"Mercedes met with the Elders first in November 2016 - she'd requested a Bible online. Her previous contact with missionaries was about two years previous, when she happened to be in the house when they stopped by for one of her family members.
They started teaching her, and then the sisters continued when the area changed. A lot of the reason she wanted to be baptized was because she knew that this was a good church, and she wanted to teach her boys and raise them up right. She wanted to be an example of a "godly person" to them.
In the beginning I'm not sure that she recognized how her testimony was growing. It took a long time before she would come to church, but after she did we could see a clear change happening in her. She was more patient, she was kinder to her family, she was more attentive in lessons - it was an amazing thing to watch. She was baptized on April 8th, and she has been very happy since then. She has expressed how having the Holy Ghost with her constantly now helps her to pause and not let her first immediate reaction come out when someone angers or frustrates her. She continues to be diligent in her scripture study, both personal and with her family. She is very happy to be a part of this Church! "
Nathan's Conversion
"Nathan started meeting with missionaries about a year and half ago in Ohio. He went through 2 different wards and was really close to being baptized both times but it just didn't feel right so he backed out. His mom is a new convert of a few years and he moved to Cranberry about 4 months ago with his mom. At first he was a little hesitant about the church and when we stopped by to see him he was shy and didn't want to talk to us. After about a month he was reading from the Book of Mormon and praying again and you could see the difference in his countenance. He was no longer this awkward little boy but he knew this church was for him and he recognized the peace it brought. The ward immediately welcomed him in and showed him so much love that he couldn't help but feel the spirit in his life and he continued to study. He got up to bear his testimony one Sunday and said this was the ward he was going to be baptized in and he felt nothing but love here. We stopped by later that night to see what that was all about and he said he wasn't ready to be baptized yet so we laid low and waited for his heart to be ready and a couple of weeks later he came up to us and told us that he was going to be wearing all white! He was so happy and energetic about it that he couldn't help but announce it to everyone! From that point on for the next month and a half we taught him all the lessons and with each lesson his heart was even more opened and his understanding began to increase. He was putting forth the effort to read and pray and attend church and go to mutual and support from the ward leaders and youth continued to increase to the point of him being so excited for his baptism. He had to write a paper for school on something that he believed in and he wrote about the Book of Mormon! He professed his love and testimony of the Book of Mormon to his teacher and everyone who got to read it (and he even got 100% on it). Over the time of him meeting with missionaries he learned so much and right when the timing was perfect Heavenly Father led us to him so we could help him solidify his testimony. He is preparing for the priesthood next week and to go to the temple next month and is so excited about it!"
"Eric is the step son of a member who we did service for every week.
Eric moved from Alaska to North East to stay with his mom and step
father, and to try and put his life in order. He came to church a
couple of times with his mom and step-father, and seemed to enjoy it.
As we were doing service one week, this member told us that Eric was
wanting to start taking the discussions. That was so exciting! We met
with Eric at least twice a week, and committed him with a baptismal
date on the second lesson. He was definitely prepared. On the first
lesson, he told us that everything made sense and that this was
probably the path God wants him to take.
He smoked, but after we taught him the word of wisdom, and invited
him to follow it and to stop smoking, he said "Okay, I have two more
cigarettes in my box. I will finish them off, and then I will be
done." He hasn't smoked since. Talk about being prepared! As we met
with him, we could see how his faith in our Savior started to change
him. He was quiet at first, but after his baptism, he seemed to be
glowing and he still has the desire to keep learning and to keep
following our Savior. He is an awesome guy! 😊"
Barbara Ann Cook's Conversion
"Barbara Ann cook first met the missionaries one day out in a snow storm one day and she was struggling to remove the snow off of her car and the missionaries were out and helped her get her snow off of her car and asked if they could share come back and share a message and she said sure. Barb was going through a rough time in her life and none of her six kids would talk to her at this time. She was really wondering if anyone cared about her and was struggling to get through days at all. The missionaries came back and she talked to them and she explained to them that she had gone to churches in the past and believes in Jesus Christ but has not fully understood. She was turned away in the past churches for believing in different ideas if it isn't exactly what is said. She was a Jehovah witness for eleven years previously before she quit going to church all together. She was listening in on one of the lessons and it hit her that she needed to follow and do this in her life! She was a smoker and drank coffee. She had previously tried to quit smoking and this time with the help of the Book of Mormon and prayer it was different! She prayed and looked to God for help and saw that it was through Him it could be possible. She quit coffee and came to church and it was a life changing experience! She chose not to partake of the sacrament before she was baptized because she didn't feel adequate and worthy to do so. She loved the power and help that came from reading and praying! She was able to overcome Satan and quit cigarettes after 38 years of smoking! She saw that the gospel of Jesus Christ had saved her life by living the way Jesus would. She hates warm water and on her baptism day the water was warm and Christ helped her into the water and right before she went under she felt a cool sensation come over her and then the burdens in life she felt were lifted from her after she was baptized. She felt the sacrament and the conversion inside her through Jesus Christ and the gospel. She said that it was different from any church because you feel it in your heart and know instead of just being told what is right. She knows that it is right and loves it!"
"Mike Caldwell was a great example of someone who is prepared by God, member missionary work and the success that comes from it. Mike was working at Giant Eagle and he was going through some hard times, he knew that his boss John Kigin (Wexford Ward) was a Mormon and was impressed with how John acted and the happiness that was in John's life. He asked him for a Book of Mormon and Bro. Kigin invited him to meet with the missionaries! We started teaching Mike in January!! Never have I met a man that accepted the gospel so quickly and with so much excitement and desire.. never failing a commitment extended to him, reading the BoM everyday and coming to church every opportunity he has. Taking the bus to every appointment He wanted to meet with us at least twice a week, quite often 3 times a week. Any chance Mike had, he was reading. Mike without us teaching him, enjoys likening the scriptures to his life. His favorite is Nephi's example. He would always say when we were talking about his week and the stresses that came with it, "Thats why I really draw strength from Nephi. This is a man who without complaint or dragging his feet would listen to the Lord for whatever needed to be done. His own brothers tied him up and beat him I don't know how many times, but he kept pushing on! If he can do that, then I can get through a hard day of work or having to work on a Sunday." Any free time he has it was spent on meeting with us. Brother Kigin was there for it all. Offering his testimony, extending a hand of friendship. Mike was baptized April 6th by Bro. Kigin. Mike is a great example to me and truly has become one of my best friends, excited to see the wonderful things Mike will do."
Elders Selfridge, Taylor, Montgomery Anderson taught
Greg who was baptized by Brother Von April 8, 2017
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