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| Zohra, Elder Miles & Elder Oyler |
The time finally came! Zohra got
baptized on Saturday and confirmed yesterday! Elder Oyler and I originally
knocked on her door nearly 10 months ago (Jan 16). She asked us if she could
get baptized about a week after we met her and it finally came. She was really
excited and happy to see everyone. There were so many people there that we had
to move the program into the chapel. Tons of people from the Mount Vernon ward
were there, so it was good to see some familiar faces. All of the missionaries
that have taught her were there too.
The first family that she lived with was from Ethiopia. The husband was a non-member and Zohra asked him to say the opening prayer. He got up and decided to say a few words before praying. He talked about how great it has been to see how Zohra has changed. Then I spoke on Baptism and a sister missionary spoke on the Holy Ghost. Then everyone filed back into the baptismal font room. There was standing room only. Elder Oyler performed the ordinance and we went back to the chapel.
After she got ready, Zohra got up to speak and share her testimony. When she got up and started speaking Elder Raban leaned over to me and said "She looks like a Mormon" (haha). It's true though. She looked so happy and confident. As she was speaking I was thinking about how far she has come to get to this point and all the miracles that have happened to allow her to be here. She grew up half way around the world in a Muslim country and now she is here. As she bore her testimony of Jesus Christ and the restoration, the spirit again witnessed to me the power of the gospel in changing lives.
When we first met her, she was so emotionally distressed to the point where she would have severe panic attacks. She has turned things around and now she is so bright and happy! I'm sure she has challenges ahead, but at the same time she has a very bright future. She is going to nursing school in January. When she was at the pulpit she told everyone about how excited she is to share the gospel with her family when the time is right. Her family is all in Afghanistan and Muslim, so it could take some time.
After the baptismal service we went to a member’s house for some dinner. Zohra is going to speak this Sunday at a new member fireside that we hold every transfer. All of the missionaries bring investigators to listen to the recent converts speak. It is going to be awesome!
Another fun experience from the week is that I got to spend time with one of Utah's (former) Most Wanted! This guy was out here for several months building a gun range for a police station. He needed some help moving some stuff before he left. Being the only people he knew with a truck he asked us. He took us out to IHOP afterwards. As we ate he told us about his life. He never touched a cigarette or alcohol until he was 34. Before long, he was on the top of Utah's Most Wanted list because he was the biggest meth dealer in Utah county. He has been cleaned up for over five years now. Even though he was at the bottom, the gospel and the Atonement could still change his life.
It was a great week! Thanks for everything! Love you!
The first family that she lived with was from Ethiopia. The husband was a non-member and Zohra asked him to say the opening prayer. He got up and decided to say a few words before praying. He talked about how great it has been to see how Zohra has changed. Then I spoke on Baptism and a sister missionary spoke on the Holy Ghost. Then everyone filed back into the baptismal font room. There was standing room only. Elder Oyler performed the ordinance and we went back to the chapel.
After she got ready, Zohra got up to speak and share her testimony. When she got up and started speaking Elder Raban leaned over to me and said "She looks like a Mormon" (haha). It's true though. She looked so happy and confident. As she was speaking I was thinking about how far she has come to get to this point and all the miracles that have happened to allow her to be here. She grew up half way around the world in a Muslim country and now she is here. As she bore her testimony of Jesus Christ and the restoration, the spirit again witnessed to me the power of the gospel in changing lives.
When we first met her, she was so emotionally distressed to the point where she would have severe panic attacks. She has turned things around and now she is so bright and happy! I'm sure she has challenges ahead, but at the same time she has a very bright future. She is going to nursing school in January. When she was at the pulpit she told everyone about how excited she is to share the gospel with her family when the time is right. Her family is all in Afghanistan and Muslim, so it could take some time.
After the baptismal service we went to a member’s house for some dinner. Zohra is going to speak this Sunday at a new member fireside that we hold every transfer. All of the missionaries bring investigators to listen to the recent converts speak. It is going to be awesome!
Another fun experience from the week is that I got to spend time with one of Utah's (former) Most Wanted! This guy was out here for several months building a gun range for a police station. He needed some help moving some stuff before he left. Being the only people he knew with a truck he asked us. He took us out to IHOP afterwards. As we ate he told us about his life. He never touched a cigarette or alcohol until he was 34. Before long, he was on the top of Utah's Most Wanted list because he was the biggest meth dealer in Utah county. He has been cleaned up for over five years now. Even though he was at the bottom, the gospel and the Atonement could still change his life.
It was a great week! Thanks for everything! Love you!
Elder Braden Miles
Washington DC South Mission
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