So surprise! GEORGINA WAS BAPTISED!! Obviously this deserves a good explanation so I will tell y'all the full story:
Georgina is good friends with a family in the ward that joined the church a few years ago and they used to carpool to school. Recently Georgina had a reoccurring dream that this member was taking Georgina to her baptism. She eventually decided that she couldn't deny the dream and so when she saw a link to Mormon.org on tumblr she requested a Book of Mormon. We gave it to her on the last Sunday of September and by the time we went to message her on Facebook about and hour and half later she had already read the Restoration Pamphlet and a good amount of the Book of Mormon. She had so many good questions and we were able to answer them through the Spirit. We took her on a temple and chapel tour and the Spirit touched her heart. She committed to it and was excited. We taught her all the lessons but she had a concern about one of the commandments. She attended institute multiple times (always taking notes) and the second week she went she found her answer to her question through the notes that she had taken and the Spirit helped it click in her mind. But she still felt like she wasn't ready just quite yet. She then had a dream on Monday night this past week where she was by the baptismal font and someone took her away to a place and all of her fears and worries went away. So now a little side note to the story. On the last Sunday on September I was fasting for someone to be baptised on the 14th of October. That night we met Georgina and I felt like she would be ready for that date. She progressed really fast but then had these concerns, so we were a little concerned as well. But one thing I have really learned on my mission is that if you have faith in something then never give up. So I kept praying non stop that she would receive an answer and then on Monday night I prayed for her specifically to have a dream. AND SHE DID! So now back to the story, now that she has had all these experiences we presented to her the idea of being baptised in FOUR DAYS and at first she felt it might be too soon but that she would think about it. The next day she messaged us first and asked if she could be baptised on Saturday. WHAT AN ABSOLUTE MIRACLE. She had her interview the next day and we actually had almost 60 people at the baptism which was crazy! I have no doubt that when we fast and pray and never give up on it then miracles will happen.
Ether 12:12- "For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith."
This week was just amazing. Georgina's sister Emma came to the baptism and to church and Georgina has been talking to her lots about the Gospel. She is already a great missionary. Another fun fact is that Eleanor and Georgina grew up together, went different ways and now they both are baptised! We also had someone named Mark that walked into the family history centre come to church and we will see him tomorrow.
We saw the Colemans a couple times and they are so great. We did service for them with some members of the elders Quorum in ward 4 and it really touched them. We were able to teach them and Lyn came to church. They said they see themselves joining the church, it will just take some time. We were able to see Joseph and Harrison as well and they both should be good for their baptisms next month. Carol and Rory are struggling a little bit with their relationship and so we haven't been able to see them but they should be fine.
Random other highlights: had a zone Conference on Thursday which was good. I conducted the first half of the meeting and Elder Tuipulotu and I gave a training on Online Proselyting. We also had a Europe area broadcast with Elder Ballard and that was amazing. He spoke about miracles and really just motivated the members to try even harder with missionary work. He shared a story about how he went to Ethiopia in the early 80s when they had their terrible drought. He was a seventy and went with the president of the welfare program. There was only one known member of the church in the country at the time and they somehow found him. They have a Sacrament Meeting with the 3 of them and then Elder Ballard called down the powers of heaven for it to rain and two hours later it started pouring down rain. It rained every single day they were there.
I am filled with so much joy. I love this work with all my heart. Miracles have not ceased!!
-Elder Ludlow
Georgina was baptised by a convert of about 2 1/2 years and it was his first time baptising. He was very crucial for her progress. He is one of the most amazing people I have ever met.
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