I was driving Kay's truck home from church, alone and passed by a foreign woman with a 4 year old boy in a suit and a baby in her arms. I turned around and asked if they would like a ride somewhere. She looked into the truck and said she would.
She climbed in and I found out she was from Napal, going to church. I drove her to the church about 3 miles away... a long walk in the heat of June 1 with 2 kids in tow.
She asked me where I lived, I told her and said I live with Karen people. She pointed to my skirt and said "I know" shd said her son was telling her he was tired and she was praying that someone would help her. I stopped and she looked into the truck, recognized my skirt (hand woven) from the Karen people and knew it would be safe. I told her I was a Mormon and if she wanted a ride to my church, 5 would take her. She thanked me and was off to her church.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Tender Mercy Baptism
As a Primary President I am given the responsibility of planning the program for one monthly baptism of 8 year olds every year. This year my assignment was 2 months. May 31, and December 6th. I only have 1 boy getting baptized this year and that is in December. I was wondering why I would be asked to organize the program on a month I didn't have a child but did it.
The email from the beginning of the month said I only had one child being baptized so I should ask their family to participate in the program. A week later I received an email saying a Bermese Karen boy may be baptized too but he had just moved into a ward in our Stake from another ward in our stake and they still weren't sure.
I phoned the new primary president and she thought he was getting baptized. She told me the ward he moved from and I called the Sr. couple missionary I knew that knew most of the Karen Mormons. Sister Williams was in Utah, released but gave me the information I needed and mentioned Michael Matthews was his former home teacher. The Karen family is really shy with the language barriers and did not want to participate in the program with prayers or talks. I wanted them to be represented and having Brother Matthews there was a big bonus.
I called Brother Matthews to see if he would be willing and able to give the one baptism talk and he was delighted. I asked him to make contact with the family to confirm he would get baptized which he did.
The night before the baptism our missionaries texted me to tell me the Karen investigators in our ward wanted to attend the baptism and could I pick them up. Sure. Kay was on call just in case there were too many people (mostly kids) going to the baptism.
I arrived at the apartment complex in our ward and the Karen people in the neighborhood collected everyone, including two moms that have been to our ward and attended primary with their children in our ward. I had 9 people in my van, there was another Karen family with a van and the baptism family drove themselves. We had 23 Karen friends at the baptism of 2 children.
The other boy baptized had a large family there and did the rest of the program... prayers, piano, music.
It was a great opportunity for the Karen people to see one of their own baptized! It was the first baptism most of them had ever seen. Brother Matthews's father-in-law was the former bishop and he was able to go to the baptism too. More people that care.
I realized there, that I was the only one that knew all the information about these Karen people to make a successful day for all. It was a tender mercy for sure. The Lord cares about this 8 year old Karen boy and all the Karen people here. Yes, I was supposed to organize the baptism. I was in instrument in the Lord's hand.
The email from the beginning of the month said I only had one child being baptized so I should ask their family to participate in the program. A week later I received an email saying a Bermese Karen boy may be baptized too but he had just moved into a ward in our Stake from another ward in our stake and they still weren't sure.
I phoned the new primary president and she thought he was getting baptized. She told me the ward he moved from and I called the Sr. couple missionary I knew that knew most of the Karen Mormons. Sister Williams was in Utah, released but gave me the information I needed and mentioned Michael Matthews was his former home teacher. The Karen family is really shy with the language barriers and did not want to participate in the program with prayers or talks. I wanted them to be represented and having Brother Matthews there was a big bonus.
I called Brother Matthews to see if he would be willing and able to give the one baptism talk and he was delighted. I asked him to make contact with the family to confirm he would get baptized which he did.
The night before the baptism our missionaries texted me to tell me the Karen investigators in our ward wanted to attend the baptism and could I pick them up. Sure. Kay was on call just in case there were too many people (mostly kids) going to the baptism.
I arrived at the apartment complex in our ward and the Karen people in the neighborhood collected everyone, including two moms that have been to our ward and attended primary with their children in our ward. I had 9 people in my van, there was another Karen family with a van and the baptism family drove themselves. We had 23 Karen friends at the baptism of 2 children.
The other boy baptized had a large family there and did the rest of the program... prayers, piano, music.
It was a great opportunity for the Karen people to see one of their own baptized! It was the first baptism most of them had ever seen. Brother Matthews's father-in-law was the former bishop and he was able to go to the baptism too. More people that care.
I realized there, that I was the only one that knew all the information about these Karen people to make a successful day for all. It was a tender mercy for sure. The Lord cares about this 8 year old Karen boy and all the Karen people here. Yes, I was supposed to organize the baptism. I was in instrument in the Lord's hand.
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