Thursday, May 2, 2013

MARCH 18, 2013

Hello all!
This week was a huge faith building week. I had my second baptism this week. Tyler was taught by Sisters Maddox and Averett before they got doubled out but when they left we got the opportunity of teaching him and Friday night, he was baptized! The expierence of Tyler's baptism is one I will never forget. Tyler is a 19 year old student at Penn State. His family are not members of the church and really didn't like Tyler taking the lessons and told him that they didn't want him to be baptized. But after praying really hard, Tyler knew he needed to be baptized and wanted to follow Jesus Christ. So in preparation for his baptism we had gone to the church earlier in the afternoon on Friday to clean and fill the font and left to go to our dinner appointment at 5:00 so we could be back by 6:00 for the 7:00 baptism. As we were leaving our dinner appointment at six we got a text from Tyler that said he was getting a lot of negative pressure from his family and didnt know if he would be baptized. We called him once we got to the church and through his tears he said he didn't know what to do but he knew to call the missionaries. We told Tyler to pray about what God needed him to do and  we would pray for him too and to call us in 20 minutes. Sister Carter and I walked into a room in the church and knelt down and prayed for Tyler and to know how to help him. The other Sisters came to the church and we said a prayer together for Tyler. It was so powerful to feel the faith and the power from us praying. Around 6:30 we got a call from Tyler and he said he wanted to be baptized but he wanted to talk to his dad first so he would call him and let us know. So around 7 the branch started showing up for his baptism and was wondering what was going on. We explained the situation and the branch all came together and prayed for Tyler and then had a testimony meeting. Not 5 minutes after we prayed as a branch Tyler called and told us that there had been a "lot of screaming on the other end" but he wanted to be baptized and him and 6 friends were on there way. I went in and told the branch what had happened and two people left and picked up Tyler and his friends and an hour and a half late, Tyler was baptized!! I have never exercised more faith and prayed so hard in my life and it was so amazing to see the miracles that happened Friday. When Tyler bore his testimony he said that his day had been one of the hardest days of his life but the moment he was baptized he felt different and calm and knew that he had done what God wanted him to do. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to see people change and to watch their faith grow. My testimony is strengthened daily by the examples of people here in Pennsylvania. Prayer works, God hears us and when needed, He performs miracles and we get to watch!! I will never forget the events surrounding Tyler and his baptism. Miracles!! This is Sister Carter's last week as a missionary. We are really busy teaching and making the most of her last week. We have one investigator named Janet who is set with baptismal date we are teaching and we are planning on finding one million more people to teach! I love you all so much and hope you have an amazing week. You are in my prayers.
With love,
Sister Andresen


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