Greetings from the Boise Idaho mission field! The following was submitted by Pamela Stevens of Valencia, California:
"It looks like 'our missionary' is having the time of his life serving in Kuna, Idaho.
"I received a phone call last Sunday from a father in Kuna. He was calling to thank me for raising such a wonderful young man and to let me know about the wonderful spirit and work Elder Kilpatrick and his companion are doing in his area.
"He shared a story with me about his son, who was engaged to be married to a non-member. They had the missionaries over for dinner recently and the fiancé met Elder 'K' and his companion. Over the course of their visit with his family, he said he could feel Elder K's strong spirit.
"Before they left, Elder Kilpatrick asked the fiancé if they could visit with her again to share the first discussion, and she agreed. In an effort to make this long story short, the fiancé’s parents were either non-members or were inactive throughout her life; however, her grandparents were active members and had taken her to church on occasion when she was a child. Well, the father explained to me that he sat in on the first discussion. As Elder Kilpatrick and his companion taught, again he could feel Elder K's spirit so strongly and he could see the effect it was having on his soon-to-be daughter-in-law. After the elders left, the fiancé called her grandparents and told them that she wanted to get baptized—and asked her grandfather if he would baptize her!
"The way it was explained to me, the joy that was brought to his family, and to the two generations of the fiancé’s family, was overflowing—and he just wanted to let me know how much they appreciate the fine young man that Elder 'K' is.
"In turn, I would like to thank my bishop and stake president for the positive influence they have had on my son and the significant role models they have been to him as they have honored the priesthood they hold. They have demonstrated such noble characteristics to him and to my family. I will forever be grateful to them.
"I pray that the Lord will continue to pour out His Spirit abundantly upon all the missionaries around the world. I pray that He continues to provide all of us with the desire, strength, and discerning power that we may need as we continue in our callings. I leave these words with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."