So this week something so amazing happened. One of my old investigators, Kim, in Fair Oaks messaged me and told me she is getting baptized on the 24th. She then asked me if I would be able to baptize her. I was so honored. She was one of my favorite people I had taught there. Her husband was a member before but had not been to church in years. I had been knocking on their door for first 7 months of my mission with no response. Then finally a month before I got transferred down here to Elk Grove they answered the door and we started meeting with them. She was super skeptical at first but after a few weeks she started opening up and began to listen. She was progressing so much and then right before I got transferred she accepted a baptismal invitation and I never heard what happened after I left. Words cannot describe the joy I felt as I read her message telling me that she would be baptized on the 24th and that she wanted me to baptize her. It was truly a special experience and something I am looking forward to so much.
What is even more special about this whole thing is that her sister Haley is getting baptized with her on the 24th as well. Her sister moved in with her about 2 weeks before I left and was totally atheist when we first met her. Kim, told us all about her and how hard of a life Haley had. She was homeless most of her life and had been involved in all kinds of addictions conceivable. Kim told us the only reason why they let her live there was because she had no where to go. What makes this worse is that Haley is only 18. She is still a senior in High School. So there was no way Haley felt like she could ever believe in a God with the horrible experiences she has had in her life. One day we came over to teach Kim, and Haley happened to be there as well and decided to sit in and listen. That lesson we taught the plan of salvation. As we explained the beautiful principles of our Heavenly Father's great plan of happiness for each one of us, for some reason it just clicked with her. She started to understand that she is not alone on this earth. That her life didn't begin at birth and it won't end at death. At the end of that lesson for the first time you could almost see a slight glimmer of hope in her eyes. I had never felt the spirit more in my life than during that lesson. She came to church the following Sunday and then after that I got transferred. I never learned until a few days ago what happened with them. It is truly a miracle to hear that she is being baptized.
I am so excited to witness both Kim, and Haley enter into the waters of baptism and be cleansed of their past. That will be such a special moment. I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ that gives us all the opportunity to change our lives. I know it has changed mine, and I thank Heavenly Father for the opportunity I have to share this gospel with others so they can change theirs as well. As I reflect on this experience a scripture from the Book of Mormon comes to mind. In Alma 29:10 the prophet Alma says
"And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me."
My soul is truly filled with Joy for these two daughters of God coming unto Christ.
With love,
Elder Hallmark
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