MISSION MIRACLE

GLADSTONE MIRACLE

This whole experience has been so amazing and spiritual.  Just after we arrived in Gladstone, while working out at the Fun and Fitness course, we met this wonderful man from Malaysia.   Elder Fenton and I were both impressed to speak to him and felt such a good spirit about him.  We quickly found our communication was by feelings and hugs.  He spoke Malaysian and Mandarin Chinese and we spoke only English.  HE pointed to my name tag and said "my friend, my friend".   We saw him almost every day and were praying for a miracle - an Elder or Sister sent to Gladstone to teach our friend. 
    One miracle occurred when our prayers were answered and a young member moved to our branch - Edward.  He was from Taiwan and spoke Mandarin Chinese!  Edward had been a member 8 months and attended the discussions to help translate. He also had limited ability to speak English but could understand it well.  We began seeing small steps in our communication and huge steps in feeling the spirit.   We also  enlisted the help of some Mandarin speaking elders in the Brisbane area.  We were directed to Elder Bellingham with his wonderful teaching abilities and his mastery of the Chinese language.  Weekly phone calls were made and lessons taught,  Sis Pangue and Sis Kyaw also joined us at the church and even though we didn't understand what was being said we truly felt the spirit of the Holy Ghost testify and touch our hearts.  If you can, picture this  -  we have an investigator from Malaysia,  a member from Taiwan, an Elder from Singapore, a Sister from Philippians, a Sister from Myanmar and Elder and Sister Fenton from America. It was so amazing to feel the spirit as we taught. After each lesson we spent about 30 minutes teaching this wonderful investigator and Edward English. Our sisters used the Primary songs as a resource to teach them English. We began to be able to communicate with brief statements.   Edward was only here about 4 weeks and we were not about to lose our investigator - we kept praying for another miracle.   Elder Fenton felt inspired to get a web cam and speakers set up in the Gladstone building and Eight Mile Plains where Elder Low, who had replaced Elder Bellingham, was serving.   Brother Nelson helped with the setup in Brisbane.   We began teaching again with Elder Low, Elder Allan and Elder Hilyard.  It was such a blessing to see and be able to communicate via Skype.  He was challenged to baptism but felt he just didn't know enough yet.  The lessons continued.  Transfers came and Sis Pangue was replaced by Sis Schaelling.
    He has attend Sacrament meeting almost every Sunday since we began teaching him.   He can only attend for 50 minutes due to his work schedule.   He told Elder Low that he didn't understand much at church but he really feels good and is happy when he is there.  He has also shared that for months he had a hard time sleeping due to worries and pressures.  After we taught him to pray, he prayed for peace so that he could sleep.  He testified to us that the Lord had answered his prayers and he has received a peace he has never felt before.  He expressed a great desire to change after that experience.  He also shared that he has always had a runny nose with lots of congestion, as soon as he started living the word of wisdom the congestion and runny nose were healed. He contacted his mother and sister and shared with them the experiences and feelings he was having. They were happy for his changes and committed to support him.
    The Elders again challenged our investigator for baptism,  he committed to pray about it. By this time Elder Low had invited Katrina, a member from the Brisbane area to help teach the discussions.  She also was Chinese and could teach in Mandarin Chinese.   When he came to the next discussion he said that although he didn't understand everything, he had a strong feeling that this is right and he needed to commit and accept the gospel.  Yet another miracle from our loving Heavenly Father. 
    On Monday, 11 November, 2013, this wonderful man was baptized a member of the Church of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  In order to make sure he understood the baptismal service it was also held via Skype.  Prayers were offered in the Gladstone chapel in English by the Sister missionaries.   Music was also performed in English.  Katrina gave the Baptismal talk in Mandarin Chinese  from Brisbane,  and Elder Low gave a talk about the Holy Ghost , also from the Brisbane area.  Everyone present felt the spirit as they participated in the Baptismal service.   Elder Fenton then baptized him. Words can not describe the feelings and love that was felt between those two men.   The Sisters then sang, "I Know Heavenly Father Loves Me" - a song they had taught to him and he had sung with them many times.   It was very touching.

   On Sunday, 17 November, 2013, he was confirmed in Sacrament Meeting by Elder Fenton.  He was promised great blessings that await him as he grows in the gospel.  Many miracles were witnessed over the 8 months we taught him.  Heavenly Father is preparing him to bless his family as well as the people of Malaysia.
This new member continues to grow and learn.  He is preparing the receive the Aaronic Priesthood.  We have felt the great love Heavenly Father has for him.  We love him as well and are so grateful to have been a part of such a great miracle.  Elder & Sister Fenton