Letter #32 (June 22, 2009)

I had a good week that went really fast. We found out that this lady we've been teaching on and off for the last 2 months is already a member and she got baptized in the 90's. We were teaching her and I invited her to get baptized. She said no. I explained authority to her. She said, "So, you're telling me that my baptism in your Church didn't mean anything?" I was shocked. That was a big time miscommunication on her part. She never said that she was a member of our Church. She just said that missionaries use to teach her and that she has a Book of Mormon. She had stop going to church because she saw a program on TV that said that we were devil-worshipers. We gave the ward clerk her info and he'll retrieve her records to see if she really is a member.

We taught Cathy on Saturday. I had prayed privately for guidance while I was at our apartment in teaching Cathy. I prayed for God's words to come out of my mouth. Brother Kirby, her friend came to pick us up and we went to his place. Cathy was there preparing food. Throughout the night I was feeling a gentle warmth in my heart. It was a feeling as if I wanted to cry. But not of sadness. I started to have a great love for Cathy and Brother Kirby. I felt like something special was going to happen that evening. We ate a good Southern meal. We had home-made mashed potatoes, pork and beans, biscuits and KFC chicken. We started to teach Cathy. We briefly re-taught her the restoration. Then, we started to talk about baptism. I taught and bore testimony about the gift of the Holy Ghost. I was carried away by the Spirit. Words came to me and my heart was burning. "The gift of the Holy Ghost is a sanctifying, purifying, and purging Spirit. Your sins are literally cleansed. God said that He can't dwell in unholy temples. We must be cleaned to have him with us. Everytime you pray and have your prayers answered, and you feel His Spirit, it is as if God is saying, "I am here!"

Cathy eyes were misty. The Spirit in the room was strong. I felt God's love for me and for those in the room. Elder McPharlin did a good job in teaching the doctrine. And so did Brother Kirby. Cathy shared with us that she feels that too unworthy to come unto God. Elder McPharlin and Brother Kirby did great in teaching her that that's not right. I shared with her D&C45:4&5 (I believe or somewhere around there). Jesus said that he is the advocate with the Father and that He pleads for us. "Cathy, think of a child of yours. If they were to go astray and separate themselves from you. If they desire to come back to you, wouldn't you embrace them and rejoice. It is the same with our Heavenly Father and you. His arms are always extended towards you."

Elder McPharlin closed up are teaching and committed her to read and pray. The thought came to mind that we didn't set a baptism date with her. Elder McPharlin looked in his planner to show that if we meet up every Saturday that we'll meet up on the 4th of July. But when he mentioned July 4th, Brother Kirby was thinking baptism and so was I. He paused and we made eye contact. I gave Brother Kirby the go ahead. He mentioned baptism around that date. Elder McPharlin finally got back on track and he set the date for July 11th. She accepted! Great was my joy. That will be my last Saturday in Chapel Hill. The Spirit spoke to our hearts and directed us to set the date. God is a God of miracles!

I love this work!

Love, Elder Olaya