Heidi's Conversion Story

Hello my friends and family! I just want to say that this week has been one of the best I have had so far on my mission! It just keeps getting better!

I would like to begin by telling y'all the conversion story of Heidi.

Elder Clapp and I had been assigned to bike last transfer and one particular day a month and a half ago we had accidentally showed up early to our dinner appointment. We were wondering what to do, so considering our circumstances we started tracting up and down the members street. We got to a house and knocked. A lady came out and told us basically that she really wasn't interested in talking to us but she was a Christian and is a very big advocate of the bible, as are we. She politely said goodbye and then we went to dinner. A month later we got a call from a member named Winn and he told us that his girlfriend Heidi had received a knock on her door from us and was interested in coming to church the next day. On Sunday we saw her at church and after sacrament meeting went up to say hello again. We scheduled a time to meet with her.

Our first appointment with her went smoothly, and I really liked the fact that she really knew her bible really well. She said during the lesson that she had heard things about the Mormon church that she was hesitant about, but again, she was willing to listen to us. She gave us bible references to everything we were talking about which was awesome. Once we had finished teaching the Restoration, she said "So what's the next lesson?" I told her it's the Book of Mormon lesson and then she said "Can I just hear it now?" So we taught it too and committed her to read and pray about it. We had another lesson with her a couple days later and she seemed a lot more open to what we had to say. She had read 4 chapters of the Book of Mormon. We got through half of the Plan of Salvation lesson when Elder Clapp asked "So how do you feel about the Spirit World?" and her answer: "You know, I just really like it, it makes sense. I believe it's true." Elder Clapp and I paused for a moment then I asked her a little while later "So how do you feel about the Book of Mormon?" She then said "I really like it." She talked about how it went hand in hand with the Bible and how she had read it and had definitley felt the spirit while reading it. She told us how she knew what the holy spirit and how she knew what it felt like because she has felt it before reading the Bible and praying. She then said "I know it's true." We paused again. I referred her to the front of the Book of Mormon where it says once you know the Book of Mormon is true you can know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints is a true church and that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I asked her "Do you understand that?" She said "Yep." One more pause. I then asked "We're holding a baptismal service on November 29th. Will you be baptized by someone holding the proper priesthood authority of God?" She said "Ohh, that's Thanksgiving week... can we make it the 22nd?"

After 2 weeks of lessons, Heidi Ugarte was baptized a member of Christ's church. Her testimony of the spirit and the Lord answering prayers is one of the strongest I have ever seen in someone. Her true knowledge of the Bible had helped her to be on the right path, the path that Heavenly Father wants for us. I will remember Heidi and her testimony for the rest of my life.

Getting into my new ward with my new companion Elder Miller was awesome! We had a great time meeting new members and also getting to know Ciera who was also baptized on the 22nd. Elder Miller is a really awesome guy and he is going home in 3 1/2 weeks. Don't worry, we're not getting too "trunky" as missionaries put it. I had church with our YSA ward for the first time sunday and it was one of the best meetings I have been to in a long time. Everyone is so active and is happy to get to know everyone else. I was introduced by Bishop Duckworth (who is an awesome bishop!) like 4 times and was introduced like 2 other times. I felt very welcomed. I'm going to love being here for the next couple weeks!

I hope everyone had as great of a week as I did this week. If not, remember that God loves you, and you can uplift your day by hymns, prayer, and scripture reading. Never cease to keep a prayer in your heart!

Adios Amigos, Elder Cline

Hey Brothers!

Hello Again from Las Vegas! I thought i'd give an update on all the miracles that have happened this week! One, We had two baptisms this Saturday for Paige (9 years old) and Makiah Aviso (11 years old)! We just taught them all the investigator lessons and they were totally ready. They were actually getting their mother to come back to church by telling her "We love church! Why haven't we gone?" They're both amazing individuals and they both have a good heart! Elder Clapp got to baptize both of them and for the first time in my life I got to confirm both of them with the Holy Ghost which was also an amazing experience.

Two, we have another family that started investigating our church a while back. We were biking down a street in the dark and we were supposed to turn down a street but we didn't. I called to Elder Clapp and asked why we didn't turn. Right at that moment, still biking the wrong way, we heard: "Hey Brothers!" We looked around, couldn't see anybody and kept going. We then heard "Hey, we want to learn!" Our bikes came to a halt immediately. We saw who had called out to us and swerved our bikes around towards them. There was a man on the porch waiting for us there. When we got to his front gate, we soon found ourselves surrounded by their family of 8. We taught them the lesson and since we've had over 10 lessons with them. Once they solve legal complications, they want to be baptized. Not only that, one day when we were in our apartment they brought us over a BIG cart full of food for us! We still feel like we haven't repaid them enough for what they've done for us.

By the way, About a month ago we were 20 minutes early to our dinner appointment so we tracted on their street. Two houses down a lady opened her door and told us she was a Christian and had no intention of changing what she believed. A week ago we got a call from her... I can't tell the rest until next week but it's one of the most humbling experiences on my mission so far. Our area really has started to pick up, especially because since I have gotten Elder Clapp, we have gained about 10 new investigators! Speaking of our area, I leave today (Monday) and I am going to a ward in The Lakes zone! I am covering a singles ward with my 3rd companion, Elder Miller who is going home in 4 weeks. It's just crazy.

Love ya all and miss ya all! - Elder Cline