This past week has been a complete blur. One amazing blur.
Drew
Overton was baptized on Saturday and it was one of the most powerful
experiences of my mission yet. She is good friends with Kevin Pletcher
the tall one in the right shirt to her left. He's a less active but
who's entire family is VERY strong in the church. His brother, Jason, on
the far left with his wife and daughter actually are in the Pauls
Valley Branch Presidency in my last area. Brother Pletcher called me a
"Greenbean" at the pulpit when he announced me to speak my very first Sunday out in the field! (*siigh** aah Brother Pletcher). And then their
parents are the ones to the right of Drew. THEY live in Ardmore and
every one of these wonderful people drove all the way up to Mustang to
attend her Baptism. Brother Pletcher, the father, baptized her.
Sister
Franklin and I sang 'Come unto Christ' at the beginning and things got
fairly emotional. Everyone headed into the cultural hall (where the font
is. odd, I know) while Sister Franklin and I walked into the bathroom
with her. She completely burst into tears and just held onto us for a
few moments, shaking slightly. Drew lost a 2 week old son about 30 years
ago because her ex husband abused her all through the pregnancy. She's
blamed herself for it all these years though. It's been a very hard road
for her. While she was in the bathroom though, she just kept saying
through her tears how this huge weight that had been on her shoulders
and heart for years now was literally being lifted and how she just
couldn't believe it had taken her this long to find the church. Sister
Franklin and I stood there, crying ourselves. There wasn't too much to
be said. The burning in our hearts but yet complete peace in that
bathroom was all that was needed.
The next morning Brother
Tucker, one of our amazing ward missionaries, gave her the gift of the
Holy Ghost. It was beautiful. Drew and Kevin came in a tad late (a tad
stressful for us..as you can imagine :) ) so we weren't able to sit with
them. Well there was 5 minutes left for testimony meeting and Sister
Franklin and I see this little blonde head come bobbing through the
crowd, from the back of the chapel up to the pulpit. We both couldn't
help but smile. Drew came up and she was shaking so it was pretty hard
for her to unfold the wrinkled piece of paper she'd written her
testimony on, but she did. She then bore the sweetest, simplest, but
most powerful testimony I've heard in a long time, finishing with "In
the name of Jesus I pray, Amen."
As I sit here, telling you
all this, those powerful emotions are coming back. I am so grateful to
my Father in Heaven for giving me this opportunity to see people change
through the Gospel. It confirms to me every day just how true it is for
the effects are real and powerful. The Savior and his gospel are real
and true. And I'm SO grateful to have it in my life. I pray every day
for more courage and diligence to be able to allow others to have it in
theirs as well. Please strive your best to do the same. It is the most
important work that we can do in this life for as we share it, we become
more converted and like our Savior ourselves.
I love you all so much. And thank you for the examples that you have been to me throughout my whole life.
Love one another, enjoy life, and Keep the Faith!
Love,
Sister Call
In our e-mail exchanges, she commented that she is so happy and grateful. What a blessing are missions!
Such sweet experiences she's having!!
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