Multi-Lingual Missionaries!

Jordan is preparing to be baptized May 30th! We are both slowly learning basic sign language so that we can communicate with him even when we don't have a translator. He is such an energetic, happy boy who loves sports. His understanding of the gospel comes in small steps, (but doesn't all of our understanding?) and teaching the gospel so simply can be a little bit of a challenge. It almost seems as though he has a built-in understanding of Jesus Christ though. His parents have taught him and we have taught him, but when we talk about Jesus, he just gets it and you can tell he understands it in his heart. We have learned a lot about becoming as a child as we have taught him. 

 A big focus this week has been on the temple. We are planning a temple trip for Tori, Linda, a returning family, another recent convert, Tina, and the YSA's! Baptism is great and an extremely necessary part of one's eternal progression, whether in this life or the next. It is also more likely that a person will stay active throughout his/her life if they go through the temple and make those additional covenants with God. Even if we already have, if we go regularly, it can greatly influence our spiritual growth and expedite change in our life. Starting these recent converts out by doing baptisms for the dead in the temple will, first off, get them to feel the spirit of the temple and then to look forward to the day that they can go in for themselves to make more covenants with God. 

Remember Jon that we were working with a couple of months ago?? He went to Utah, but things didn't end up working out. Which is actually an understatement. His life really took a hit from a whirlwind! But he is back in Tennessee for the summer. We are going to begin meeting with him again which we are all very excited about. It is interesting to see how the difficult events in his life could actually be springboards for progressing in the gospel. As long as he lets them become such. Some of the temptations that he had, have been removed. It is hard to have a dramatic lifestyle change, but if it helps him to better keep the commandments of God, then it is all for the better. 

Linda was able to go to the Family History lib. where her Home Teacher was able to set her up with an account and get her started! Each time we go over for a lesson, she shows us new family history that she found. She may have just found a new hobby ;) But It's true. Once you get started, it can be kind of addicting! ;) She is reading her scriptures everyday and is slowly getting her family involved with her. Because she is reading her scriptures daily, it brings a whole new spirit into the house and into her life. There have been other people that recognize it by saying, "Linda, you look really good lately." or "There is something different here than your old house." It is all the spirit. Living worthy of the spirit improves all areas of your life: physically, emotionally, spiritually, in every way.