"He feels our sorrows, He provides a way, He will strengthen the weary, for he knows your name. To them that Trust in the Lord peace shall be their friend, and love their ally. And Christ shall bear them up in all their afflictions."
This past week has been crazy cool, and I don't think I have ever been more excited for the next couple weeks than in my whole entire life.
We put Zack on date to be baptized this past week, scheduled for the 13th of August. The Spirit was so strong that He could not deny what He felt. He agreed to be baptized. The very next day we taught the Law of Chastity, and the Word of Wisdom, and He committed to living both of those. From the moment he said yes to follow the example of Jesus Christ though, I already knew that he would keep these commitments. The next thing he wanted to know was if he could meet with the bishop. At church, Elder Pike and I were sitting in Gospel Principles class when they came in late after they had finished their discussion with him, and as class let out, Aerie (Zack's Girlfriend) asked what we had scheduled for this friday at 5:30 PM. I showed her my planner on that day, and that it was entirely blank. Aerie grinned and said. We're getting married. And we want you and your companion to be the witnesses! At this point, I was so shocked, I could barely stutter an affirmative answer that yes, WE WOULD LOVE TO GO!!! Both of their eyes were glowing at this point, with a light I had hardly ever seen in anyone. Then she told me that Zack would be receiving the Aaronic priesthood immediately after his own baptism so that soon after he could baptize Emily her daughter and his soon to be stepdaughter. My mouth dropped open. I just couldn't believe it!
Miracles are real. This is the truth. Christ is the Head of this church. I know it with every fiber of my being. No one could possibly convince me otherwise. And now Zack knows it, too. And I am so excited for this family. This family is the reason I came out here. The reason I was called here. The reason I was called to Shelton. And God has prepared both of us for this moment every step of the way.
Before I met Zack, his life was confused. Before I met him and Aerie, they knew they wanted peace and joy, but they weren't finding it. Well, now they've found it. And now everything's different. Now they can be together forever. And one day, if they remain faithful, they will all become an eternal family. And I can't tell you just how happy that makes me.
People's lives are being changed every day. Every day a missionary goes into the mission field with a heart to do the will of God and just to be obedient, is a day when someone's eternal salvation is secured. It will change the investigator's lives, but even more so than that, it will change them. I now know the painful road that lead to get here. But this last Thursday night, when I looked Zack in the eyes and said, Will you be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with someone holding the proper authority, and he nodded his head, and agreed, was one nanosecond amid billions of others that made it all worth it. Worth every moment of pain, and worth every sacrifice.
I know this is the Lord's work.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
~Elder Hakala
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