Hey everyone! I hope you are all happy and well:)
We had a really great week filled with a lot of
miracles. Here's a couple for you with the Stanforths and Jenna:
The Stanforth family moved here a few months ago
from Washington and are a part-member family. The father is not a member, the
son, Nick, did not have the Priesthood, and one of the daughters was dating a
young man named Franklin who was not a member that moved here with them.
Franklin had met with the missionaries in Washington twice before coming here
and we were privileged to teach him and help him to be baptized about a month
and a half ago. The weekend prior to this last one, Franklin received the
Aaronic Priesthood which is a monumental thing for this family to have a worthy
priesthood hodler in the home to be a blessing to them. The son of the
Stanforforths, Nick, who is 12, decided he wanted to receive the Priesthood
several weeks ago and received that yesterday as well. This was a miraculous
answer to a loving mother's humble and fervent and patient prayer. Franklin,
Raylin, and Sister Stanforth did family history and went with the ward to the
temple to do baptisms for the dead and took their own names and some of Elder
Palmer and my family names that we have found. They said it was such a powerful
and beautiful excperience and we got to feel that and share that with them.
Wow, so blessed!
Sister Stanforth, however, is not only now grateful
for all of these blessings and miracles but is an incredible member missionary
and has friendshipped this great mother we have been teaching who's name is
Jenna. Jenna, when we started teaching her a month ago, she wasn't necessarily
living the word of wisdom, law of chastity, and some of the other commandments
but in the last month she has abandoned drinking, is cutting back significantly
on smoking, has attended church, has become engaged with her boyfriend and is
reading and praying every single day! It has been a huge transformation and so
many miracles! She also committed to be baptized and progress towards a date.
She loved church and Relief Society was her favorite part being with all the
other ladies who as she said, "They are my kind of people! They were
thinking like, about the same things as me and what I believe. I just got all
tickled over it and was ranting and raving about it with anyone who would
listen! Matt (the boyfriend) was so intrigued by how much I loved it that he is
talking to his manager to try and get Sundays off work so he can come check it
out.". Anyways, Sister Stanforth became one of Jenna's new best friends
and is already helping Jenna so much. It has been a beautiful conversion to
witness. We are so blessed here in Lawton!
Keep the faith,
Elder Ricks
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