Mandela's Conversion

The APs were excited to tell us this morning about an investigator they have who is from The Ivory Coast.  I remembered them asking for a copy of the Book of Mormon in French for him several months ago.  He speaks pretty good English, but it is easier for him to understand scriptures if they are in French.

They were excited, because of what happened when they met with him last night to give him a lesson on the Word of Wisdom.  Mandela didn't know their plans, but as soon as they arrived, he said, "Before we get started, I have a few questions for you.  If I'm going to be a member of this church, I want to find out if there are any changes I need to make in my life.  Is there a certain way I should dress?  Are there things I shouldn't be watching on TV?  Are there health restrictions I should know about?"  :o)

The Elders told him about the Word of Wisdom and he went immediately to his cupboard and emptied it of all his teas and coffee.  He put everything in a bag and handed it to the APs.  The Elders were all smiles when they told us that the stuff was still in the back of their truck outside.

I asked if he had set a date for baptism, and the Elders said he had - August 2nd.  I was thinking that August was a long way off, but then it hit me - we're in mid-July already!!!

There was more to the story.  As I mentioned, French is Mandela's first language.  It just so happened, that when Mandela came to church at the Irmo Ward, there was a returned missionary there.  He was in the area for just four Sundays.  He was in the area working for Living Scriptures.  And...he had gone to France on his mission and spoke fluently!  He helped the Elders teach Mandela, and Mandela LOVED him!  He has since been transferred with Living Scriptures up to Spartanburg, but will come back to Irmo to help teach Mandela and to baptize him on August 2nd.  Is all this coincidence?  I think not!

Dinner with the WAS Sisters

Sister Barton and Sister Munson are Women's Auxilliary Specialists in our mission.  They work in the West Columbia 1st Ward and the Congaree Ward, visiting and teaching less-active women in the church.  They are storm troopers!  The work long days and travel some scary roads, seeking out sisters who need help - physically, emotionally and spiritually.  They teach Preach My Gospel lessons, family history lessons, temple prep lessons.  They seek out the less active sisters in these two wards, but many times they get to teach and encourage the women's husbands and other family members.

They told us tonight about one husband who, when they first called to set an appointment with his less-active wife, said, "We don't want you here.  She doesn't need your help!"  The WAS sisters waited about three weeks, and then stopped by unannounced.  The husband was not happy!  They just stayed a few minutes, but set up another appointment to come back.  They have been visiting this less-active sister for quite a while now, and her husband always tells them thanks for coming, and "She needs your visits."  Sometimes he asks if he can join them as they visit and teach.  These women are angels - seeking out their sisters in the Gospel and bringing them back "into the fold."  They are working miracles, these two.  I just love 'em!

So blessed to spend the evening with these two Super Star WAS Sisters!

 Sister Barton (San Antonio, TX)  and Sister Munson (Kaysville, UT)

These three Sisters (Sister Barlow in the center) are all widows who have chosen to serve the Lord on missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  There were called to South Carolina where they serve at their own expense (as all missionaries do).  Sister Barton and Sister Munson serve the women in two wards in the Columbia Area and Sister Barlow works in the Mission Office with us.  These women are amazing, and such great examples to me!  

Blessings of being an office missionary...

We get to interact with the young missionaries on a daily basis. I get to talk with them every day when they call for media orders or new name tags, or when they have problems with their mail.  Jack gets to deal with their money card and phone problems.  :o)  The young missionaries are always SO GRATEFUL for our help!  They ALWAYS ask if there is anything THEY can do for us!  They continually inspire us with their hard work, obedience and dedication!  They are simply amazing young people!

We get to feed missionaries every Sunday at our apartment.  Twice a month, we drive over to Chapin and take the Elders, then the Sisters to dinner.  It is so fun to get to know these young ones a little better and feel the strength of their spirits.  We never feed them a meal but what they share a Gospel message with us and leave us with a blessing upon our home. The Lord's church will be in good hands for many years to come - of that I have no doubt!

Here's a picture of the four Sisters who came to dinner today.  Sister Borgholthaus has been in West Columbia for 3 transfers.  Sister Daniels is here for the first time. Sister Derrick has been here for 2 and Sister Clark is brand new to the mission (but you'd never know it!)  These four live just through the woods from us - with Sister Barlow.  Imagine living with four young Sister Missionaries!  Sister Barlow is so perfect for that and she LOVES her Sisters!

Such beautiful, beautiful Sisters!  Beautiful inside and out!  I love them!!!

Elder Gonzalez, Elder Seager, Elder Arnoldsen and Elder Townsend

It was our night to feed the Chapin Elders (right).  The Newberry Elders (left) had picked them up for the Presiden't Tour in West Columbia, so we had them all come to our apartment for dinner after the meeting. What fun it was to have them there!   LOVE these Elders!!!

Columbia Stake Center - Former Baptist Church

Elder Muir told me a couple of weeks ago that the Stake Center in Columbia (on Jackson Blvd.) is a former Baptist church.  He said, "It's the biggest church I've ever seen!"  I've been wanting to see it since he told me, so we drove over when we were in that area yesterday.  It IS very big!  I couldn't get it all in this picture without going across the street - then the trees were in the way.  It has a low level on each end, two peaked sections with pillars and the "sanctuary" or chapel is in the middle. Around back, there is a portico that cars can drive under so that "men can drop their wives off at the door when it rains and they won't get wet,"  according to Elder Muir.  I'd love to see the inside, but it was locked when we were there yesterday.  Maybe we'll stop in some Sunday when we go out to the Fort.

Beautiful building, I think!

Pretty sure that the marquee is a remnant from the Baptist church,  

Vision of the South

This quote is in the back of the Orientation Handbooks I put together for the new missionaries.  We can see Elder Featherstone's vision coming to pass.  :o)

"This is the vision I have for the South.  I believe one day the South will baptize more people into the church than all other English speaking missions in the world together.  There are hosts of marvelous Baptists, member of the Church of Christ, Methodists and Catholics, who are honorable people and have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and love Him.  As they see their church veering off to the right or the left of those basic teachings, they will begin to search for truth.  And as pivotal teachers come into the church and have influence, we will see the time when we will baptize hundreds, and thousands, tens-of-thousands, in your day will see a mission members of the church in the South.  There will be Temples plural in the Southern States. What a great call you have to serve with these marvelous people."

I remembered reading this quote when I pulled up a self-referral from a man in Boiling Springs this morning.  In his comments, he said, "I have been raised Baptist my entire life."  He was requesting a copy of the Book of Mormon.  :o)

Email from an MTC "Investigator"

At the MTC in Provo, the missionaries are given the opportunity to teach "investigators."  When we were there, they told us that some are not members of our church and some are.  We never knew which were which.  They all seemed pretty authentic to us.

In our mission email this morning, we got a letter from a man who was an investigator when three of our new Sisters were training at the MTC.  He said he was so impressed with all three of them - with their knowledge and humility and sincerity.

He said, "Sister C. could move mountains.  Sister G. made me think.  And Sister G. was soft spoken, just like my wife."  He called the three of them "angels from heaven."

He wrote because he wanted their president to know the caliber of missionaries he was getting, and he asked us to pass his email along to the three Sisters also.

Churches for Sale.

I drove over to Ballantine a few days ago to get a haircut. It's about 15 minutes from the office.  On the way over, I passed two churches with "FOR SALE" signs in the front yard.  That is so foreign to me!  There might be some churches for sale in Utah, but I've never seen any.  Pretty sure there are none of our churches for sale!  I think there are a few that were built many, many years ago that were outdated or too small to accommodate the congregations and were sold to other denominations.  There is one on about 29th and Wall, maybe?  There are two that I know of that were sold and turned into reception centers because they no longer filled the needs of those congregations.  But to see a normal, up-to-date church for sale?  I don't
think so!