Shawntele Update

The elders text us Monday night to say THEY had Shawntele's cigarettes :D  ---  that she wanted to be baptized.  Best thing -- this was all her idea!  After a couple back-and-forth texts, they called.  She said she was ready to make a commitment -- that smoking simply was not worth it -- her cigarettes were not worth her salvation. 

Okay, the very cool thing about this is that Sunday, just the day before, in our Ward Council Meeting we discussed Shawntele.  Bishop said he felt that the group in attendance there should include Shawntele in our fast that day - that she needed the help she could receive through our fasting and prayers that day.  And then the very next day, SHE decides to make this commitment to quit smoking and to get ready to be baptized!  Oh, the power of fasting and prayer! 

We, meaning Elder Mecham and I (as the elders are traveling/training out of town) were set to meet with Shawntele this evening -- been preparing a little lesson on the Holy Ghost and what He can do for her -- but she ended up with other plans.  So we will meet with her tomorrow evening instead.  She said she is on her second day now with a nicotine patch!  Yay!  We really love her and hope she can conquer this time!  Oh, I also have a copy of the poem, "The Race," to give to her - Elder Cary told her about it, and she wanted to have a copy.  [I love the Internet when I need to find something!]

We pray for Shawntele every day.  She is going to school online and this "module" has been very stressful for her.  But she has come such a long way -- we are so proud of her!