FEB 21-March 13

Even COVID brings miracles!

Miracle #1. Philippa Smith

The Elders in our zone gave us a referral to follow up with a woman named Philippa Smith. She had met with some elders just before the pandemic.  She requested a large print of the Book of Mormon.  She never heard from them again.  She had no idea that all missionaries were called back to their homelands for a while and there hadn't been any missionaries here on Anglesey until we arrived. So - she agreed to let us come and visit, but she was quite grumpy and still bothered that the young elders had never returned.  After explaining what had happened, she slowly became more friendly and accepting of our visit.  She is a sceptic, a thinker, asks lots of questions, and doesn’t like herself very much. But at the end of our hour, she was smiling and agreed to let us return. We called the mission office the very next day to request a large print Book of Mormon.  They are unavailable..out of print. The end.  We have now visited her for three weeks.  Where is the miracle in this story?  Between visit 1 and visit 2, I got Covid and had to isolate myself for 10 days at home.  Michael was a great nurse, but was also stir crazy staying home.  One evening he drove to the church building to ‘tackle’ the library!  It hadn’t been cleaned or organized in over 10 years.  There were stacks and stacks and piles and piles of pamphlets, manuals, books, papers, etc etc. He worked for hours. Toward the end of the task, he came to the bottom of a pile of books.  At the bottom of the pile was a large print Book of Mormon!  

Elder Neil A. Maxwell taught “that ‘coincidence’ is not an appropriate word to describe the workings of our Heavenly Father.  He does not do things by ‘coincidence’, but by DIVINE DESIGN”. 

Elder Bednar has also said ‘I believe that in the work of the Lord there is no such thing as a coincidence.  The worth of souls is great in the sight of God’.

There is no coincidence that a large print of the Book of Mormon was found by Michael at the bottom of a pile….for Philippa.

We hope she continues her journey.  We are here to love, share, and invite !

Miracle #2.  I didn’t get too sick with Covid and Michael did not get it!  

Miracle #3.  Kev and Alisha Cooney

Each week this ‘miracle’ continues.  Their ‘struggle’ has been tobacco, coffee and tea. This past Sunday, both were beaming as they shared with us their past three weeks of no cigarettes, coffee or tea!  They love the Book of Mormon.  They love learning everything we share with them.  They love coming to church.  They love partaking of the sacrament. They love the idea that they can be sealed eternally as a family in a temple.  They love listening to general conference addresses.  They love the church apps. They love President Nelson.  They love the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Meet the Cooney’s!  Kev and Alisha and daughter Chloe.

 They are scheduled for baptism on Sunday, March 20 right after church!  We feel so blessed to be their friends along their journey.