Kelley's Conversion Story

     My very first transfer from my first area certainly was an experience. I had been out on my mission for 4 1/2 months and not only was I going from an inner city area to a very affluent area, but I was training and opening an area new to sisters. To say I felt overwhelmed and under-qualified was an understatement. The big fancy houses terrified me and I realized that missionary work was done a completely different way in my new area. I was only there for a short three months, but that time was one of fervent prayer and seeking divine help from my Heavenly Father and mission leaders. Many nights were spent in heartfelt and tearful prayer, pleading for a miracle. My dear companion and I knocked countless doors, all with the same answer: NO! Our area was relatively small and we knocked through the houses in a short amount of time. I was reaching a point of desperation and wondering what we were possibly going to do next when we knocked on Kelley's door. It was a particularly hard day and we had resorted to "service tracting" - showing up with a bottle of Windex and offering to wash people's windows in hopes that we would get a better reception. Although Kelley declined our window washing offer, she accepted to listen to our message about Jesus Christ. We set up an appointment and taught her the Restoration lesson during which she said that she would be baptized if she came to know that the Book of Mormon was true! That alone was nothing short of a miracle and Sister Blotter and I went home that day, full of gratitude to our Heavenly Father for answering our prayers to find someone prepared for the message of the Restoration.
      We met with Kelley and had a few more lessons with her before I was transferred from the area. The night before I was being transferred we stopped by Kelley's home and although she had some real concerns, I knew deep down that she would come to know for herself that our message was true. We had given her The Family: A Proclamation to the World and when we returned for that follow-up visit, she had highlighted and marked all over it. As soon as I saw that piece of paper, I knew that she would come to know for herself that the gospel was true. My incredible companion stayed in the area and trained a new missionary herself - the next part of the story is hers to tell. A few months later, Kelley DID come to know for herself that the gospel was true and she chose to be baptized.
      I received a card in the mail from my companion a few months later with a picture of Kelley at her baptism. Since then, Kelley's son has also been baptized and she currently has a calling in her ward. I know without a doubt that my companion and I were sent to that particular ward to find Kelley. I know that the Lord has a perfect plan and that He sends us to be instruments in His hands to carry out His work. When we do hard things, try our best, and endure in faith, God WILL bless us with miracles. Sometimes those miracles come after we have cried and prayed and tried but they will come in God's timing. I know that when we are struggling, we can place our trust and faith in God and He will bless us. Our efforts do not go unnoticed in His eyes. I know that this is the gospel of Jesus Christ and that the Atonement has the power to change, bless, and heal. I feel blessed and honored to be a small part of the conversion of one of God's precious children. I love my Savior and His wonderful work!
    

     My name is Kelley Wenger, and I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and this is my conversion story. 
    I was raised in the Catholic Church until I was 10 years old when my mother and father divorced. My mother moved with us, 3 kids, and my younger borther and sister, to Orange Park, FL. My mother, who was Episcopalian, tried to continue our Catholic upbringing but it became too much for her as a single mother. We started going every once in a while and then stopped going all together. I tried different churches with friends that attended church but did not find any where there was comfort. Upon moivng to Louisiana with my 1st husband and daughter, she and I again went to a Catholic Church for a time but then we found a wonderful family church with a non-denominational church called Word of Life. We were welcomed and felt very at home there through the birth of my son and divorce. 
   When we moved home to Florida after the divorce, we searched for a new church and again tried a few different types of churches but did not find the right fit for us. It is very awkward to go to a new church to investigate and have the pastor/father/speaker ask the visitors to stand up in front of the entire congregation. It isn't comofrable when you don't know anyone to have lots of eyes on you to see who to go talk to and feel very singled out. So we again stopped going to church. I however kept reading the Bible when I felt weak or like sometihng was missing or when help was needed or when I felt like I needed to speak to Him.
   In late November, I got an itch and started to have the desire again to start looking for a church and was thinking of chuches in the area to investigate. One day in December these two very sweet young women knocked on my door and asked if they could wash my windows. They were Sister Blotter and Sister Phelon. I would not let them wash my windows but said that I would agree to have a lesson with them. The first time they visited I recieved the handout "The Plan of Salvation." I read it and then had LOTS of questions. The sisters were patient with me and answered what they could. I even stumped them a few times and they had to do some research and asking others to get me some answers. 
    Sister Phelon was transferred after about the third visit and Sister Gillman joined Sister Blotter as my missionary teachers. I think I shocked Sister Gillman with a lot of my questions, well I shocked all of them with some of them, but Sister Blotter was used to my questions by then and Sister Gillman got used to them really quickly.
    I was given the Book of Mromon and dove right in with the chapters I was given to read. I was amazed and in awe of the similiarties between the Holy Bible and what I was reading from this tribe that God had sent away from Jerusalem who had chosen to keep an account of the words and revelations from God. He truly is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. His message does not change. The teachings are the same. It opened my eyes and my heart.
     The sisters invited some wonderful women to come talk to me. Hilary, Christine, and Laura all came to visit and helped me to understand even more. I loved the glow they have in them and the peace they exude and wanted that for myself. I wanted to know more.
     After reading and praying, I was finally ready for my first time at church and I loved it. No one made me stand up in front of everyone by myself. Those came up and introduced themselves were friendly and didn't pressure me into anything. It just felt like family, like coming home to a very comfortable place that I belonged.
   I knew that I was where I was supposed to be and I was finally ready to start learning to prepare myself for baptism. I was baptized on February 22nd and was blessed with the Holy Spirit on February 23rd. I will never forget the journey to get me home.
       I know this book is true. I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. I know our prophet, Thomas S. Monson, is the true prophet. I watched some videos of the President and his words are so inspiring and they truly do come from our Father. I could feel the Lord in his words and when I prayed I could feel what he said was true. 
    I have prayed and spoken with our Father. I come to church and feel the love in all of you, my many brothers and sisters. I love you and thank you. I know we are true believers in the true church and I am blessed to know all of you and I am blessed to be here. I know Jesus led those two wonderful women to my house. I know He is our Savior. In Jesus's name I say these things to you. Amen.