Priesthood from Bridgeton Branch with President Vi Sikahema, newly called stake president on Mike's right
Sitting...the Mayor of Bridgeton...not sure which...my guess the one on the right...
3 generations...
Center...recently returned Brady Wright-grandfather( Mike's trainer)
Elder Mike Dial-father
Elder Tyler Morgan-right, Mike's trainee...
(It's a mission thing...)
Well we had a special guest that came to sacrament meeting yesterday. The Mayor of Bridgeton came! President Sikahema (stake president) invited him to come and see the church. He is an active Seventh-Day Adventist, but he played a big role in getting the branch into the building where they are now. He actually offered his church building, which isn't in use on Sundays, for the church members if they couldn't find any other place….super neat guy. President Sikahema introduced me to him, and he said, "Oh I know Elder Dial. I see him all over this town." President Sikahema later said, "Mayor, thanks for the report." Glad I passed that one. During Sacrament meeting, President Sikahema told the congregation that one of the duties of the Church is to make sure that the Saints are being prepared to be good leaders and being good citizens in the meantime. He related super well to the Hispanic members. He came to the US when he was 7 years old, didn't speak English. His parents worked 2 and sometimes 3 jobs. He lived in a super rough neighborhood. But, he and his other 2 siblings all graduated from college. He told the Saints that they need to teach their children English and THEY need to learn English as well. It will help them progress so much in their work and in society in general. It was interesting to see how President Sikahema was able to relate to the Hispanic members that well. It was super cool to see that side of him. Afterwards, we took a picture of the whole branch outside the building with a mayor. He said that someday in the future, when we have a large ward or stake in Bridgeton, we can look back to the small group of Hispanic Saints that met in a remodeled bank.
It was a super cool day. Then one of
our members had a heart-attack during Relief Society, but she is just fine. It
wasn't really a heart attack. Just some chest pains. Then her daughter went
into labor that same day, so they were in the hospital together. It was a big
and full day here in Bridgeton.
We got the package, and our
apartment is looking super festive. Thank you so much. We have a Christmas Zone
Conference this Friday in Philly where we will get our other packages. I'm
super stoked. We get to watch a movie too!! Probably the Hobbit, right…dream…but
I doubt it. That would be super cool though. Probably Ephraim's Rescue or
something like that.
Saturday was cool. We invited all of
Bridgeton to come and have a free breakfast, a photo with Santa, and we had tables
full of free clothes upstairs that we were giving away. They do it every
Christmas. So we fitted a room to be like a mini visitor's center. We set it up
to teach the Restoration as you walked around the room. Us 4 Bridgeton Elders,
and 2 Sisters (who are from the Vineland ward, but they cover the area speaking
English) took down, managed the whole Foto with Santa business, and then took
people through the room. It is amazing how the commotion kind of stopped at the
door. The Spirit was there. We found lots of new people to teach. I have
found in my mission that there is POWER in the words of the First Vision.
Joseph Smith really saw God the Father and the Son. It is real. I have a
testimony that the Gospel has been restored. I love the Gospel. Can't wait to
talk to you in about 9 days!!!!! Love you
tons!
Elder Dial
No comments:
Post a Comment