August 13th-The Jim and Andrew Miracle

Wow. this week was wonderful. 

We had a huge miracle this week. I truly learned the God knows and cares for all of his children. Although there were many uncertainties, Jim & Andrea will in fact be baptized this Saturday. 

Let me explain why this is a massive miracle - 

Jim was in jail. After a long night of unrest, he asked his cell mate if there was anything to read. his cell mate pointed to a pile of books on the ground. after picking through the books, one of them stood out to him, The Book of Mormon. He picked it up and started to read it. Although he could hardly understand the old English style writings in it, he kept reading. With the help of a ward member, he read the entire thing while in jail. After he was released, he went to church and asked the first person he saw there how he could become a member. Fast forward a month or so, he is taking the missionary discussions. His wife, Andrea, is skeptical. But while giving a member an uber ride, the start talking about his faith. The member prompts  her to go to church with her husband and listen to the words in the sacrament prayer. At church, she listens to the sacrament prayer. during it, one of the missionaries explains the significance of it. Because of that spiritual experience and many others she starts taking the discussions. Soon after taking the discussions together, they are invited to be baptized on the 18th of august, a seemingly random day in the far off future, It turns out to be there wedding anniversary. Andrea said that it was a sign from God. 

When I got to Newport, Jim & Andrea were fully committed to the gospel. They were trying there best to follow all of the commandments, and were excited about their Baptismal date. They even said "The gospel saved our marriage!''. But as time went on the perfect baptismal date didn't seem possible. Different complications arose and weren't certain if the 18th would work. Eventually president Clark told us that it had to be pushed back and we had to deliver the news to them. They took it well and decided that they just wanted to be baptized, no matter what day. Although they said that, we could tell they were heart broken, and so were we. We continued getting them ready for baptism the best we could. on Wednesday we got a call from president Clark. He said " Are you ready for a miracle?'' he told us that he just got off the phone with the first presidency ( President Clark has connections) and they approved the baptism for the 18th. We quickly texted Jim & Andrea and we got a reply back from Andrea that basically said "I can't believe it. I have been so disappointed about not being baptized on the 18th and finally came to terms with it and said in my prayer that I accept Gods plan for me.'' God answered Andrea's prayer. The 18th is truly the day god wanted them to be baptized, so they can be sealed 1 year from that day on their anniversary.

Their experience reminded me of a scripture I read this week,

 3 Nephi 9: 20-22

 "And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin.Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved.'

This miracle might not seem that big, but to us and them it is huge! I learned a lot from it. God has a plan for us. We must submit our will to him and trust confidently in his power, when we do that he will plead our cause. It was when Andrea gave her self to Heavenly Father that he answered her prayer, consoled her afflictions and and pleaded her cause. - 

Jacob 3:1 

"...Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause...''

I testify that God Loves us and is aware of us. He knows what is best for us and he has an eternal plan for us. I am grateful for my Heavenly Father, I have felt so many times that he is truly aware of me and my desires. I love my Heavenly, that is why I am here in California serving him.

Love, 

Elder Judd