My companion and I were packed busy on Saturday. We ended up getting
out of a lesson late (around 1:10pm). We didn't have time for dinner so
this was our only chance to eat and we had a lesson at 2pm on Mercer
Island which means we had 10-15 min for lunch. So we rushed home and
RAN to the top floor, because we live on the top floor farthest away
from our parking spot... how convenient, and as we throw food out of the
fridge we receive a text from the office elders that says,
"Hey can you let the Federal Way Zone Leaders into the mission
office? They need some supplies and we wont make it there on time. They
are going to be there by 1:45pm."
GREAT! We have no time for lunch and now we are defiantly going to
be late to our 2pm appointment. So we head over to the mission office to let them in. On our
way we receive a text from the Federal Way Zone Leaders that says, "we
got here a little early and are tracting in your area, let us know when
you are close." So when we are 5min away we send a text. We drive to
the side of the church where the mission office is located and we see
their car but they are not there... but we know they are close by.
We then get a text message from our 2pm appointment who says, "Hey I got stuck at work... can we reschedule for 8pm tonight?"
YES YOU CAN! Phew! So we sit and wait and still... no Federal Way
Zone Leaders. Right after thinking this thought the phone rings. I
answer and they replied, "There is someone on the other side of the
church that would like a tour. They just moved from China and speak
little English.
We are excited and meet them there, and direct them inside the church for a tour. It is a
married couple with their only daughter, Gaby, who is 12 years old, soon
to be 13. After getting to know them a little she went on to explain
that she visited Seattle about 3 years ago and wanted to know more about
Christianity. She found our church, went to a service, not
understanding anything, and left. Over the past 3 years she hasn't
forgotten and has been to many other Christian churches when on vacation from China. She said that she and her husband would be
coming to church the following day. We wanted to extend the
baptismal commitment right then and there but they wouldn't have
understood because of the language barrier. We waited till Sunday when
we had a Chinese speaking member translate for us.
They showed up to church 10min early as promised. They sat in a
seat we saved for them (right behind us) and had the Chinese speaking member sit next to them with is wife and daughter.... this is too
perfect. He was able to explain many things to them in Chinese as the
service continued. Afterwords, as we are headed to class, they
repeated FOUR TIMES that they were going to join this church. It was
the best! We have a return appointment Tuesday at 8pm, and they
are bringing Gaby to Young Women's Wednesday evening which
happens to be the same time as the English class at the same building.
We also invited them to "join our church" on September 30th. Two exact
years after I began my mission. They will be confirmed the same day due
to general conference.
I have prayed to baptize a family my entire mission, I have prayed
to reach my goal of 45 convert baptisms, I have prayed diligently while
doing my best to be the best missionary i could be. I am so grateful
for this tender mercy. I will leave my mission
exactly how I wanted to leave. Thank you so much for your prayers. I have indeed received them.
Love,
Elder Bottema
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