Hello from the "who knows what the weather will be like today" city of Conyers, GA!

Hey y'all,

It's a beautiful day today... but who knows? Maybe it will be so cold the water pipes will freeze or maybe we'll have flash flood and tornado warnings accompanied with rain, winds and hail... or maybe it will just stay nice outside at about 68 degrees... I dunno. We've seen all of these this last week :)

Things are going great here in Conyers! What an amazing day to be alive and to have another opportunity to learn and to grow. I'll probably touch on a few things today.... so again, I apologize if I make no sense or if I jump around to various topics and experiences...

So, how about an experience to start things off for a change? I know, right? Miracle. Anyways, the other day we went to a place called Panera Bread for lunch... it's much like Paradise Bakery or Kneaders for those of you who know those amazing institutes of food... but anyways, my companion and I went there with the other set of Elders here in the ward as I had promised to take them there one day to experience the greatness of the food thereof... so we all piled into the car and drove ourselves on over to the nearby PB. We pulled into the parking lot, found ourselves a nice little parking space and were about to spill out of the car and dash for the doors (which expel wonderful smells of freshly baked goods, btw) when we thought to pause for a moment... and pray. Just a simple prayer... a simple prayer of faith and desire that during our time at lunch that we'd be able to find someone who we could help and share the gospel with. So we prayed. Short and simple... and we get out of the car. 

Next thing we know, we hear the blaring of a car horn behind us.
We each turned around (slightly confused and concerned) just in time to witness a car backing up into another car that was patiently waiting to enter into a parking spot in the parking lot. Bang! The front car fails to hear the warning blares of the car behind and unfortunately the two cars suffer a bad case of fender bender. Standing there confused and feeling pretty awkward, the 4 of us watch as the drivers exit the car and begin the blame game. We stand there for a moment before deciding it would be best to avoid the spirit of contention that was mounting and get to our delicious lunch... so we go and we enter into the PB. We begin to order our meals, even joking about the incident that had just occurred a bit before a lady enters into the bakery and begins to order her meal alongside of us at the next door cashier.

 Lo and behold, the lady turns out to be the driver of the car was in the rear that was hit by the backing car. We continue ordering our food as we acknowledge her presence... but we can't shake the feeling and visual indications that the incident that had just occurred with this women and clearly shaken her and rattled her a bit. She seemed frantic and stressed out... and of course, shortly after seeing her in this state, the spirit takes the opportunity to whisper to us to help her. We simply ask her if she's doing ok to which she quickly responds no and explains how she is feeling. We offer a smile and some kind words... but then we offer to do something for her which we had just done not so many moments ago... we offer to pray with her. Surprisingly, she accepts the invitation with a smile. We then go and find a somewhat secluded spot in the bakery to sit together and to pray with this wonderful daughter of God... Elder Sandoval then offers a short, simple but faithful and loving prayer in behalf of this women and her situation. The prayer concludes and then the tears and emotions start to flow... this women begins to tell us how much the prayer had helped and then proceeds to tell us how things are going in her life. She tells us of family struggles, financial problems, spiritual difficulties, etc... and we sit and listen. As she finishes, we express our love to her and share a brief message about who we are, why we're here and who we represent. We collect her information just before she leaves to take her food to her family and we make plans to call her that night to setup a time to come see here....

Now, long story short... this women later agrees to meet us at the church. She comes to the church with her 3 kids and not only are we able to give her a church tour... but she and her whole family are able to witness a baptism that is taking place that day. She then agrees to come to church... and does! She comes the next day with her whole family... and then that night she agrees to come over to a members home to be taught more about our faith. They come, the spirit teaches and now the family has agreed to be baptized.

Wow... what a miracle!!!

I know and testify that prayers are answered... and that God will lead and guide you to those who are in need as we pray for the opportunity to reach out and help someone... help someone be helped, help someone come closer to Christ, help someone learn of the Restored gospel. I invite all of us to do this each and every day and then to act in faith.

-Elder Wahlen