Wednesday, April 27, 2011

OLGA'S DREAM







Hey President!

Here is a great miracle of a lady named Olga who we just baptized. It all started about three weeks ago. We had a evening carefully planned. Luckily, however, the Lord had other plans in mind because shortly thereafter, one by one, each appointment but one called and cancelled! Well, with no other ideas in mind we drove over to the same area as our 8 o'clock appointment and began to knock some doors. After about a half hour of knocking with little success a little boy answered the door. Before we could ask him to go get his parents we heard a voice that said "Come in." Shockingly we entered the house not knowing who was inviting us. As we turned into the living room we saw a lady who introduced herself to us as Olga and asked us to sit down. We began to tell her why we had knocked on her door. Then we asked her the question of why she allowed us to enter without even knowing who we were. Her response was "Because I have been praying and knew you were messengers from God." We were completely stunned. She explained that for ever she had been looking for the church of God and was very discouraged because each time she started going to a new church she would realize that it wasn't the right one and there was something missing. Time after time it never felt right for her. She said as she began to give up hope she made the decision to pray and ask God for direction in which church was right.

She told us that she asked God to show her the truth and show her the path that He wanted her to follow. That night she had a dream. She explained that three messengers came to her door in her dream. Two young men who were teaching and inviting her to follow Christ and live the Gospel and a third man who didn't say anything, he was just there accompanying the two men. (That may have been our member exchange.) Just 5 days later she told us she heard a knock at her door and she knew for a fact that we were the people she saw in her dream. Olga was baptized 3 weeks later. She has now read most of the Book of Mormon. Each time we would teach her a new principle it was so easy for her to accept it--prophets, temples, even the Word of Wisdom! As soon as she heard about the Word of Wisdom she threw out all her tea and coffee!

At her baptism she stood up after and bore her testimony and invited all of her friends that came to watch to take the same step she took that night. She is so hungry to spread the Gospel and help as many people as possible. She has already given us 9 referrals, including her cousin and her niece who are progressing very quickly and are already on date. Also she is trying to set up appointments for us with as many of her friends as possible. She told us she wants everyone to be able to find what she has found. I guess you could compare it to the parable of the “Pearl of Great Price” in the Bible. She is giving up everything for her new found "Pearl". She was prepared by the Lord and many people will be able to turn unto Christ by the example she is giving. This has been a huge miracle in my life and it has taught me once again that God will answer if we ask in faith.


Thanks for everything!


Love,

Elder Rex and Elder Tovar

HOW DO YOU BAPTIZE IN YOUR CHURCH?



Dear President Albright,

I would like to tell you a miracle that happened to us recently. We met a woman named Joyce knocking doors a few weeks ago and began teaching her. That same week she came to church and enjoyed it and was really progressing well. We then lost contact with her because she had to give her cell phone to her boyfriend. On Thursday we were in her area and decided to stop by and try to catch her at home. As we drove up we noticed that her car was outside and that she was home. We knocked on her door and nobody answered at first. We knew she was there so we kept knocking. After about 5 minutes she came to the door and let us right in. She asked us what happens after this life. She has an aunt who recently was shot and killed back in Peru. We explained the Plan of Salvation and what happens after this life is over.

After the lesson we asked her if she had prayed about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. She said no and asked us to be patient with her. We then asked her how she felt about baptism. Her reply was the miracle. She told us she had never seen a baptism but she had a dream about one recently. She said that in her dream she saw two people standing in a pool of water dressed in white. When the person got baptized he held his nose and went completely under the water going down backwards. She then wanted to know how we baptize in our church. We told her that we baptize just like in her dream. We then asked her to kneel with us and pray to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet. After she had offered a beautiful prayer we sat in silence and let the spirit work. She then said, “Elders, I feel something very profound in my heart that I can't explain.” We than dug a little deeper and asked her to try and explain. She said all she could feel is peace. She explained that as she was praying all she saw was the color white. She explained that she desired to know more. Joyce is scheduled to be baptized on May 7th and came to church again last Sunday. I know this church is true and have been very fortunate to see miracle after miracle for these last 2 years.

Love,

Elder Brogan

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

FREDERICKSBURG DISTRICT MTG 4-26-11




EASTER SUNDAY- GREAT FALLS

On Easter Sunday, we had a very peaceful morning at the house studying. We then took a drive before church and visited the Great Falls. We were surprised. Had no idea they were right here about 20 minutes from the mission home. The Potomac River comes rushing through this area and makes these beautiful falls in a very rocky area and then the river narrows to a small gorge before it opens up again into the large rushing Potomac heading to the Chesepeake Bay. The river is really very wide here. It is hard to tell, but if you look closely, you can see another viewing platform on the other side of the river, with teeny little people. It really was beautiful.. After our little stop to see one of Heavenly Fathers' beautiful creations we headed to church. Our ward meets from 3:00 to 6:00. We often attend a couple of wards each week.



BARTONS COME TO VISIT

We had a really special treat. Jim and Michelene Barton came to visit for a whole week. It was just wonderful and I loved every single minute. They brought their 5 youngest children: Stirling, Rebekkah, Gabby, Ellee, and Matt. They toured and visited just about everything in DC and we went with them a couple of days. We saw the Library of Congress, which is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. We went to Mt Vernon and spent a morning. We went to the Reston Zoo and the Dulles Space Museum. We went to dinner a few times and spent evenings enjoying their company, laughing and visiting. Stirling spent one evening out with the Assistants at missionary lessons. They said he was great- he'll be a great missionary. They are a wonderful family and I am so thankful that they are family. Washington Monument: Ellee, Jim, Matt, Michelent, Sterling, Gabby, and Bekkah.

Library of Congress.
The Gutenburg Bible: very moving. Written in 1405

Matt was fascinated. He loves history and kept a little notebook to write all about the things he saw. He wanted to see the Jefferson collection here at the library.
Gabby and Sterling
Jim and Mich with President
On the balcony at the Library
Mt Vernon
Matthew
Ellee and Bekkah
Gabby and Stirling waiting to tour the mansion
On the back patio of Mt Vernon.
Over looking the Potomac- Gabby and Bekkah
All of us together
Stirling
Bekkah, Gabby and Ellee
Jim and Michelene
THE RESTON ZOO; Lots of baby animals to feed
Bekkah
Ellee
Stirling and Matt with the oxen

Gabby and Ellee

BYU MANAGEMENT DINNER WITH ELDER UCHTDORF

On Saturday, April 16, 2011 we were blessed to attend the BYU Management Society Dinner here in Washington DC. It was unbelievable. Elder Uchtdorf was the guest speaker and so of course the crowd was huge. We were in the middle of the Mission President Seminar, but we were asked to attend this by the brethren. Elder Marriott is so good to us. He put us at the table right in front of the stage. I felt so incredibly spoiled. We sat with Pres. and Sister Nixon, Pres. & Sister Price, Pres.Bush and his son, all stake presidents in our mission.

The event was held at the Wardman Marriott. One of the most beautiful hotels I've ever seen. (and remember I'm from Las Vegas-land of fancy hotels). The room was cavernous. And there were about 1000 people attending. We had a gourmet meal, lots of great speakers and music and then the real treat was hearing Elder Uchtdorf address us. He is such an inspiration. He tells wonderful stories and gives such great analogies to life. He started with a great joke about "lobbiests" which was pretty funny since the room was full of them. We really had an incredible evening.






MISSION PRESIDENTS SEMINAR- DC NORTH

We attended a Mission President's seminar in Washington DC April 15-17. Elders Jay Jensen, Kevin Pearson, and Bruce Carlson were the visiting authorities. There were about 35 mission presidents and their wives. We had three days of instructions and training. They introduced to everyone the new Trainer/Trainee program that we were a pilot mission for. We held the meetings at the Barlow Center in downtown DC and stayed at the Crystal City Marriott. The hotel is in our mission. And our MtVernon Stake served the meals. These seminars are always very inspirational and fun. We especially love visiting with the other mission presidents and their wives and getting ideas from them about things they are doing. This church sure does take really good care of us. it was great.Pres and I with Elder and Sis Pearson
Elder Pearson instructing
The classroom at the Barlow Center

SISTER SARA JORDAN & MASON JOHN COMES TO VISIT

One of our SUPER STAR SPANISH HERMANA'S came to visit. Sis Jordan was a missionary here in DC South a year ago. She is now married to Mason John. They came to visit and stayed with us for a couple of nights. It was fun to visit with them and get to know her husband a little. Sister Jordan sounded wonderful and is starting nursing school. She was really an exceptional missionary with an incredible diligence and love for the spanish people. We miss her here, but it was really great to see her again.

HEAVENLY FATHER PROTECTS OUR ELDERS!!!

We were very blessed. Four of our elders were in an accident. They were traveling down a road going about 35-40 mph when a dump truck pulled out of a construction site right in front of them and they hit it like a brick wall. The truck driver was very shaken and said she didn't see them. We are counting our blessings today and know that Heavenly Father protected our elders with a miracle. Elder Crocket received a pretty severe concussion and Elder Zabriskie broke his arm. But they all seem to be ok in the long term. We are so grateful for the prayers and protection of elders. Elder Zabriskie getting his arm checked out.
Elder Crockett really hated this neck-collar
a week later at District meeting, Elder Zabriskies hand is very swollen. The doctors say this is normal and will only last a week or so.
They have him wearing a "cuff" over the break so that the weight of the arm can set the break.
He looks pretty good.