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Stories: "I don't want to miss out"
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| It was October 1993 in the Gran Avenida stake, Capitan Avalos ward. Elder Burt and I were working with a great family of four.
Carlos Villalobos was not interested in the gospel. His wife and kids were free to hear the discussions, but he was catolico. In fact, he had studied to become a priest.
He listened in on 3 of the charlas, and he said it was not for him, but his wife and kids could continue.
As time went on, his wife Fresia and two boys, Juan Carlos and Felipe, were burning with testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and the prophet Joseph Smith.
They were interviewed and found ready for baptism. Carlos attended their baptism and church meetings regularly, often participating in sunday school, even arguing with the teacher, if only to check and see if it felt real. But, still no interest.
As missionaries often do, Elder Burt and I continued to visit him. One day we decided to invite him to hear the charlas again, he accepted.
We sat with him at the kitchen table and started in, his family watching on from the couch. After reviewing some of the basics from charlas 1 & 2, we just went straight for the committment: Will you, Carlos, follow the Lord Jesus Christ and be baptised? (Long pause). The Spirit was so very strong at that moment. His wife was with the children on the couch behind him, tears running down her face, hoping he would say yes. Then, he looked up and said, "Yes, yes I will." For some reason, I decided to ask "why". I don't know why I asked this. You know, you never really challange someone like that, you're usually affraid to ruin the moment. But, I really wanted to know. Why? Why after all this time, did he suddenly want to do it?
He paused and thought more deeply about the question. Then, he looked back at his wife and family, and then at us and said, "Porque, yo creo que lo que mi familia ha encontrado puede ser la verdad. Y, si la es, yo no quiero perder en ser parte de ella."
At that moment, I was humbled by his faith, honesty and humility. Yes, he would be baptised, not because he KNEW it was true, but because it COULD be. What faith!
His two boys, jumped off the couch, grinning from ear to ear. His wife came from around the couch and held him and said she knew it was true too.
He followed the Lord, and his wife and kids, into the waters of baptism that Friday, Devember 3, 1993.
I love that story. I love those people. I loved that mission. |
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| LDS QUOTE: |
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"You are a great army of returned missionaries. Go forward with new zeal and determination, and through your example shine the light of the gospel in this troubled world. This is the Lords work in which we are engaged. God lives. Jesus is the Christ. We belong to His Church. This is my witness to you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
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