BEST BLOG EMAIL EVER, but really!! (w/ GREAT pictures!!)

 

 Are you ready for the darling, STARLING miracle?

First off, you must know that Lake Butler is Zion. I've decided. Everyone knows, loves, and reaches out to one another in this perfect little town. As a missionary, I feel like all I do is sit back and watch God's miracles pour out upon these incredible families.

The darling, Starling family miracle all began when member missionary work lessons hit the scene in October with dear Sister Call. The Bishop's family jumped on board with these lessons and who would appear in their radar, but the Starling family who had JUST posted a Facebook status that they were looking for a new church to attend.

Fast forward 4 months, include a few friendly chatting visits with the sister missionaries and quite a few invitations to come to church and various activities (though they kept falling through) from the bishop's family, and then came February....the month of ALL things lovely and wonderful. God's timing is powerful and finally everything aligned to bring the Starlings, the bishop's family, and my companion and I altogether for the first lesson. It was without a doubt the most powerful 90 minute lesson that I have ever been apart of. With the Bishop and his wife testifying alongside our lesson, Ganeene and Stephen were already blown away and recognized truth. The next night we finished the first lesson and invited the parents to be baptized. Ganeene nearly died with excitement about setting a solid date to be baptized on. She told us she felt so strongly that God had been leading her whole life to this very moment. And Stephen, the rock of faith in the family, told us he was excited to hold the Priesthood. When they came to church that week, after a perfectly timed church tour the day prior, they felt so at home. They loved it, and their 5 kids fit right on in.

Over the following two weeks, two of their daughters, decided to be baptized as well. A whirlwind of lessons began to catch their two daughters up. Every activity days event and mutual activity was attended too. And you can bet even before Ganeene was baptized, she was raising her hand in Relief Society and sharing her testimony.

This past weekend, 4 of the 7 were baptized. Two are not yet baptismal age, and their 15 year old son is currently taking the discussions with the elders (we made him nervous haha). I can honestly tell you that the past two days of baptisms and confirmations, and even Stephen receiving the Priesthood, have been the single most incredible days of my life. I have never been so happy. I do not believe more happiness could be possible. The opportunity to love, share my testimony, and then help this family take one step toward their ultimate goal of being an eternal family has been the privilege of a life-time.

My three PERFECT moments (it's been REALLY hard to narrow this down) are the following:

1. Ganeene sharing her testimony at her baptism....she told her whole conversion story and then began sharing her belief and gratitude in having a prophet on the earth today. Hearing her testimony, that just three weeks ago I was testifying ALL about to her, was mind blowing.

2. After the family was confirmed (took nearly half of Sacrament meeting) they were asked to stand for the ward to welcome them in. It was almost too much for me to handle watching this family I have grown to LOVE with my whole heart, stand and see each and every hand in that chapel nearly SHOOT into the air. 

3. I don't know how God could be so kind, but by the grace of God...we were able to slip in and see Stephen be ordained to the office of a Priest. As we slipped in the furthest door in the chapel, just before the ordination began...Stephen caught our eyes and gave us his perfect finger wave. And in that moment, it hit me that we helped this family get here. God used Sister Call, Sister Cline, and me to help bring this absolutely darling family to the gospel. Heads up-I've never cried out of such pure joy SO MUCH in my life. 

Missionary work truly is the best work in the WHOLE wide world. I could live this life forever.

p.s. March 4th is my exact half way mark on the mission. HAPPY HUMP DAY!!