Week 24 - Claire

Bonjour ma famille!

What an incredible week! Tuesday we went to teach Claire and when we arrived she told us that Darius wants to be baptized! We said great, and she asked what he needs to do, so we told he they should all continue the lessons with us and he needs to pray and read the scriptures so that he can gain his own testimony. Claire then told us that when they came on sunday she had forgotten her bus/train pass but every stop that she got to the doors just happened to be open and she got to and from church without any problem! She told us that she knew the Lord wanted them to go. By the way it takes almost 2 hours from their house to the church, but she felt really strongly that they needed to come. She is definitely prepared! We asked what else she liked about church and she told us that on her way to the bus stop after church Fatoumia told her that we preform baptisms for the dead in the temple. That really attracted Claire! She told us that she wants to go to the temple for her daughter and her dad. She asked what she needs to do in order to go and we told her that you have to be worthy, but also a member of the Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints. She then went silent, because she had already brought up the fact that she's been baptized, we each, including Clara (one of our ward missionaries who is amazing and has only been a member for a year and a half, and is preparing to go on a mission next year), bore our testimonies about the Book of Mormon, and that if it's true, Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, and if he is a prophet of God, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the church of Jesus Christ. Claire began to cry and said that she will keep reading the Book of Mormon, but that she wants to finish it before praying about Joseph Smith. At the end of the lesson she told us that they were going to go their church this Sunday and then come to ours every other Sunday. She said I hope that doesn't bother you. She slowly wants to transition.
Saturday we went back and when we walked in Darius said, "We've decided to come to Nogent for church!" Claire smiled and said that they have kept reading the Book of Mormon and they all feel really good about it and that even Grace (her 13 year old) has started reading it. We read the family proclamation with them and talked about the importance of family scripture study and family prayer and family night. They already do each of those things! So we invited them to continue. Claire told us that they even fast together, so I brought up the fact that we fast the first Sunday of every month and Claire said, "Children did you hear that? The first Sunday of every month, so we'll all be fasting." I was in shock! She didn't even question us when we told how we do it, she just agreed to do it; so we told them to think of something to fast for.
Yesterday they came! I knew that her brother was planning on coming, but when we walked into our gospel principles class her husband was there too! I was shocked! The day before he hadn't been to happy about some of the things we teach, and he is actually still Muslim, but he wanted to see what we do at church and he participated in the lesson. The lesson was wonderful and it was about the gift of the Holy Ghost. Claire was wonderful and shared how she feels when we come and teach her and when she prays and reads the scriptures and comes to church. During the lesson her husband asked what one has to do to be baptized. Claire then said, "Can I be re-baptized?" It was incredible!!!!! After sacrament meeting Grace talked to me and she's usually really timid and quiet, but she opened up a lot yesterday, and she told me she wants to be baptized and that she wants to be a missionary someday. Wow! I almost don't feel worthy to be one of the missionaries who gets to teach this family. We're going to fix baptismal dates with them tomorrow.
I didn't have to do much, it's definitely the Lord who is the carpenter and we as missionaries are just his tools, and without the Holy Ghost testifying and touching the hearts of those we teach the work could not be completed. I'm so grateful that the Lord has put me here at this time and that he trusts me to do his work, I pray that I can continually stay worthy of bringing others unto him. I know that he is behind all of it. Je vous aime!!!!

Love, Soeur Reeves

P.S. Thanks mom for all of those pictures it was so fun to see! Samuel is darling and Ashley is so tall! All of those kids are growing up too fast! I love your house Carrie and Brian! Nathan Happy Birthday and this next week I believe Brian and Reid too!