Hello family!!
This week has been pretty crazy...I'll start with the bad and end with the good.
Marcus, we've been teaching him for awhile now, received a confirmation last week that he was supposed to be baptized on February 20th. When he called his parents to tell them they freaked out. They told him that they wanted him to talk to the baptist minister at their church before he made any decisions. This weekend he spoke with the minister and after his talk he decided he didn't want to be baptized. He said that being baptized would be disobedient and dishonoring his parents. We tried everything we could but ultimately it's up to him. When you don't respond to spiritual promptings it will go away and that's when your agency comes in. He knows it is true, but fear is present instead of faith.
Our other investigator Chandler was also supposed to be baptized on the 20th. However he also will not be getting baptized. He still is unsure. Fear is present instead of faith.
So yeah this past week has been a little rough....
On the bright side! I went to Indy this last week to attend and speak at Norm's baptism. He is someone I taught in my last area before I got transferred here. He is so amazing! He cried through it all and it's so funny to see because he is a big tough guy on the outside but on the inside he is full of the spirit!
While we were in Indy we got to have dinner with Kim and Jasmine(recent converts)! They are so amazing. It made me so happy to see them. They are such strong members and will be such a strength to the crossroads ward.
It's been a tough week but through the hard times there is always good. I know that as I continue to work hard and to look for tender mercies I will see that God has a plan. His plan is always better than ours. He sees the whole picture. We do not. I know that someday Marcus and Chandler will accept the gospel. It will all work out.
I love you all!!! Stay warm!!
Love,
Sister Smith
This week has been pretty crazy...I'll start with the bad and end with the good.
Marcus, we've been teaching him for awhile now, received a confirmation last week that he was supposed to be baptized on February 20th. When he called his parents to tell them they freaked out. They told him that they wanted him to talk to the baptist minister at their church before he made any decisions. This weekend he spoke with the minister and after his talk he decided he didn't want to be baptized. He said that being baptized would be disobedient and dishonoring his parents. We tried everything we could but ultimately it's up to him. When you don't respond to spiritual promptings it will go away and that's when your agency comes in. He knows it is true, but fear is present instead of faith.
Our other investigator Chandler was also supposed to be baptized on the 20th. However he also will not be getting baptized. He still is unsure. Fear is present instead of faith.
So yeah this past week has been a little rough....
On the bright side! I went to Indy this last week to attend and speak at Norm's baptism. He is someone I taught in my last area before I got transferred here. He is so amazing! He cried through it all and it's so funny to see because he is a big tough guy on the outside but on the inside he is full of the spirit!
While we were in Indy we got to have dinner with Kim and Jasmine(recent converts)! They are so amazing. It made me so happy to see them. They are such strong members and will be such a strength to the crossroads ward.
It's been a tough week but through the hard times there is always good. I know that as I continue to work hard and to look for tender mercies I will see that God has a plan. His plan is always better than ours. He sees the whole picture. We do not. I know that someday Marcus and Chandler will accept the gospel. It will all work out.
I love you all!!! Stay warm!!
Love,
Sister Smith