Emmanuel Is Baptized!

 

We have had so many spiritual experiences on this mission. My journal is full of them ,but I thought I would relate this special experience! An older gentleman from Nigeria was attending the Lake Shore 1^st Ward and had been for some time. Cathi and I had seen him on numerous occasions and had introduced ourselves to him. After our initial meeting, we continued to greet and welcome him. After about a month I asked the Bishop if he knew the gentleman. He replied he didn’t so Cathi and I went over and engaged him in conversation. As church was starting we quickly made an appointment for us to visit him.

When we arrived at his humble apartment, after graciously welcoming us, and seating us, he said,

“I just want to be baptized!”

“What? We thought you were a member!”

He replied that the missionaries hadn’t visited him in a long while. I was stunned. Just to see how much knowledge he had about the church I went over the Baptism Interview questions. He answered everything correctly but hesitated with the Word of Wisdom. I explained the revelation and we discussed the do and don’ts. He asked about green tea and when I said he should not drink it, he simply said, “Giving up Green Tea is nothing compared to being baptized.”

When Cathi and I had gotten home, we immediately called the Elders who had taught him. They said he had problems with the Word of Wisdom so he was not a priority. I responded that when we had spoken with him, we went over the baptism interview questions and he passed everything. I mentioned that he hesitated with green tea but told us he would stop drinking it. It turns out that because of that Word of Wisdom issue the Elders who had been teaching him had decided to stop working with him and focused on other friends. After our discussion with these Elders, they went over and visited him and they set a date. He was baptized two weeks later!

I have seen people expressing happiness and I have seen people expressing joy but this was the first time in my life I saw a transformation from happiness to joy in one event. When Emmanuel was baptized and came out of the water, he started smiling and laughing and even clapped his hands, and then he suddenly became quiet. He bowed his head put his hands to his face and just sobbed. The gentleman who baptized him simple held him until he could get control (30 seconds or so). The spirit in the room was palatable. I doubt the was a dry eye of those attending.

There were only eight people in attendance, Cathi and I, the two Elders, the Ward Mission Leader and his wife, and the Second Counselor in the Bishopric and his wife. Even though the baptism was announce a week previously nobody attended but those eight. Oh what a spiritual experience the rest of the ward forfeited. The eight of us will never forget how the Lord poured out his spirit on Emmanuel and the eight of us. Never miss a convert baptism! My testimony grew by leaps and bounds!

By the way, Emmanuel calls me Brother Papa and Cathi, Sister Mama.