Hello Everyone!
From what I hear from the NSL faction of the Levanger Family, my 4th of July was quite anti-climactic! We had to be in by 8 last night and saw a few sparks from our window, but since Florida is FLAT with lots of trees and buildings, it wasn't much of a show (at least not the kind I'm used to from the City of North Salt Lake!) Oh, well!!! However, Hermana Dollahite and I cooked an awesome 4th of July Brunch-Bash for all of the missionaries in the Zone (about 20) and that was really fun!
Hermana Dollahite made my half birthday VERY special by getting special permission from President Summerhays to switch our P-day last week and go to the Reds vs. Rays baseball game on Wednesday. It was SO MUCH FUN!!!!! Probably my favorite part was the reactions of Hermana Dollahite. She got so excited when the batter hit a foul ball into the stands or once when a bat broke! I was cracking up. The fact that there were about 13 Strikeouts and quite a few strategic and well-designed plays didn't phase her much! She did allow me to teach her about balls and strikes, the importance of a pitch count, and the correlation between hitters and the positions they play. It was a blast! I had never been to an indoor baseball game in my life before. The 'Trop' is something to behold!
What a wonderful week to be a missionary! I have had such a glorious week in the field that I feel like I might burst if I don't sing it from the rooftops. On Sunday one of our investigators passed her baptismal interview and is ready for her baptism on July 16th. If I do nothing else in my mission but help bring this sister into the Gospel, I will have served a successful mission.
She is a sweet wife and the mother of a 1 1/2 year old. Her husband grew up in the church, but has been inactive for years. She decided some months ago that the family should begin attending a church, and that it should be her husband’s childhood church. She made it perfectly clear to previous missionaries that she had no interest in being a member or getting baptized, but that she loved to learn. Well, when we first got here, Hermana Dollahite and I decided we were not satisfied with that approach. We set up a standing weekly appointment and said a mighty prayer every morning that we taught her that her heart would be open and her mind would be willing to accept the truths that we taught.
She spent 13 years in the Catholic educational system and was also a dental surgeon in Peru. In short, she is a very educated, factual, and 'tell it like it is' woman. However, after a few lessons it became clear to both Hermana Dollahite and myself that instead of being able to see Elizabeth in white at her baptism, we both could only see the three of them in white in front of the temple. This family is destined for great things in this Gospel, not the least of which is being an eternal family. We literally went from her turning down every single baptismal invitation we made, to her planning her own program and asking the ward members herself if they would participate. We went from the family coming in jeans and ducking out the second the closing prayer of Sacrament was over, to her husband blessing the sacrament in a white shirt and tie, giving a talk in Sacrament, and staying all three hours. The final deciding factor for her was when she found out about the Branch temple trip on July 23rd and said she HAD to get baptized the 16th so that she could go with her husband and do baptisms for the dead.
My joy is overflowing. I will never be able to express the gratitude I have for My Heavenly Father giving me the guidance and opportunity to teach this wonderful family. My life will be changed forever, and I have truly become part of their family for the rest of my life. You will never see a more incredible person enter the waters of baptism and join her family in the Gospel of Jesus Christ as she begins her impatient one-year wait to enter the temple and be sealed as an eternal family.
Another miracle happened Sunday evening. The 15 year-old son of our recent convert, Lazaro, was at home playing video games when we stopped by. We had asked Lazaro if he would volunteer his home to watch the Joseph Smith movie so another convert could get away from his drinking roommates to watch it. Well, when the other convert didn't show, we asked Lazaro if we could watch the movie anyway, but in English so that his son could understand it. At first the son very begrudgingly turned off his game and continued to text his friends in the dark. But, by the time the movie was over he had a big grin on his face and said, 'I don't know why, but I feel really good right now, I really liked that movie.' We told him that he felt good because the Holy Ghost was telling him that what he had seen was true, and that he could know it for himself. He asked when we could come back to teach him more. I'm not sure I have ever seen a father more shocked and ecstatic at the words of his son than Lazaro was right then. We are teaching him again tonight, and plan to arrange his baptism for July 24th, after his father receives the Aaronic Priesthood in church that day.
What joy there is in missionary work! My mission President said today in his letter, "Now is the time. Today is the day. Rise up! Get up! Get out! Give this work all you heart, might, mind, and strength today and every day." I can be a living witness to the truthfulness of this decree. When you serve the Lord with ALL your heart, might, mind and strength, this is NOTHING you can't do! I am so glad to be a missionary. The life of a missionary is the greatest gift we can possibly receive. I will never be more blessed and happy than I am right now. Ask for missionary opportunities, I know that Heavenly Father will give them to you, and that you will be forever grateful that you did.
I love you all,
Hermana Levanger
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