Durango Week Sixteen

Hello, friends!! This week has been SO good and miracle filled.

We've had to spend lots of time transferring all of our paper records (a 2 inch binder filled with them) to be digital in our new fancy cellular devices so that's been kind of a bummer because we've had to be inside doing that for 1 to 2 hours a day, BUT it's totally worth it because when all the information is in, it will be so helpful. The Church introduced a new planning method that's 100% more focused on meeting peoples need rather than filling up days and it's been kind of tricky but also super duper rewarding to work on that. It's absolutely inspired by the Lord!!

Okay now this is the biggest miracles EVER. Remember our investigator, Daniel? The man who wanted to be baptized because he wanted to be baptized, not because he had a testimony that this is Jesus Christ's church? The one who was supposed to be baptized on May 5th, but wasn't quite ready? WELL. He thought he was ready and was super excited about it. So on Monday we were going to break the news that he can't (yet!). Needless to say, I was pretty nervous. I was scared that he would get defensive or discouraged and drop us. But that was a lack of faith! So we went over with one of Daniel's friends in the ward, Brother Mann, and his daughter, Afton and, let me tell you. It absolutely COULD NOT have gone better!!! I was terrified at the beginning so Sister Higgins kind of took the lead at first. We brought up the baptism interview questions and the reasons for the interview and Brother Mann told a story about his mother and how she bad to spend a long time searching to know if it all really was true. She thought it was good in her head, but she had to search and wait for the Spirit to touch her heart. Daniel took a few minutes of silence, looking over the baptism interview questions, and in that quiet moment, the Spirit spoke to him. He looked up slowly and said, "Looking at all these, it seems like I might need a little more time to get ready." And my heart SANG because he came to the realization himself and the Spirit helped him understand. From an outside perspective, this may not really seem like a big deal, but wow wow wow it was incredible. For the past two weeks all Daniel's been talking about is his baptism and when we'd kind of brought it up (the fact that maybe he's not quite ready) in the past, he did get defensive and shut us down. SO the fact that he was able to listen to the Spirit and realize that he did have more repenting and testimony building to do before he should be baptized was a true miracle. After he said that, we all bore testimony that its okay for Daniel to take more time because even though God does want him to be baptized, He also wants him to be ready so he can keep the promises he makes that day. We promised Daniel that his personal witness from the Holy Ghost will come and Afton made a powerful comment about what a good example Daniel is to her and how he is doing amazing things. There was so much love in that little trailer's living room and it was amazing. The Holy Spirit spoke to Daniel so he could feel our love and God's love. Afton said after we left, "I have never felt the Spirit so strong in my life!!". In the words of my little brother, Benjamin, "it felt like there were a billion trillion angels." We talked with Daniel a couple times after that throughout the week and we went by last night and WOW he looked like a new person!!!! He was originally planning on quitting cigarettes and pot and alcohol and all of it on May 5th for his baptism (one of the reasons he wasn't ready yet) and HE STILL QUIT ON MAY 5TH!!! We went by and he answered the door and he honestly looked brand new. I think he's finally understanding what faith unto repentance that prepares us for baptism is and he is ready to dive in and develop that faith he needs. I know God is so so proud of him right now.

My friends, the power of Jesus Christ is real. He can take anyone, absolutely anyone, and transform them into someone new. He's doing it with Daniel as Daniel opens the door to him just a little bit wider each day. I know Jesus Christ is the Master Healer and Master Sculptor. As we give ourselves to Him, He can make us more than we could have ever made on our own. But the trick is that He's already reaching out, we're the ones that have to take His hand. What's stopping you from taking His hand? That's something I have to ask myself regularly, and causes me to readjust accordingly. Usually, we are the only things standing between us and Him. But we don't have to stay like that! Take His hand.

It is such a gift to get to see Jesus Christ working in people's lives everyday, especially my own. Boy, do I love Him. 

Lots and lots of love,
Sister Bohman