and 2 hours for local ward meeting in which we were invited. It was a spiritual feast. I will be sharing more about what he taught next week.

I love you all
Vanhin Hamner