Merry Christmas Y'all :)
Each week I keep writing about our progressing family, The Elliotts. They are awesome and I can't express how much I love them! They are so dear to me and they are so inspirational.
Attached to this e-mail is a picture of a Christmas bag. Inside the bag is one of the best presents I have ever gotten (the other being my Dog, 10 Christmases ago).
We have been asking Bro Elliott to pray about December 28th as a baptismal date. He has been, but we knew we would have to teach the word of wisdom before he really committed. So Thursday night, that was the plan. We asked Bro Coggins, a member here to come teach with us. Brother Coggins is also a convert who, until he was converted, drank coffee, tea, and smoked.
As we first started to teach the lesson, it was going well. Bro Elliott though expressed his need for small steps. He has been smoking or chewing since he was 14 years old, or in his words, nicotine has been flowing through his veins since he was 14. That's a long time. I can't image what it would take to quit, I've never experienced that. We asked him if he would live the word of wisdom, and he was hesitant. He said he would try. At one point, Tyler got up and grabbed the other cans of his Dad's snus from the top of the fridge. We gave him a jar of Pero that we had wrapped in a Christmas bag....and continued to talk.
I don't remember how the rest of it happened. It's all a blur in my head. What happened though, is that we bore our testimonies, shared scriptures, and really the spirit took over. I could tell you what we talked about, but not the order or how it exactly happened. It was not in my control, it was in the Lord's:
I remember looking down, then looking up as Terry stood up, weeping. He said, "Take it away, Take it all away". He walked over to the trash, spit out his lack pack of snus, and sat back down. I asked him if he was sure and he nodded. Brother Coggins gave him a blessing for strength, that he would be difficult, but he could do it. As soon as the blessing was done, Pam took the snus off the table, put it in the Christmas bag we had just given them, and handed it back to us.
We asked Terry if he was ready to be baptized on the 28th of December. His reply was yes.
I have not had such a tender, spiritual moment on my mission. I've been down on my knees several times asking Heavenly Father use me to preform his work here, miracles if I was worthy and able. This family has been that miracle. Through them, I have felt the Lord's love and seen his hand. It's been amazing to be apart of.
Friday, we went to the temple. I prayed my heart out for them there.
Saturday, we went to check on them. Pam is an amazing example to me. She is the glue that holds the family together. It has been so hard for her because she knows the church is true, but didn't feel that she could go without her husband. She has been waiting for this
Terry had eaten a lot, and a lot of fruit, but he was holding up. It was hard, that was evident, but he is holding strong!
Sunday, they all came to church.
Tonight, we are doing Family Home Evening with them and the Norton's and my Mom's sugar cookie recipe!
Saturday, December 28th, Terry will be entering the waters of baptism
Sunday, December 29th, he will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. And his daughter and I will be singing a duet to "What Child is this?"
I am so blessed to be a part of this work!
Love you all! thank you for all the prayers and encouragement. I am so blessed!
Love all y'all's guts!
Hermana McClune!
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