Miracles for Gretchen's Last few Days of Her Mission

This is the last blog post for Gretchen's mission.  Next week, she will be returning home on Tuesday, March 26.  I hope that you have all enjoyed her letters and that her experiences have been inspiring and  uplifting to you.   Thanks for sharing this experience with all of us.

Hello family!

 

It sounds like a wonderful week for you! First, Congratulations to Danielle! I am so excited for her and for all that is ahead. This is just the beginning of living the beautiful Gospel. I love this Gospel so much and I know that this is what brings happiness now and for eternity!

 

Let me tell you about our miracle yesterday!

Yesterday was wonderful! There is a part member family, the Kintighs. Brother Kintigh is not a member, is 92 or so years old, and is very supportive of his wife, who is a member. A couple of weeks ago we went to leave a blessing in their house. There was a beautiful Spirit there. He was about to go to the doctors that week and we asked if he would like a Priesthood blessing and he accepted. He was given a blessing and just a couple weeks ago, his hometeacher came up to us and said Brother Kintigh seemed to be more open since the two blessings. He has cancer right now and is undergoing radiation and chemo.
Well, we went by yesterday and invited him to be baptized this upcoming Sunday. At first he said, "I'll think about it."  Then we testified that we are here to represent Jesus Christ and we wouldn't want to wait if the Savior invited us to be baptized. He then asked, "Can I say the Lord's Prayer?" He recited the Lord's Prayer and you can tell the Spirit was working in his heart. We invited him again and he said, "I think I will." The Spirit was so strong and we can see how our Heavenly Father has prepared this man for baptism. The Spirit of the Harvesting Blessing and Priesthood Blessing softened his heart.

That was absolutely a miracle! We told our Bishop, his hometeacher and our WML right after and they were all shocked and excited! He will be baptized on March 24th. :)

 

Also, there is a man that we have talked to many times. He is out running a lot and we have seen him maybe 3 or 4 times. Well, everytime we see him, he says he'll come to church. And yesterday, he did! And he brought 3 other family members! They stayed for sacrament and gospel principles and we are just so excited!  We are going to teach them this week. They said they really enjoyed church. :)

 

Yesterday was such a crazy Sunday, but great! Sister Boyd and I spoke in sacrament because it was a missionary farewell. The young man goes into the MTCon March 27th for Washington, Kennewick Mission. :) I was asked to speak on Enduring to the End. Andrea, I used your email from when you ran a marathon! It was perfect for the talk. I spoke last, so I didn't have too much time, so your email was certainly a highlight for the talk. :) 

Then we went to the Kintighs home and invited him to be baptized. Then we went to a baptism for a little girl that we taught. Sister Boyd and I sang "When I am Baptized" for that baptism.

 

Busy, but wonderful day! The week was pretty busy as well. I got the 24 flu Wednesday night through Thursday, but will team-ups, it all worked out! I felt pretty much normal on Friday morning, so I am good now. :) I think it was pretty funny how I have dodged getting sick for almost all my mission and then it hit me now...haha

 

I love this work sooo much! I know that this is the work of the Lord. There is no greater work. I know that this is the true Church of Jesus Christ restored through the prophet, Joseph Smith. I know that we have a living prophet here on earth that leads and guides us. I know that the Priesthood is God's power on earth and I am thankful to be a receipiant of that. I received two blessings this week, one for health, one for comfort, and I am just so thankful for that power here on earth. I know this is Jesus Christ's Church! 

 

I love you alll so much! This is my last email to you, so I will see you soon! Love you soo much! 

Love, Sister Gretchen Schillemat