JULY--A MONTH OF MIRACLES

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED MIRACLES

When the last zone conferences were held in the Vanuatu Mission President Granger told the missionaries that July could be a month of miracles for the mission if they would have faith, work hard, and be obedient.  We have experienced miracles in the New Caledonia area of the mission. There has been increased energy among the missionaries and they have been busier finding and teaching than in the months since we've arrived here. We had one convert baptism in our ward between the end of March and the first of July.  In July we had four baptisms.  (Other wards have had increased baptisms as well.)

There have been dozens of nonmembers at the baptisms--more investigators on Sundays.  The missionaries are so excited.

Felicien is a fisherman and was taught by Sister Decady ad Sister Casuga

Marie, his wife, is already a member.  There is so much joy in their faces.  Before he was baptized Felicien came by the office seeking a blessing.  He was concerned about his ability to keep the word of wisdom on his two-week fishing trips at sea.  After Elder Glade's blessing the Lord helped him remain strong on the next two trips. He returned home confident he was worthy to be baptized and could remain faithful.  He has a great testimony of the Book of Mormon. The bishop told him that now he would also be a fisher of men.

Rebecca, a nine year old girl, was baptized.  Her mother, a member, began attending church again last April.  Rebecca decided she wanted to become a member as well.  A woman named Christine was also baptized the same day.  

  It was a chilly winter day and Rebecca is contemplating the cold water

 Elder Kessler and Rebecca

After Christine's baptism.  She is on the right.

We hadn't known Christine very well before; but her son, a YSA, has come to our apartment for FHE with the other young adults and had been praying for this day for a long time.  

Josie walked into the bureau one day and said she had been taught before by sisters but had lost contact with them.  We gave her name to the missionaries in her area who then taught her and she also was baptized.  We spend a lot of time in the office, but we have been blessed to have people come to the office or call because they want to learn more about the church and Elder Glade has a chance to talk with them (in French so I don't say much, but I smile a lot)  and connect them with the young missionaries.  There have also been several occasions when people have come to the office seeking blessings.  I feel it is a tender mercy of Heavenly Father to give us these opportunities to connect with these wonderful people without ever leaving the bureau.

               

Josie

This is from a baptism in Mont Dore, another ward in our stake.  The woman holding the little girl was baptized.  Elder Villierme, giving the thumb's up, broke his hand a while ago. He was scheduled to have the pin removed, but he didn't want to miss baptizing this woman. His surgery was postponed. Elder Graham is on the right.

I didn't get a picture, but we attended another baptism of a young man we had seen in passing. He works at a store where we shopped for furniture when we first got here.  He had been friends with the stake president's daughter before her mission and got in touch with her again when she returned. He asked why she was different from other young women. She said it was because of her church. He then asked to come to church, and he read and did everything the missionaries asked him to do. It was on a ward campout that he felt the Spirit testifying that he should be baptized.  It was thrilling to see him fellowshipped then baptized by a man whose baptism we witnessed in June.  

At the baptisms we hear talks about how the gospel changes lives.  This is true.  For so many of us in Utah this is a gradual process.  It is a tremendous blessing to be here and see lives change dramatically.  It is exciting and uplifting to go to church on Sunday and listen as new members bear testimony, give talks, make comments in class, and say prayers.  There are investigators each Sunday at church. We are experiencing miracles--the miracle of conversion in peoples lives. 

Another miracle for us is that we are serving in the New Caledonia area of the Vanuatu Port Vila Mission.  Years ago we listened as a son received his patriarchal blessing.  He was told he would serve a mission in a place he had never been, among people he knew nothing of. I have often reflected that this is more true for us than for him thus far in his life.  A year ago we couldn't have told you one fact about either here or Vanuatu with any certainty--including their location. 

We enjoy the combination of Melanisian, French, Polynesian, and Vietnamese cultures and love the people here. It is hard to describe how it feels to be here.  There are often people playing basketball and volleyball on the courts between the chapel and our office.  Children play on the grassy area next to the courts. People greet each other warmly with a kiss on each cheek.  Children run to greet us--often with faces upturned for a kiss. Members pray diligently for missionaries and that their children will serve missions.  They bring food to every baptism and most activities and linger for hours afterwards visiting.  People of all ages dance joyfully and unreservedly.   We are so grateful for the joy we are experiencing as we play a small part for a brief time in this wonderful mission.