Michelle's baptism

Where to even begin...?

This week has been so full of spiritual insights and adventures, that I can hardly keep up with what I want to tell you guys!  I guess I'll start at the beginning:

Elder Echols and I got sick of listening to the same 4 CD's over and over again.  And having to pick through the approved songs on other CD's (stuff like "Live Like You Were Dying" by Tim McGraw, "Unanswered Prayers" by Garth Brooks, "I Believe" by Brooks & Dunn, etc.)  So we threw in a Josh Groban Christmas CD.  We were listening to it and just enjoying the fact that we were hearing something different for a change, when I noticed a song in a way that I've never noticed it before.  We've all heard the song "Drummer Boy."  If nothing else, we remember that every other line is 'A-rum-pum-pum-pum.'  Well, I finally started to listen to the other lines of teh song.  They are simply incredible!  The lines that really stuck out to me were simple, yet profound: "I have no gift to bring that's fit to give a King! I'll play my drum for Him, so to honor Him."  (A-rum-pum-pum-pum's omitted.)  How many times do I feel like that drummer boy?!  I don't have anything to give Christ-He already has everything, so what more could I provide that would really please Him?  As President Uchtdorf said, "God the Eternal Father did not give that first great commandment because He needs us to love Him. His power and glory are not diminished should we disregard, deny, or even defile His name. His influence and dominion extend through time and space independent of our acceptance, approval, or admiration. No, God does not need us to love Him. But oh, how we need to love God!" ("The Love of God," October 2009).  Then I remember another talk from President Uchtdorf (still trying to find it...) that says something to the effect of, "What could we give to God?  He has everything!  Well, not quite.  He doesn't have us; at least not yet."  As I've made a much more concerted effort to be as obedient as I can, especially on the "little" things, I've seen so many blessings!  Because of that song, and Elder Holland's talk, "The First Great Commandment," I've placed pictures of Christ all around the apartment, with the simple question, "Do you love me?" written across the bottom.  Right above my alarm clock, I have a picture that says, "How much do you love me?"  The constant reminders to love Him more than other distractions has had a profound effect on myself and also the other Elders in the apartment.

We also had Zone Conference on Thursday.  It was possibly the most profound and powerful spiritual experience I've ever had outside of the Temple.  We heard from President Clayton Christensen (Yeah.  Most brilliant man in the world, business revolutionary, Harvard professor Clayton Christensen), President Michael Haight (he makes a living off of telling Fortune 500 companies how to use their money better), and President Packard.  If I were to tell you all of the promptings and inspirations that I received in that 10-hour meeting, I would be here all week.  

Speaking of success, Elder Echols and I had a baptism yesterday!  We broke the Waterbury English curse! haha-our first contact with Michelle was on June 28th, and she was so ready to hear the Gospel!  When we were teaching her the Plan of Salvation, she stopped us and said, "Guys, I already know this.  Nobody's ever had to tell me, and I've never read it anywhere, but I know this stuff."  Even with the 3 Kingdoms of Glory, she recognized it!  The MTC teaches you that people will simply recognize what you're teaching, but I hadn't seen it in 8 months.  Another thing the MTC teaches you is that people will want to hear more about Prophets and Apostles on the Earth today.  Again, haven't seen that in 8 months.  Until this week, when we told a member referral (Maria) about it.  She stopped us, jaw almost to the ground, bug-eyed, and asked why she hasn't heard about this before.  We listened to "Safety for the Soul" from Elder Holland and gave her a copy of the Book of Mormon.  Again, she sat there slack-jawed and told us about how she'd been wanting something good to read, and how she heard a voice in her head whisper, "This is it," 3 or 4 times during our Elder Holland's talk.  True to the words of President Monson and Elder Packer, God is preparing people to hear and accept His gospel!  We just have to be in tune enough with the Spirit to know where to focus our efforts.  Elder Echols and I have a firm belief that we can have 5 more baptisms by the time he goes home in October.  It will be tough, but "with God, nothing shall be impossible." (Luke 1:37)  

Each day as Elder Echols and I teach these honest seekers of truth, my testimony is strengthened.  This is God's work, and His hand is absolutely in it-no if's, and's, or but's.  The groundbreaking for a temple in Hartford, CT will be on Saturday,  and this seems very puzzling to people, since the temples in New York and Boston range from undermanned to nearly empty.  However, several local Stake Presidents, when asking in sincere prayer as to why God sees fit to build a temple here, received the same answer that our Mission Presidency has: something is coming.  I'm so glad to be a part of this work and to be here in Connecticut to be a part of the wonderful work of the Lord that is coming.  I love you guys and hope all is well!

-Elda Alex Boone          

  Here is a picture of me, Michelle, Elder Echols, and  Brother Deutsch, who found Michelle for us :)