I'll Be Here For You, Brother

​Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. 

This week, my little missionary heart has been so full. I didn't know my heart could hold this much love. 

A lot has happened this week, but I only have time to tell parts of the story. 

Josh was baptized on Friday night!! He was grinning from ear to ear all weekend. His spirit was contagious. He asked me to speak on baptism (because he apparently hadn't heard me say enough about it these past 3 months) but I'm glad he did. Because man, baptism is incredible. When people are baptized, they are utilizing the Atonement and being purified by Christ. It's amazing! Josh had so much ward support and the love was unreal. I feel so privileged to have been a part of his change and to get to see it. His testimony blows me away, and makes me one proud missionary. 

He knows God loves him. 

Cleaning the font

Josh's Baptism

Then Saturday was the ward fish fry, which was also awesome! We hung out with all of our favorite people, and it felt like home. My best friend Charlie and I drew pictures, and Leah and I talked a lot, and it was just good. 

Ward Fish Fry

Gotta love Anna

Leah and Sister Beecher

Claire and I

My best friend Charlie

But Sunday. Sunday, all of that love I had built up burst because of a boy named Sam. 

We've been trying to get Sam to commit to a baptismal date for 2 months. We've been going through his concerns and he's been up and down. Well, on Saturday he told us he wants to be baptized! We couldn't believe it! And he didn't really tell us what had changed. Just that he talked to Josh and he wants to do it. 

So on Sunday, Josh was confirmed in Sacrament meeting. He wanted all of the missionaries to be in the circle, so that was awesome to see the line of missionaries (and our best friends) walk up there to confirm Josh. He was also interviewed by Bishop and he now holds the priesthood! 

Sister Crosby, Josh, Sister Lamb

Sam and the Sisters

It was our fast and testimony meeting, so the time opened up to share testimonies. Josh was the second one up there. He had tears in his eyes and the spirit was strong. He knows this is true, and you can just see how it's changed him. 

But then. Sam got up. Sister Lamb and I straight up thought he was leaving, but nope. That boy walked right up to the podium. (Mind you, we can't even get Sam to read one sentence in Gospel Principles class. He doesn't like talking in front of people.) But he got up there, and told everyone that he felt a burning in his chest and he just couldn't sit down any more. My eyes were tearing up. Then he told everyone how grateful he is for the gospel and how he knows it's true. And that he was struggling because he wanted to be baptized but didn't think he could do it. But he was talking to Josh and Josh said, "I'll be here for you, brother." 

Simple as that. 

And that's when Sam knew that he could do it. That he'd have support and help, and he wouldn't fall back. He told everyone in the ward they better get used to him because he is getting baptized and he's sticking around.

Sister Lamb and I were sobbing on our bench. I have never felt the spirit in that way before. 

There's so much more to that story, but that's the most important parts.

Y'all. I know this church is true. There is power in fasting and power in prayer. I don't know why the Lord has blessed me so much to be serving here with these people, but my heart is in Ocean Springs. My life would be so different without my mission. 

This is the best decision I've ever made. 

More pictures from this week:

Enjoying Sister Beeston's sick ride

Relief Society Mad Hatter Party

Visiting Miss Debbie

100%

HE DID IT! Josh is at 100%! He had his interview, and he passed! He's getting baptized  and we're all ecstatic! This whole past week, Josh has been saying things and they kind of blow me away because he really gets the gospel. I don't think I've ever seen anyone smile so much at church. He is on cloud nine, and he isn't even baptized yet! His cheeks are gonna be sore all weekend!! He said the sweetest prayer for us, and he's quite determined to change the world. But one step at a time.

More big news!! We found Frank's records, and he is definitely a member of the church! And he even holds the priesthood!! He couldn't remember being confirmed and we were having trouble finding his records so we've been unsure for about a month. But we got them! Frank is so cool. 

Bonnie has had a slight headache this week, because she finished off her coffee! No more word of wisdom problems for her!! We read 3 Nephi 11 with her and last night we watched "The Testaments" and she cooked us a bunch of food! So sweet of her! 

Sam. We sat down and had a real good talk with him about baptism. Anyway, we now know exactly what's holding him back and Sister Roz Beeston is going to help us help him! (Because she's amazing and has the coolest conversion story.) But Sam knows the church is true!!! He knows the Book of Mormon is the word of God, he knows Joseph Smith was a prophet, and he has even started to talk about the gospel with some people. He came to church yesterday, and things are good!  

Then we also got two new awesome investigators, Keshia and Adrienne! Adrienne was taught before, but didn't feel ready to be baptized yet. They have family that are members (the McLain's-Sam's family) so they've known about the church for a long time. Keshia has the most beautiful testimony. They sought us out, because they want to be members. Keshia was talking to a friend about religion and ended up defending our church and she realized that she wanted to be a part of it. She's been praying about it for months and knows it's true! So cool!!! Their baptism date is April 22- just before transfers. 

And obviously we had to wear green for St. Patrick's Day. And obviously we had to make cute clovers to tell everyone that we're lucky to know them. I also found some real clovers. 

Oh! And Tonya Ross (a less-active member we found because Elder Scoresby scrolled through our phone and randomly called the number he landed on, and ended up setting us up a dinner appointment with her) bought us a TON of groceries this weekend. I just called for a dinner appointment and she basically fed us for two weeks! 

Definitely not starving down here. We are full, full, full! 

Full of food. Full of happiness. And full of the spirit!! 

Daughter of a King

One reality of missionary work is that sometimes you need to recognize the best way to be using your time and decide where your priorities are. We've been doing a lot of that this week, and as a result....well, we dropped or were dropped by 7 investigators. Most of that happened yesterday, and that was rough on us. But I know that God is opening a way for us to have more time to teach people who are ready now. And these other people might be ready later. I definitely have a testimony of planting seeds. 

But Josh has a new baptismal date scheduled for March 24, and when we went through the interview questions with him, he got super giddy and excited! He still has a few things to work on this week to get him to his 100% goal (he currently believes himself to be about 95%) and it was pretty neat because yesterday at church, he sought out the Elders and asked them to give him a blessing for strength. It was a neat blessing, and I love the power of the priesthood. It's been a good minute since I've been a part of a priesthood blessing, so that was extra nice. He's got this though! 

The Elders also baptized Gary on Saturday! Gary is 76 and has been investigating the church for forever. An eternigator for sure. But a few weeks back, he had a heart attack and it opened his eyes. He wasn't going to let anything stop him from being baptized. It was a neat baptism and Gary has been on the verge of tears all weekend and is so excited to tell everyone about his testimony. He's so close to the spirit. So sweet, and awesome for the Elders. 

Bonnie's baptismal date is still April 8, upon her request. And that's a-okay. She's still progressing well, and loved Gary's baptism. It helped clear up some of her questions about her own. Love that lady. And she's officially over 30 days sober!!!

Sister Lamb and I were blessed to teach Relief Society yesterday. We talked about being daughters of God. It was neat because all of the talks in sacrament meeting correlated with our whole lesson. I got to share about being taught by my sweet mom just how important I am and that Heavenly Father has a plan for me. So grateful for all of the people in my life who helped me to feel His love, and to teach me that I can turn to Him whenever I need to. Especially my parents. So yeah, you better believe Sister Lamb and I cried when we talked about our moms. We closed the lesson by listening to "Daughter of a King" and having everyone write out things they love about themselves for the entire song. Man, Heavenly Father sure knew what he was doing when he made all of us. We all have excellent, divine qualities. I sure needed that lesson. 

We are all children of a Heavenly Father who loves us. How wonderful it is to know that. And to share it.

Pictures: 

Biloxi Sisters and Ocean Springs Sisters- we went shopping last P-Day

Bonnie and her super cool house 

Elder Pierre-Louis and myself matching for district meeting

Biloxi District is on fire. Seriously gonna miss these cool cats

That moment when you try to get a picture with the Beeston's and Josh hops in and attempts to give you bunny ears....haha!

The Beeston's!!

Bonnie's mom, Joan. She's absolutely hilarious. 

More Bonnie!

We finished our 30 day push-up and sit-up challenge. So we're ripped now. 

It rained on us-again.

Another pic with the Beeston's when we took them cookies.

 Sister Lamb and I totally matched without meaning to.

 I ruined our cookie bars for the baptism by buying evaporated milk instead of sweetened condensed