Letter #44 08/10/15

In the hands of the healer....also #waitingontheLord

So, this week has been an incredible learning experience. We are left with eyebrows singed by the refiner's fire and a testimony of just how involved The Lord is in His work, bringing to pass OUR immortality and eternal life!

1 Nephi 9:5-6

Words of Mormon 1:7

He knows. 

"Thumbs Up!"  It was Ze's idea--I like it!  Of her baptism, Zr said, "I still feel like me just really happy"
I think that's what living the gospel of Jesus Christ does for us. :)

Just a slight precursor-

S IS THE QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE. I am always so humbled and amazed to work with her, to serve her, to see her unwavering faith and her unfailing devotion to God and His love and will. 

The week leading up to her scheduled baptismal date was anything but easy. She went through lots of struggles and obstacles, but always ended up on top as she let go and let God. But the biggest obstacle, the greatest manifestation of God's will came on Thursday as we were preparing for her baptismal interview. As she interviewed, some things from the past came up and we found out she might have to wait to be baptized. She was really shaken up by it all, because her desire to be baptized is SO great. 

We talked with her for a while about the Lord preparing a way for us to do whatever He commands or requires, and she found a little bit of solace, saying that she wasn't discouraged, but we knew she was. 

So we called President Wilson and, guess what? He was already headed up to Charlottesville- now only 12 minutes away, and wanted to talk with Shameka. They had an incredible interview and she was just blown away that he "knew her heart". He told her that she was completely ready, was shocked that we'd only been meeting for 4 weeks, and that there's just some things that have to be done in circumstances like this. She left that interview walking on air, and, over slurpee's, we talked about God's hand. We had no clue that these things had happened in her life, there was no way for us to find out, really, until the interview but Heavenly Father knew. He sent a bolt of lighting prompting telling us that her date needed to be pushed up, only because He knew that it would need to be pushed back. There was no coincidence that President was driving up on the day when it all unfolded. It was incredible to see how his hand has literally guided EVERY single step of her conversion. 

Not to mention that Z, the beautiful nine year old with the wisdom and courage of someone who KNOWS that she's a daughter of God, still wanted to be baptized and set the example for her entire family. Also her favorite song is Called to Serve and she wants to be a missionary. 

It was just so beautiful. After the baptism, Sister C (S) just bore testimony after testimony to everyone there of just how happy the gospel makes us. She just glows!

And now we wait. But when you're waiting on the Lord, it's not so bad. He knows the beginning from the end and I'm just so at peace that it will all work out. It's been amazing to see how this huge obstacle has just refined her even more. Heavenly Father definitely knows what He is doing and He is SO aware. I KNOW IT! He wants to help us and He will. 

I love Him and I love Charlottesville and I LOVE y'all. 

The sweetest/sassiest girls I know.  The newest member of
the church and another girl who can't wait to be eight.

Zr, Me, McNeely, Ze, Sh, Brother Perkins----The baptism crew.