"You will only attend a non-denominational church for the next two weeks!" What???

When the Assistants to the President (the APs) came for dinner yesterday, they had some disturbing news. The First Sergeant in one of the platoons at Fort Jackson put out an order restricting his soldiers from attending our church services.  He told them that for the next two weeks, they were only allowed to attend non-denomination services.  What?  Elder Brenchly (a military relations missionary and retired military man) called the 1st Sergeant to task.  What he is doing is clearly unconstitutional!  Elder Brenchly said he would report him to the head of Chaplains on the Fort, but the 1st Sergeant said he would not withdraw his order. He said that the head of Chaplains had no authority over him, and until he heard from a higher authority, he would not withdraw his order.

Jack is confident that the order will be withdrawn and he said that the 1st Sergeant will probably be disciplined.  What a weird situation!  Unheard of!!!

The APs were really upset because they had been teaching some of the soldiers who weren't able to attend. Some of these soldiers ship out soon and won't be able to be baptized before they leave unless the order is lifted.

"Reba's" Baptism!

I guess she doesn't REALLY look that much like Reba, but she reminds me of her - especially when she talks.  She's a cutie, and will be a real asset to the Chapin Branch!

Cookie's Baptism Day

I'm not sure how the Elders found this cute lady, but she was an ideal investigator!  She came to the Gospel Essentials class (which Jack teaches - very basic doctrine).  She was asking questions like, "Why don't all churches use the Book of Mormon?  It's just like the Bible!"  And, "There were prophets all through the Bible and Book of Mormon.  Why don't we have prophets today?"  Well, Cookie, we DO!  :o)

No More Strangers - West Columbia

Elder Aguilar bore his testimony.  He's a fairly new member of the church, but chose to come out and serve a mission, nonetheless.

Marcurious - Was a Baptist, then a member of a non-denominational church.  He had lots of questions and there was always this "tugging."  He ignored it for years.  In college, he had a roommate who was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He thought his roommate was just the kind of person that God intended him to be.  He asked if he could go to church with his roommate.  Then he talked to the sister missionaries.  They taught him, and asked him to pray and ask if what they taught was true.  He did, and he was baptized.

Sister Poss. - I never hesitate when I am asked to bear my testimony.  The hand of God was there in my joining the church.  When I was young, my spiritual needs were fulfilled by my family.  When I got older, I looked for a church to join that did the most to help the community.  I joined the Episcopal Church, and then the Presbyterian Church.  When I moved to the South, I joined the Baptist Church.  You know those times you hear of the missionaries just knocking on "one more door" before they quit for the day?  I was that door.  I don't know why I let them it.  Normally, I wouldn't.  They taught me and gave me homework in preparation for the next meeting.  I read as much as I could so that I'd be prepared.  Then Elder Lash called and said he couldn't be there - he was being transferred.  I told him, "This is a sign that I should be a Baptist!"  No!  No!  No!" Elder Lash told me.  Elder Brimhall and Elder Cardin came to the appointment and brought 2 members of the Dutch Fork Ward with them.  I had been to religion classes before, but I couldn't believe that two missionaries would come to my home to teach just me!  I read prayerfully.  Sometimes tears just streamed down my face.  I read the Bible along with the Book of Mormon and checked out the references.  I could feel the Holy Spirit.  I thank God for picking me up and putting me in this church.

Sister Holm - Until you pray and ask God if it's true...until you do that, you will not know that these things are true.

May Harvester 2014 Miracle Moment

Here's the Miracle Moment we put in May's Harvester.  This just happened on June 2nd, and by Thursday, there was an update.  :o)

Elder Muir and Elder Willie were excited to get out and work from 6 pm till 9 pm on a Monday night. Just as they were ready to leave, they got a phone call. The Orangeburg Elders had locked their keys in their apartment and they couldn’t get in to change from p-day clothes into working clothes. The APs decided to help. They got the apartment keys from Sister Larsen and were ready to head to Orangeburg, but were prompted to go visit someone in their own area first. They called the locked-out Elders and suggested that they go out in their p-day clothes and visit with some less-actives in their ward while they waited.

Elders Muir and Willie went to visit a contact they’d been working with for quite a while. They watched the Restoration DVD in French with him, because he is from the Ivory Coast. He understood everything and accepted their offer of baptism. He is on-date for June 28th

When the Elders finished in Irmo, they drove to Orangeburg and unlocked the apartment. Before they left to drive back, they needed to get fuel. There was a gas station coming up on their right and they started to pull into it when Elder Willie said, “That’s a pretty iffy gas station, maybe we should look for another one.” The windows were barred and the building was closed, but they decided to stay. Elder Willie had almost finished pumping gas when they saw a woman walking toward them. She was dressed in scrubs and was barefoot. She was carrying her personal belongings and a hospital basin with toiletries in it. She told them that she had been in a car accident a few days earlier. She had been unconscious and on a ventilator for three days and had just been released from the hospital. She asked the Elders if she could use their phone to call someone for a ride. She had been walking for 1.5 miles. Her hands and feet were swollen and she looked like she was going to faint. The Elders let her use their phone, but she couldn’t reach anyone who could come and get her. She had two young children at home, whom her mother was tending, but she was without a vehicle. The APs called the O-burg Elders and asked them to find a member who could come with them to take the woman home. While they were waiting, the Elders sat her in a chair in front of the gas station and gave her a blessing. They gave her some Chap-stick, because her lips were cracked and bleeding. They talked to her about the Gospel and,“She seemed so ready to hear it,” said Elder Muir. When the member and the Orangeburg Elders came to pick her up, she noticed a Book of Mormon on the seat of the member’s car. She asked if she could have a copy. The missionaries were happy to give her one. She has agreed to see the local missionaries and receive the lessons.

 The APs said, “We’re so happy the way things worked out that night. We really don’t think that woman would have made it.”

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On Thursday, the APs stopped at the office with some news about this woman they helped at the gas station. She's being taught by the Orangeburg Elders and is on-date to be baptized on June 21st.  :o)

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Transfers - Things I Learned from the Young Missionaries!

I always love transfers!  Perhaps my favorite part is hearing from the missionaries who have completed their service and are going back home.  They have grown and changed so much on their missions!

Elder Stadel - Jesus Christ is my best friend.  He will always be my best friend.  I will always be a missionary.  I love having the ability to love.  My heart has been opened.

Elder Houghton - We met one lady who was so excited to hear about the Book of Mormon!  She loved finding out that there is more of God's word.  As we walked away from her home, I can remember thinking to myself, "Why doesn't EVERYONE act like that lady?"  And the Spirit said to me, "Why don't YOU act like that?"

Elder Lee - This has been the only time in my life that I knew I was exactly where I should be.  Drop your pride and follow the Lord.  If your vision for yourself is anything different than President Holm's vision for you, then you're wrong.

Elder Lamb - Duty before desire

Elder Butters I have a simple testimony.  Im thankful for my trials.  The Book of Mormon has meant more to me as a missionary!

Elder Hutchinson - HOPE Hold On Problems End

Elder Welty - President talked me out of going home.  Peace is a gift from God that comes from doing His will His way.

SAVED!

I just wanted to share a couple of things that have happened to me since we've been out on our mission.

Last Sunday, when we were at Fort Jackson, we went outside to check out the portable baptismal font. Nate and Haley were with us, and they'd never been there to see it.  I was walking out in front of my family, Nate, Haley, and Jack, when I tripped on a rise in the sidewalk!  But instead of falling flat on my face, I was propelled - and literally went running - past a tree, where I reached out to catch my balance, but did nothing more than scrape my arm.  The momentum kept me going till I ran sideways, through a flower bed and hit the building - finally coming to a stop.  There is absolutely NO WAY I could have made it through all that with nothing but a little scrape on my arm from the tree.  When I got back onto the sidewalk, I looked back and Nate and Haley.  "Did that look funny?" I asked them.  They answered, "Yeah, sort of."

By then, the three of us were laughing.  Jack, on the other hand, said he was "scared to death!"  He had tried to run after me, but I was too fast.  :o)  I had come to rest against the building by the time he got to me.  He said, "I haven't seen you move that fast for a long time!"

I still laugh, every time I think of it. I never was scared.  I'd have to describe it as being surprised!  Surprised that I was able to run out my loss of balance until I finally came to rest.  We calculated that I had run 15-20 feet!  I KNOW that I had help - unseen help.  I felt it, and I know it in my heart.  Many prayers of thanks went up after that little event!

A few days later, I asked the APs and the Larsens if they had seen my spectacular stumble.  None of them had.  Whew!

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 A few weeks ago, we had just walked out of Texas Roadhouse and were walking to our car.  We were parked on the far left side of the entry. I was looking across the parking lot at our vehicle  I was NOT aware of the cement parking curb that was about 6-8 inches tall at the end of the sidewalk  Just as I got to the curb, I was prompted to look down.  Had I not looked, I would have fallen flat on my face!  There would have been no recovery from that tripping!

Temple Sealing for the Lees

We had the blessing of going to the temple to witness Brother and Sister Lee's sealing.  They have been married for 48 years.  They joined the church just over a year ago.  When we came in September, we thought they were life-long members!  No idea they had only recently been baptized!  They chose to be sealed for "Time and All Eternity" on May 17th in the Columbia, SC Temple.  It was a Saturday morning - and what a beautiful morning!  The temple in SC isn't located in the middle of a busy city - nor in a neighborhood.  It's out in the country - about the only building in sight!  The air was cool and the birds were singing.  It was LOVELY!  What a beautiful day for this special couple.  I just love the Lees!

The Lees - Now a Forever Family.  :o)