May 25, 2014 - Outgoing Devotional notes

 My notes from the outgoing devotional:

Sister Lindsay—spoke of bravery of her father, joining the church when I think she said 18.  His parents were divorced, and his dad’s new wife introduced them to the church, I believe.  His mother was a minister and very much against him joining the church.  Because of the bravery of her father, it changed the course of her family tree.  Said she has seen bravery in people she has worked with.  Bravery of those who have addictions and overcome them.  She said, I will take off this name tag pretty soon, but I will always wear His name.

 

Elder Melot—visa waiter for Zimbabwe—his dad is a nonmember, his brother is an apostate who kept after him to convince him not to go on a mission.  When he was set apart by his stake president, the president said in the blessing….wherever you serve….which he thought was strange because he knew where he had been called to.  Then, visa problems so he came here for some time first.  Obviously, stake president knew what he was talking about.

Recent convert—Lupe ??—baptized last night, today received the Holy Ghost.  I love Jesus Christ.

(that says it all, doesn't it?)

 

Sister Medeiros—She is from Brazil, in the Spanish program.  Bore testimony.  Gospel brings so much joy.  Testimony of the Book of Mormon.  Invite you to read and pray and have a desire.  If you ever come to Brazil, she will have you over.

Elder Merritt—visa waiter for Zimbabwe—Favorite part of this church…..we can change, we can become better, we can become the person that God wants us to be.

Sister Yeung (pronounced yearn)—Temple Square sister—From Hong Kong.  When she came here, she was first put in the Spanish program---didn’t know the language.  Language has no bounds, could feel the spirit.  2 Nephi 32:3

Recent convert—Katherine Frener—born and raised in Brazil.  Came to U.S. in 2011.  Lived in Livermore.  Sister Medeiros taught her a lesson, then she (Katheine) moved to the South Bay area.  Lost track of missionaries.  One day Elder Lee walked past her and heard her speaking in Portuguese and stopped to ask if it was Portuguese she was speaking (he was a visa waiter for Brazil).    He said, can I talk with you to help me with the language?  Then when she expressed an interest in learning about the gospel, he said I know a sister missionary who just got transferred her who is from Brazil…..it was Sister Medeiros again!  November 23, 2013 she was baptized (in Portuguese!).  Grateful to Elder Lee and Sister Medeiros.

Sister Fuimaono—Her trainer said to her, If you choose to follow the Savior, you choose to be changed.

Recent convert--Gaylen Zepeda.  Testimony.  Baptized March 1^st.  Sister Goodman and Sister Mason taught him.  First thing that caught his attention when he met them was the scent of one of them…nice perfume!  They handed him a Mormon.org card.  They asked him, would you like to go to church with us tomorrow?  He said he had an excuse in his head, but for some reason said yes, I have nothing else planned.  He has been to church every Sunday since.  We are all children of God.

Elder Irvine—This day came way too quickly.  He read a poem; also read one he wrote.  MTC was preparation for my mission.  My mission is preparation for the rest of my life.

Elder Butcher—His dad was baptized at age 20, his mom was one of few members in her family.  Amazing for him to grow up in the gospel and be baptized at age 8.  Most powerful thing is love. Through Love miracles happen. Loved the people he served----saw people change their lives.  Especially miracle with Chinese people.  Bore testimony in Chinese.

Recent convert—Joshua Essex—baptized March 29^th, baptism done in Provo.  He was born into a Baptist family.  Always had questions about the God that the Baptists taught about.  Didn’t seem personable.  Then switched to atheism.  Spent 15-20 years living as an atheist, because he didn’t like the God he was taught about.  Met someone who introduced him to a personal Christ.  Then he met the missionaries.  Elder Barber was one of them.  He was skeptical at first.  Then joined.

Sister Bench—from Austin, TX—told as story about a man who built barges to cross the ocean, needed light, asked God to light the stones, saw the finger of God.  His faith became perfect knowledge.  I feel like this man.  Past 18 months watched the Lord touch your lives one by one and light up your lives.  My faith has become knowledge.  I feel a little sliver of the love the Lord feels for each of you.  My heart is breaking at having to leave you.  Bore testimony in Spanish.

Sister Mason—Sister Goodman and I will be coming out with a fragrance line called Come Follow Me. (laughs)  Looked forward for a long time to be able to go on a mission.  4 older brothers served.  Filled out papers, had to wait till 21^st birthday to go.  On her 21^st birthday, President Monson announced the age change!  She was upset…she had had to wait all this time!!!  Talked about her dad, didn’t know how to be with a daughter, but when she was getting ready to leave, put his hands on her shoulders and said, Now you go to work and you work hard!  And then softly, I am proud of you.  The gospel of Jesus Christ can be hard, but it brings more joy than anything else.

Elder Barber—1^st lessons with Joshua went over an hour (which president says you should never ever do!).  He said lessons were long because Joshua used really big words—had to ask what they meant!  He is going back to Utah.  He said his family is so large they take 2 big cars whenever they go anywhere!  Testimony.  Says he has attended church for 8 hours every Sunday since January.  A 21 year old boy wouldn’t do that unless he knew it was true.  Asked those in the audience:  take the next step---baptism, next ordinance, next covenant---whatever it is.  You will be happy as I am happy.

Elder Bruggeman—from South Jordan, Utah, which is a Mormon factory, manufactures missionaries and sends them out.  My life changed forever.  Love the Vietnamese people I served with.  Jesus Christ changed the world forever.  Gave us the opportunity to change as well.  Push the reset button, change yourselves.  The world says we will take the man out of the slum.  The gospel changes people so they take themselves out of the slum.  Make a determined decision to change.

Elder Clarke—Many fond memories to take home.  Remembers first day, meeting people on the SJ campus.  He didn’t want to talk to the people that badly, yet Elder Fakava was in tears because he didn’t know the language well enough to tell people what he believed and share the gospel.  Bore testimony of Book of Mormon.

Video Presentation:  for President and Sister Watkins.  People telling what they will miss about them leaving.

Sister Watkins—Could say I’m speechless, but the missionaries would know that is a lie!  This release is bittersweet.  Dec. 8, 1903, Langley set out to be the first to fly.   Head of the Smithsonian, important person, yet his Aerodrone A plummeted into the Potomac River.  Simple bicycle makers, Wright brothers, on Dec. 17^th in Kitty Hawk, NC changed the world forever.   Just like everyone else, we are trying to do our best.  Done our best to live our covenants.  Got up every day determined to do my better.  I can be perfect today.  Price paid—dept erased.   3 Nephi 17:17

President Watkins—We are nothing without you.  Feeding missionaries, taking them places when needed.  You cannot serve someone without loving them.   Times when he thought, I could not do what I am asking you to do.  They were common ordinary people who came here and experienced the extraordinary.  I will be forever changed by this.