Once again I was spiritually lifted as I read the experiences that the president shared this week. A week that include transfers – sorry we were traveling and I completely forgot to ask anyone to take and share pictures of new companionships. I am checking to see if any of the couples did take pictures and will send them to me. But nothing slowed the great above missionaries of the Florida Fort Lauderdale mission down…they had 36 baptisms this week and that is a great way to start a month…

“I love the solutions you missionaries find, even when you search for souls to invite from the area book:

“We didn’t have anyone set with a baptismal date for Sunday, so we discussed some ways that we could work for a miracle baptism. The Area Book was discussed and there were miracles shared about how missionaries had been able to find amazing people by looking through old records. At first I didn’t really think about it too much and we continued training. The next day a couple seconds before we walked out the door for proselyting time, I decided to stop ignoring the nagging feeling to go look in the Area Book. So I opened it up…  until I found someone who had been to church. All I wrote down was her name and her address. Well an appointment we had later that day fell through and so we ventured over to the Sister from the Area Book. We were disappointed to see that she lived in a gated community but only for a moment when a car pulled up and we were able to follow them right in. She was home and after a Harvest blessing she accepted baptism. When we told her that we were having a baptismal service this weekend she seemed a little reluctant. But the Spirit was so strong! We testified and then asked her to say a prayer and ask God if He wanted her to be baptized this weekend. After the prayer the Spirit was even stronger! After she said Amen she didn’t move or open her eyes. She waited and listened! And on Sunday she was ‘baptized.’”

I love when the Lord blesses you because you had the inspiration to find others during “round-up”:

We went to go round-up our investigator for church, but he wasn’t answering. This was the 2nd investigator’s door we had knocked for church and we were having no success-super sad! So, we looked at our watches, had some times and decided to start harvesting at 9:30am before PEC at 10. We knocked one door 3 times with no answer and started walking away when the door opened and this super sleepy guy looked at us. I can only imagine what he was thinking as he tiredly squinted at us and yawned, looking rather dazed and confused. Nevertheless we introduced ourselves as representatives of Jesus Christ, had a beautiful prayer and invited him to church. The story goes on with NONE of our investigators coming to church and as we sat down rather bewildered and discouraged, we realized we didn’t know who was sitting in front of us in a red polo. The man we harvested before church! He had come! We quickly got up and sat by him, and as we were talking, a member walked in and sat across from us. This man lit up as he recognized his close friend from work! The two got up and had the usual manly hand shake/hug combo thing you men do and he quickly felt comfortable, loved and happy to be there. Our member stayed with him in all the classes and at the end gave him a Book of Mormon with his testimony inside Coincidence? I think not! What an orchestration in the symphony of the Lord’s work! We felt honored and blessed to be a part of it. He is being baptized on Sunday.

I love when we use members to help in completing our solutions:

“Well, church came and went and we weren’t able to get anyone there. It was difficult, but we knew we put our best effort forth and that God would accept it. That afternoon, as we were still trying to get something going, we were having dinner with a few members and one said to us, ‘I was home teaching my family earlier today, a nice, older woman who has been a member of the church for many years. Her husband has come to church, but he never wants anything to do with the missionaries, but today he said he would like to hear a prayer from you Elders. Could you stop by today?’. We headed out with him right afterwards. After finding them home, we left the family with a blessing. We asked him how he felt. He said good. We invited him to baptism and he said yes. We asked him when was the last time he went to church and he told us recently. We were nervous, but exercised faith and asked him if he would prepare to be baptized that night. He said yes! We set everything up with the Bishop and Zone Leaders as my companion and members taught the commandments, restoration and gospel. He accepted everything. Three hours later he was baptized and confirmed a member of the church. His wife had been waiting for this day for 50 years. I have rarely seen anyone as happy as she was that night. I know God is truly a God of miracles.“

God will anxiously help us with the solution if we ask him, trust him, and act; Elder Scott teaches:

“Often when we pray for help with a significant matter, Heavenly Father will give us gentle promptings that require us to think, exercise faith, work, at times struggle, then act. It is a step-by-step process that enables us to discern inspired answers. I have discovered that what sometimes seems an impenetrable barrier to communication is a giant step to be taken in trust. Seldom will you receive a complete response all at once. It will come a piece at a time, in packets, so that you will grow in capacity. As each piece is followed in faith, you will be led to other portions until you have the whole answer. That pattern requires you to exercise faith in our Father’s capacity to respond. While sometimes it’s very hard, it results in significant personal growth. You are asked to look for an answer to your prayers.^ Obey the Master’s counsel to “study it out in your mind.”^ Often you will think of a solution; as you seek confirmation that your answer is right, help will come. It may be through your prayers, or as an impression of the Holy Ghost, and at times by the intervention of others.”^ (Richard G. Scott, General Conference April 2007)